huffpost--2020-05-27--Senate GOP Has No Plan To Help Millions Of Americans Losing Health Insurance During Pandemic

More than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic , meaning millions will be left without health insurance .
In mid May , left-leaning think tank Economic Policy Institute estimated 16.2 million people have lost health insurance once provided by their employer — how roughly half of Americans get their health insurance .
That number could be as high as 26.8 million if those who lost their jobs don ’ t sign up for other coverage , the Kaiser Family Foundation found .
“ I ’ d like us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one we have , the Obamacare program , but getting that in place for the country to take advantage of in the next few weeks is just not very likely , ” Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) said .
“ I think that the enrollment period should have been reopened , ” Collins said in the interview .
“ One of the reasons that I pushed the paycheck protection program so hard is that if we can keep people on their regular payroll , many more people will continue to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office declined to comment on what Congress should do on health care , saying they had “ nothing to add ” at this time .
The Tennessee Republican is the chairman of the Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions committee in the senate .
Offices for Sens .
Bill Cassidy ( La . )
, Tim Scott ( S.C. ) , Lisa Murkowski ( Alaska ) , Mike Braun ( Indiana ) and Rob Portman ( Ohio ) , who sit on either the HELP committee or the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Obamacare , Medicaid and Medicare , did not respond to requests for comment .
“ The good news is that if you lose your employer-provided coverage , which covers about a 180 million Americans , that is a significant life event , which makes you then eligible to sign up for the Affordable Care Act , ” Cornyn said in a PBS Austin interview .
“ As you know , it has a sliding scale of subsidies up to 400 % of poverty .
So that ’ s an option for people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are 5.7 million people who are not eligible for financial subsidies under Obamacare , and who would have to pay for the entirety of their private insurance plan .
COBRA too is cost-prohibitive for many families .
The average monthly cost for individual coverage in an employer-sponsored plan is $ 490 , amounting to nearly $ 6,000 a year — a steep cost for someone without an income .
“ Unlike in past recessions , most of those who lose their job-based coverage will be eligible for health coverage because of the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage unaffordable even with subsidies , ” Larry Levitt , who runs health policy at KFF , said in a statement .
“ As unemployment benefits expire , however , about two million more people in states that did not expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA will move into the Medicaid coverage gap and have no affordable option.
” “ Even at a time when doctors offices are closed and elective procedures are not going on — though as time goes on those things are going to be open — even being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where having insurance versus not having insurance is going to make a big difference , ” Miller said .
If you ’ re caught in an insurance trap , where COBRA is too expensive , you live in a state that didn ’ t expand Medicaid , and aren ’ t eligible for subsidized private insurance through Obamacare , what happens when you need to go to the ER , Miller asked rhetorically : “ You lose your labor market income and you can potentially face some financial hits if you need necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ER — that can have an impact on your credit score.
” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( Ky. ) and many Republicans have pushed back against the need for additional stimulus during the pandemic , saying they see no “ urgency ” in passing a fifth relief package .
But among the ideas Republicans have put forward , like expanding the PPP program , implementing tax credits for hiring workers or bonuses for rehired workers , health care has largely been left out of the emergency relief debate .
Health care has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who before the pandemic repeatedly attempted to repeal Obamacare , end Medicaid expansion and significantly cut Medicaid funding .
The Trump administration has continued to support a GOP lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and pushed an effort to add work requirements for Medicaid .
Since the pandemic , the Trump administration promised to use some of the coronavirus stimulus funds to reimburse hospitals treating uninsured patients with COVID-19 , but there has been no plan to address the growing millions of uninsured Americans more generally .
Progressives have balked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to private insurance companies and big corporations that run their own health insurance plans .
Subsidizing COBRA would direct federal funds toward private companies that pay higher rates than public programs like Medicare and Medicaid .
Other health care proposals that have been championed by progressives in both the House and Senate would have Medicare cover Americans ’ out-of-pocket medical costs during the pandemic , or allow Americans who have filed for unemployment to be eligible for Medicare .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he feels no urgency in pursuing further coronavirus relief legislation. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
As millions of Americans slip into unemployment and lose their health insurance during a public health crisis, Senate Republicans still see no need to act on health care.
More than 36 million people have filed for unemployment benefits due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, meaning millions will be left without health insurance. In mid May, left-leaning think tank Economic Policy Institute estimated 16.2 million people have lost health insurance once provided by their employer — how roughly half of Americans get their health insurance. That number could be as high as 26.8 million if those who lost their jobs don’t sign up for other coverage, the Kaiser Family Foundation found.
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But the Republican majority in the Senate isn’t interested in pursuing additional emergency relief for those who suddenly find themselves uninsured.
“I’d like us to put in place a better program than the one we have, the Obamacare program, but getting that in place for the country to take advantage of in the next few weeks is just not very likely,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said.
Staff for Susan Collins referred HuffPost to previous comments the Maine senator made to Bangor Daily News that she was “disappointed” in President Donald Trump for not allowing a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, but did not comment on Congress taking further action on health care specifically.
“I think that the enrollment period should have been reopened,” Collins said in the interview. “One of the reasons that I pushed the paycheck protection program so hard is that if we can keep people on their regular payroll, many more people will continue to receive their health insurance.”
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The Paycheck Protection Program gives employers loans primarily to keep workers on payroll during the pandemic. Collins is part of a bipartisan push advocating an extension of these loans.
Sen. Lamar Alexander’s office declined to comment on what Congress should do on health care, saying they had “nothing to add” at this time. The Tennessee Republican is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee in the senate. Offices for Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Tim Scott (S.C.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mike Braun (Indiana) and Rob Portman (Ohio), who sit on either the HELP committee or the Senate Finance Committee, which collectively have purview over Obamacare, Medicaid and Medicare, did not respond to requests for comment.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has repeatedly voted to repeal the ACA, encouraged Americans to sign up for Obamacare if they lose their health insurance.
“The good news is that if you lose your employer-provided coverage, which covers about a 180 million Americans, that is a significant life event, which makes you then eligible to sign up for the Affordable Care Act,” Cornyn said in a PBS Austin interview. “As you know, it has a sliding scale of subsidies up to 400% of poverty. So that’s an option for people.”
Visitors to the Department of Labor March 18 are turned away at the door by personnel due to closures over coronavirus concerns in New York. A record-high number of people applied for unemployment benefits as layoffs engulfed the United States. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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To get covered, Americans will have to navigate the country’s fragmented health care system ― there’s the ACA, known as Obamacare, public options like Medicaid, and COBRA, the federal program that lets individuals continue their former employer’s health care plan at personal cost. As HuffPost’s Jeffrey Young explained, there are barriers to all these options.
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates there are 5.7 million people who are not eligible for financial subsidies under Obamacare, and who would have to pay for the entirety of their private insurance plan. COBRA too is cost-prohibitive for many families. The average monthly cost for individual coverage in an employer-sponsored plan is $490, amounting to nearly $6,000 a year — a steep cost for someone without an income.
And not all Americans will qualify for Medicaid, the public health program for low-income Americans.
“Unlike in past recessions, most of those who lose their job-based coverage will be eligible for health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, though some may find coverage unaffordable even with subsidies,” Larry Levitt, who runs health policy at KFF, said in a statement. “As unemployment benefits expire, however, about two million more people in states that did not expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA will move into the Medicaid coverage gap and have no affordable option.”
The implication of leaving millions uninsured is a matter of life and death. A 2019 report on Medicaid expansion found there could have been 15,600 fewer deaths if all 50 states expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. There’s a growing body of research that has shown expanded public insurance has improved health outcomes, increasing preventative care and saving patients with chronic illnesses, like kidney disease.
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To be sure, it’s hard to make a clear comparison between Medicaid expansion and growing numbers of uninsured, especially because health care providers have only recently begun loosening restrictions around preventative care checkups and other services that were deemed “nonessential” during the early weeks of the pandemic.
“You want a social safety net that gives you things when you lose your job — that’s why we have unemployment insurance. It would be nice if your health side also looked more like that across the U.S.” - Sarah Miller, health economist at University of Michigan
That said, Sarah Miller, a health economist with University of Michigan, pointed out there are still real financial and health impacts.
“Even at a time when doctors offices are closed and elective procedures are not going on — though as time goes on those things are going to be open — even being able to pay for your prescriptions is where having insurance versus not having insurance is going to make a big difference,” Miller said.
Miller also described the potential for a downward financial and health spiral for some Americans, calling it a “double hit.”
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If you’re caught in an insurance trap, where COBRA is too expensive, you live in a state that didn’t expand Medicaid, and aren’t eligible for subsidized private insurance through Obamacare, what happens when you need to go to the ER, Miller asked rhetorically: “You lose your labor market income and you can potentially face some financial hits if you need necessary medical care — you go to the ER — that can have an impact on your credit score.”
“You want a social safety net that gives you things when you lose your job — that’s why we have unemployment insurance,” Miller said. “It would be nice if your health side also looked more like that across the U.S.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and many Republicans have pushed back against the need for additional stimulus during the pandemic, saying they see no “urgency” in passing a fifth relief package. But among the ideas Republicans have put forward, like expanding the PPP program, implementing tax credits for hiring workers or bonuses for rehired workers, health care has largely been left out of the emergency relief debate.
Health care has been a politically damaging issue for Republicans, who before the pandemic repeatedly attempted to repeal Obamacare, end Medicaid expansion and significantly cut Medicaid funding. The Trump administration has continued to support a GOP lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and pushed an effort to add work requirements for Medicaid. Since the pandemic, the Trump administration promised to use some of the coronavirus stimulus funds to reimburse hospitals treating uninsured patients with COVID-19, but there has been no plan to address the growing millions of uninsured Americans more generally.
For weeks, Democrats have been in an internal policy debate around the issue of health insurance. House Democrats’ latest relief package included several health care provisions, expanding how much the federal government chips in on Medicaid payments, and subsidizing COBRA at 100%. In other words, it would have the federal government temporarily foot the bill for the health insurance plans employers were once covering.
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Progressives have balked at the idea, calling it a giveaway to private insurance companies and big corporations that run their own health insurance plans. Subsidizing COBRA would direct federal funds toward private companies that pay higher rates than public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Other health care proposals that have been championed by progressives in both the House and Senate would have Medicare cover Americans’ out-of-pocket medical costs during the pandemic, or allow Americans who have filed for unemployment to be eligible for Medicare.
But for now, Republicans aren’t interested in another health care fight.


huffpost--2020-05-27--Jeffrey Toobin Drops The Hammer On Twitter Ignoring Its Own Rules For Trump

CNN ’ s chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin on Tuesday slammed Twitter for once again failing to enforce its own rules against President Donald Trump .
Toobin , appearing on the “ Newsroom ” show , ripped as “ corporate gibberish ” the social media platform ’ s explanation for not deleting Trump ’ s tweets baselessly accusing MSNBC ’ s Joe Scarborough of being involved in the 2001 death of an intern , Lori Klausutis , when he was a GOP congressman .
But Trump has continued to push the outrageous conspiracy theory about the death in recent days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over his fumbled handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
A spokesperson for Twitter earlier in the day told HuffPost it was “ deeply sorry about the pain ” caused by Trump ’ s tweets and said it was “ working to expand existing product features and policies so we can more effectively address things like this going forward.
” The statement came after Klausutis ’ widowed husband , Timothy Klausutis , penned a powerful letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey asking for Trump ’ s tweets to be removed .
“ Twitter is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like Greyhound buses have rules , ” Toobin said on Tuesday .
“ You can ’ t stay on a Greyhound bus if you break the rules .
President Trump has broken the rules of Twitter over and over again , and Twitter has done nothing but put out statements of corporate gibberish like the one it did today.
” Toobin suggested Trump ’ s tweets were in clear violation of Twitter ’ s rule against targeted harassment .
“ All Twitter should do is follow its own rules and take these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Twitter is just afraid of both the president and right-wing trolls who follow him and that ’ s why they ’ re not doing what they should be doing , which is taking this tweet down , ” Toobin continued .
He added : “ If Twitter had any decency , if Twitter had any corporate conscience , they would just take it down automatically.
” Twitter did , however , on Tuesday label two of Trump ’ s unfounded tweeted claims about mail-in ballot fraud with a fact-check warning .

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CNN’s chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin on Tuesday slammed Twitter for once again failing to enforce its own rules against President Donald Trump.
Toobin, appearing on the “Newsroom” show, ripped as “corporate gibberish” the social media platform’s explanation for not deleting Trump’s tweets baselessly accusing MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough of being involved in the 2001 death of an intern, Lori Klausutis, when he was a GOP congressman.
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Authorities ruled Klausutis’ death an accident and no foul play was suspected.
But Trump has continued to push the outrageous conspiracy theory about the death in recent days amid soaring criticism from Scarborough and others over his fumbled handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesperson for Twitter earlier in the day told HuffPost it was “deeply sorry about the pain” caused by Trump’s tweets and said it was “working to expand existing product features and policies so we can more effectively address things like this going forward.”
The statement came after Klausutis’ widowed husband, Timothy Klausutis, penned a powerful letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey asking for Trump’s tweets to be removed.
Toobin wasn’t having Twitter’s excuse.
“Twitter is a private company. They have rules. Like Greyhound buses have rules,” Toobin said on Tuesday. “You can’t stay on a Greyhound bus if you break the rules. President Trump has broken the rules of Twitter over and over again, and Twitter has done nothing but put out statements of corporate gibberish like the one it did today.”
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Toobin suggested Trump’s tweets were in clear violation of Twitter’s rule against targeted harassment. “All Twitter should do is follow its own rules and take these tweets down,” he said.
“Twitter is just afraid of both the president and right-wing trolls who follow him and that’s why they’re not doing what they should be doing, which is taking this tweet down,” Toobin continued. He added: “If Twitter had any decency, if Twitter had any corporate conscience, they would just take it down automatically.”
Twitter did, however, on Tuesday label two of Trump’s unfounded tweeted claims about mail-in ballot fraud with a fact-check warning.
Trump immediately fired back, accusing the platform of “stifling free speech.”


huffpost--2020-05-26--Twitter Applies Fact-Check Labels To Trump Tweets For First Time

Twitter labeled two of President Donald Trump ’ s tweets with a fact-check warning on Tuesday for the first time , prompting the president to accuse the platform of “ stifling free speech.
” The social media platform applied the tag on two of Trump ’ s tweets that made claims , without evidence , that voting with mail-in ballots would be “ substantially fraudulent.
” The labels say “ Get the facts about mail-in ballots ” and direct users to a collection of news reports and articles debunking the tweets .
Near the top of Twitter ’ s fact-check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump falsely claimed that mail-in ballots would lead to ‘ a Rigged Election.
’ However , fact-checkers say there is no evidence that mail-in ballots are linked to voter fraud.
” The president has ramped up his attacks to discredit the integrity of mail-in voting in recent weeks , despite substantial evidence to the contrary .
Twitter spokesperson Katie Rosborough said the tweets were labeled because they contain “ potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots.
” Shortly after the labels were added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was attempting to interfere in the 2020 presidential election .
.
@ Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election .
They are saying my statement on Mail-In Ballots , which will lead to massive corruption and fraud , is incorrect , based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post ... .
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 26 , 2020 The platform had rolled out a new policy earlier this month that it would label misleading information about COVID-19 .
The company said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to other areas .
“ Moving forward , we may use these labels and warning messages to provide additional explanations or clarifications in situations where the risks of harm associated with a Tweet are less severe but where people may still be confused or misled by the content , ” a company post read at the time .
Twitter said this would make it easier for users to “ find facts and make informed decisions ” about what they see on the platform .
Rosborough said Tuesday ’ s move was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was the first time one of Trump ’ s tweets had been labeled .
The social media giant has faced mounting pressure to take responsibility for the president ’ s persistent use of the platform to spread misinformation and baseless conspiracy theories .
Earlier on Tuesday , Twitter was criticized for declining to remove Trump ’ s tweets suggesting MSNBC ’ s Joe Scarborough , a former Republican congressman , might have killed 28-year-old staffer Lori Klausutis when she worked in his Florida office .
She died in 2001 after hitting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she fainted due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition and ruled her death an accident .
Lori Klausutis ’ s widower , Timothy Klausutis , wrote a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last week imploring Twitter to take down the president ’ s tweets .
It was dated last week but gained attention Tuesday when the New York Times ’ Kara Swisher published it in an op-ed .
Twitter issued a statement Tuesday , saying : “ We are deeply sorry about the pain these statements , and the attention they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve been working to expand existing product features and policies so we can more effectively address things like this going forward , and we hope to have those changes in place shortly .
”

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Twitter labeled two of President Donald Trump’s tweets with a fact-check warning on Tuesday for the first time, prompting the president to accuse the platform of “stifling free speech.”
The social media platform applied the tag on two of Trump’s tweets that made claims, without evidence, that voting with mail-in ballots would be “substantially fraudulent.” The labels say “Get the facts about mail-in ballots” and direct users to a collection of news reports and articles debunking the tweets.
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Near the top of Twitter’s fact-check page, a statement reads: “Trump falsely claimed that mail-in ballots would lead to ‘a Rigged Election.’ However, fact-checkers say there is no evidence that mail-in ballots are linked to voter fraud.”
The president has ramped up his attacks to discredit the integrity of mail-in voting in recent weeks, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.
Twitter spokesperson Katie Rosborough said the tweets were labeled because they contain “potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots.”
Twitter applied fact-check labels to two of Trump's tweets about mail-in ballots. Twitter
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Shortly after the labels were added, Trump tweeted claims that the platform was attempting to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
....Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2020
.@Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election. They are saying my statement on Mail-In Ballots, which will lead to massive corruption and fraud, is incorrect, based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2020
The platform had rolled out a new policy earlier this month that it would label misleading information about COVID-19. The company said at the time it would potentially expand this effort to other areas.
“Moving forward, we may use these labels and warning messages to provide additional explanations or clarifications in situations where the risks of harm associated with a Tweet are less severe but where people may still be confused or misled by the content,” a company post read at the time.
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Twitter said this would make it easier for users to “find facts and make informed decisions” about what they see on the platform.
Rosborough said Tuesday’s move was in line with the new policy and confirmed it was the first time one of Trump’s tweets had been labeled.
The social media giant has faced mounting pressure to take responsibility for the president’s persistent use of the platform to spread misinformation and baseless conspiracy theories. Earlier on Tuesday, Twitter was criticized for declining to remove Trump’s tweets suggesting MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, might have killed 28-year-old staffer Lori Klausutis when she worked in his Florida office. She died in 2001 after hitting her head on a desk. Authorities determined she fainted due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition and ruled her death an accident.
Lori Klausutis’s widower, Timothy Klausutis, wrote a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last week imploring Twitter to take down the president’s tweets. It was dated last week but gained attention Tuesday when the New York Times’ Kara Swisher published it in an op-ed.
Twitter issued a statement Tuesday, saying: “We are deeply sorry about the pain these statements, and the attention they are drawing, are causing the family.
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“We’ve been working to expand existing product features and policies so we can more effectively address things like this going forward, and we hope to have those changes in place shortly.”


huffpost--2020-03-12--Home Is Not A Safe Place For Everyone

Home Is Not A Safe Place For Everyone

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the globe , the biggest piece of advice coming from public health officials is to practice social distancing .
Work from home .
Avoid public transportation and crowds .
Keep space between yourself and others and , if necessary self-isolate .
For some Americans , these measures are inconvenient but ultimately doable .
But for others , such as victims of domestic violence for whom work is a necessary respite from the unpredictability of their partner ’ s abuse , there can be more immediate danger inside the home than outside it .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolate victims and cut off their relationships with coworkers or friends or family , ” said Allison Randall , vice president for policy and emerging issues for the National Network to End Domestic Violence .
“ Not being able to go to work and connect with your colleagues , it can certainly increase your vulnerability.
” In China , activists have reported a surge in domestic violence cases as millions of people have been under quarantine .
Leta Hong Fincher , author of “ Betraying Big Brother : The Feminist Awakening in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard from women ’ s rights activists that they ’ ve gotten significantly more pleas for help about domestic violence than they had received previously .
“ During a time of extreme lockdown with the coronavirus , when people are not allowed to move around , it makes it exponentially more difficult for a victim of domestic violence in the home to go somewhere else , ” she said .
Coronavirus can lead to folks being trapped in abusive relationships , not because of the virus itself , but because of its economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to paid sick leave .
If they have to miss work , either because they are sick or they ’ re self-isolating or their job site has closed down , they will lose income and it will be harder for them to leave an abusive partner .
The outbreak has already caused layoffs .
“ Coronavirus can lead to folks being trapped in abusive relationships , ” Randall said , “ not because of the virus itself but because of its economic impacts.
” Research suggests that incidences of domestic violence rise after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is likely because perpetrators have increased access to their families and they can get away with the abuse more easily as support services break down .
After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017 , for example , district attorneys reported an increase in both the number of domestic violence reports and their severity .
Domestic violence murders spiked .
A courthouse was destroyed in the storm , which meant victims could not seek emergency protective orders there .
In some cases , victims and perpetrators ended up in the same emergency shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not abusive is not going to suddenly become abusive , ” Randall said .
“ But I worry about an increased incidence of domestic violence as people are stressed , and there ’ s less community support and accountability.
” Ruth Glenn , the president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence , said she was worried that victims will avoid domestic violence shelters due to the social distancing recommendation , especially if they ’ ve never been to one and don ’ t know what to expect .
“ Victims have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but their well-being and health , ” she said , adding that they may be unsure of the health and hygiene practices at shelters and concerned about sharing a communal space with strangers .
She urged victims to go to domestic violence shelters if they need support , noting that every program has an emergency plan that includes protocols to ensure safety for residents and clients .
“ I would tell anyone that is considering whether they need to go to shelter that they should feel like it is safe , ” she @ @

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Getty
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the globe, the biggest piece of advice coming from public health officials is to practice social distancing. Work from home. Avoid public transportation and crowds. Keep space between yourself and others and, if necessary self-isolate.
For some Americans, these measures are inconvenient but ultimately doable. But for others, such as victims of domestic violence for whom work is a necessary respite from the unpredictability of their partner’s abuse, there can be more immediate danger inside the home than outside it.
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“Perpetrators of domestic violence commonly try to isolate victims and cut off their relationships with coworkers or friends or family,” said Allison Randall, vice president for policy and emerging issues for the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “Not being able to go to work and connect with your colleagues, it can certainly increase your vulnerability.”
In China, activists have reported a surge in domestic violence cases as millions of people have been under quarantine. Leta Hong Fincher, author of “Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China,” told HuffPost that she had heard from women’s rights activists that they’ve gotten significantly more pleas for help about domestic violence than they had received previously.
“During a time of extreme lockdown with the coronavirus, when people are not allowed to move around, it makes it exponentially more difficult for a victim of domestic violence in the home to go somewhere else,” she said.
“Coronavirus can lead to folks being trapped in abusive relationships, not because of the virus itself, but because of its economic impacts.” - Allison Randall, National Network to End Domestic Violence
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Randall said she was especially concerned about the financial implications of the outbreak for domestic violence victims.
Many people have no access to paid sick leave. If they have to miss work, either because they are sick or they’re self-isolating or their job site has closed down, they will lose income and it will be harder for them to leave an abusive partner. The outbreak has already caused layoffs.
“Coronavirus can lead to folks being trapped in abusive relationships,” Randall said, “not because of the virus itself but because of its economic impacts.”
Research suggests that incidences of domestic violence rise after natural disasters, such as hurricanes. This is likely because perpetrators have increased access to their families and they can get away with the abuse more easily as support services break down.
After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, for example, district attorneys reported an increase in both the number of domestic violence reports and their severity. Domestic violence murders spiked. A courthouse was destroyed in the storm, which meant victims could not seek emergency protective orders there. In some cases, victims and perpetrators ended up in the same emergency shelters and camps.
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“Somebody who is not abusive is not going to suddenly become abusive,” Randall said. “But I worry about an increased incidence of domestic violence as people are stressed, and there’s less community support and accountability.”
Ruth Glenn, the president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said she was worried that victims will avoid domestic violence shelters due to the social distancing recommendation, especially if they’ve never been to one and don’t know what to expect.
“Victims have to make a decision about not only safety but their well-being and health,” she said, adding that they may be unsure of the health and hygiene practices at shelters and concerned about sharing a communal space with strangers.
She urged victims to go to domestic violence shelters if they need support, noting that every program has an emergency plan that includes protocols to ensure safety for residents and clients.
“I would tell anyone that is considering whether they need to go to shelter that they should feel like it is safe,” she said.
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Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog.


huffpost--2020-03-12--Coronavirus Fears Are Decimating The Sex Industry

“ I ’ m already seeing women in danger of moving into homeless encampments or losing custody of their kids , ” said Suzanne Myers , a Seattle-based escort who also does outreach and community organizing .
( All of the sex workers quoted in this article are using pseudonyms due to fear of law enforcement attention . )
“ For single moms or people working to keep their heads above water , having a dry week is difficult .
Having two or three will be devastating.
” The Virus Is Already Putting Sex Workers in Danger Since 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in homelessness and drug addiction — two factors that have increased the number of people selling sex .
Then , in 2018 , Congress passed two laws ( known as SESTA and FOSTA ) that banned escort advertisements from the internet , a move that pushed more sex workers into outdoor prostitution .
Now , the collapse in demand for sex work due to the coronavirus is driving even greater numbers of people onto the street to make up for the lost income HuffPost spoke with two sex workers on North Aurora Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said the recent wave of new street workers has already forced them to reduce their prices ( other sex workers estimated that the going rate for oral sex had fallen from around $ 60 to around $ 30 even before the virus struck ) .
They have also mostly stopped screening clients and no longer have the luxury of declining men who give them a bad feeling .
High-priced escorts , who tend to see fewer clients and work with a roster of regular customers , are more likely to have savings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke with sex workers who have side jobs designing jewelry , making costumes for theater productions and translating legal documents .
Some also have accounts on websites where they sell access to nude pictures , live chats or homemade pornography for monthly subscribers .
Others have started “ touring ” to cities where the virus , and its attendant fears , aren ’ t as prominent .
Sex Workers Try To Protect Their Lives And Their Livelihoods For now , many sex workers are taking steps to keep themselves and their clients safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-end escort who charges $ 500 per hour with a two-hour minimum , has waived her cancellation fees , added hand sanitizer to the nightstand in her workspace and requests that clients wash their hands as they enter her room .
While she ’ d always cleaned her space regularly , she is now sterilizing everything that ’ s been touched — including bottles of lube , sheets and sex toys —after every session .

SEATTLE — In the epicenter of America’s coronavirus outbreak, sex workers are one of the first groups making adjustments.
Some have started taking their temperature every morning and asking their clients to do the same. Others have instituted no-kissing policies. Those who can afford to are setting up webcam sites or leaving the city entirely.
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Still, the sex industry in Seattle has seen an unprecedented collapse in demand, making workers worry that they’ll be unable to pay rent and, potentially, more likely to end up in unsafe situations out of desperation. Indoor sex workers said regulars have started sending cancellations and new inquiries have dried up entirely. Street-based sex workers say customers have all but evaporated.
“I’m already seeing women in danger of moving into homeless encampments or losing custody of their kids,” said Suzanne Myers, a Seattle-based escort who also does outreach and community organizing. (All of the sex workers quoted in this article are using pseudonyms due to fear of law enforcement attention.) “For single moms or people working to keep their heads above water, having a dry week is difficult. Having two or three will be devastating.”
Myers said two of her clients have canceled appointments in the last three days and inquiries from new clients have dried up entirely. She has just one date scheduled this week, a man who usually pays for sex but downgraded his appointment to a social lunch due to his concerns about the virus.
“I’m down a week’s pay and we’re just at the beginning of this,” Myers said.
With 190 cases and 22 deaths, Seattle has been hit harder by coronavirus than any other U.S. city. The virus, which has infected more than 1,000 people nationwide and leads to the illness COVID-19, represents a perfect storm for the sex work industry.
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“We’re telling people to wash as much as they can, but some sex workers don’t have access to hot water and soap between sessions.” - Sherae Lascelles, Seattle-based community organizer and sex worker
Intimate contact is one of the most effective ways to contract the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Sex workers have no social safety net to help them weather an unexpected loss of income. Many cannot afford to stop working for weeks to self-quarantine. (“How do you do social distancing when your salary is dependent on socializing?” asked Sherae Lascelles, a community organizer and sex worker.)
Plus, the sex industry relies on customers from the groups most at risk of contracting the virus and dying from it.
“Four out of five of my clients are men above 60 with at least one pre-existing health condition,” Myers said. “I’ve already had guys tell me, ‘I’m 63 and I’ve got lung problems, so I’m out of the game for a few weeks.’ If I were in that situation I’d be doing the same thing.”
The Virus Is Already Putting Sex Workers in Danger
For sex workers, the coronavirus could not have arrived in Seattle at a worse time.
Since 2015, the city has experienced an unprecedented spike in homelessness and drug addiction — two factors that have increased the number of people selling sex. Then, in 2018, Congress passed two laws (known as SESTA and FOSTA) that banned escort advertisements from the internet, a move that pushed more sex workers into outdoor prostitution. Now, the collapse in demand for sex work due to the coronavirus is driving even greater numbers of people onto the street to make up for the lost income
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All of these factors combined are making sex work significantly more dangerous. “When there’s more girls outside and less demand, people start doing things they wouldn’t normally do and end up in situations that are very unsafe,” Myers said.
HuffPost spoke with two sex workers on North Aurora Avenue, Seattle’s red-light district, who said the recent wave of new street workers has already forced them to reduce their prices (other sex workers estimated that the going rate for oral sex had fallen from around $60 to around $30 even before the virus struck). They have also mostly stopped screening clients and no longer have the luxury of declining men who give them a bad feeling.
After the coronavirus outbreak surfaced in China -- but before the illness arrived in the U.S. -- massage parlors saw a significant drop in business due to anti-Asian xenophobia. Getty Images
Lascelles, the co-founder of the Green Light Project, a community organization that supports street-based sex workers and drug users, said she’s already hearing reports of more violent and coercive behavior from sex buyers.
“This is going to get people killed,” Lascelles said. “Men are using the virus as leverage: ‘I’m already taking a risk seeing you. So why should I use a condom?’”
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Other sex workers told HuffPost that they are receiving more demands to perform anal sex and that pimps are trying to make up revenue by upping their recruitment efforts. With so many new sex workers flooding onto the streets, Lascalle said, it’s becoming harder to notify them of the risks.
“It’s the same guys abusing sex workers over and over,” she said. “They’re waiting for new girls to show up and be terrible to them. If someone comes (onto the street) after spending the winter inside or they’re desperate to make up their lost income, we don’t have ways of warning them,” Lascelles said.
None of this bodes well for sex workers or for public health in the long term. Myers pointed out that the lack of income and housing support for marginalized groups like sex workers and homeless people will make them more likely to get the disease — and also to spread it.
“If someone starts feeling sick and they only have one appointment that week, they might take it anyway,” she said. “That’s a terrifying thought, but that could mean daycare for their kids or paying their rent.”
Hitting Poor Sex Workers Hardest
While its long-term impacts remain unclear, the virus’ most immediate effect is the exacerbation of existing inequalities within the sex industry.
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High-priced escorts, who tend to see fewer clients and work with a roster of regular customers, are more likely to have savings and secondary sources of income. HuffPost spoke with sex workers who have side jobs designing jewelry, making costumes for theater productions and translating legal documents. Some also have accounts on websites where they sell access to nude pictures, live chats or homemade pornography for monthly subscribers. Others have started “touring” to cities where the virus, and its attendant fears, aren’t as prominent.
Sex workers at the lower end of the market don’t have the same options. Many street workers lack the professional photographs, webcams and desktop computers necessary to move into online sex work. Due to a history of domestic violence or their own day jobs, many can’t risk uploading pictures of their faces. On North Aurora, a significant percentage of sex workers sleep in the hotel rooms paid for by their clients every night.
“We’re telling people to wash as much as they can but some sex workers don’t have access to hot water and soap between sessions,” Lascelles said. “We’re down to 15 packs of hand sanitizer when we’re used to giving out thousands per week.”
With Washington state one of the first locales hit hardest in the U.S. by the pandemic, sex workers plying their trade along North Aurora Avenue -- Seattle's red-light district -- have seen a dramatic collapse in demand. kmacs83 / Flickr
Some parts of the industry have been hit harder than others. Massage parlors, for example, have been losing business for years due to the increasing number of high-profile “anti-trafficking” raids (in reality, few massage parlor workers are trafficked; most are undocumented women in their 40s and 50s unable to find other forms of employment).
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After coronavirus appeared in China, customers slowed to a trickle due to anti-Asian xenophobia. Now that the virus has arrived in the U.S., revenues have plummeted even further.
“Business is down to the point where workers are saying they simply don’t have any right now,” said Kate Zen, the co-founder of Red Canary Song, which works with migrant sex workers. “They’re scraping by with what they have saved up and trying their best to hold out for as long as they can.”
Strip club workers have also been affected by the outbreak’s unique economic impacts.
“Customers are using the six-foot rule and social distancing as an excuse not to buy lap dances, but they’re still going to the clubs and exposing dancers to the virus,” Lascelles said. Strippers have to pay a “house fee” of $140 to $160 per night to work in the clubs. They make most of their money from individual dances and tips.
“I spoke to someone last night who used to earn $4,000 per week,” Lascelles said. “She hasn’t made any money in two weeks and made $20 on Sunday — and she’s $1,000 in debt from the house fees.”
Sex Workers Try To Protect Their Lives And Their Livelihoods
For now, many sex workers are taking steps to keep themselves and their clients safe from the virus. Jessica Brown, a high-end escort who charges $500 per hour with a two-hour minimum, has waived her cancellation fees, added hand sanitizer to the nightstand in her workspace and requests that clients wash their hands as they enter her room. While she’d always cleaned her space regularly, she is now sterilizing everything that’s been touched — including bottles of lube, sheets and sex toys —after every session.
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Brown has also started coaching her older clients about what to say if they have to be quarantined and health workers ask them about their recent contacts in front of their wives. She’s instructed them to say they had a business meeting with her and use the alias she uses when she speaks at sexual health conferences.
“I’m going out of my way to let clients and my colleagues know about my cleanliness practices,” Brown said.
How I, A Sex Worker, Am Handling COVID19 - a thread!
I wanted to address this because clients are *blowing me up* about it - so here we go!
As SWs, we are *already* vigilant about our intimate work and keeping transmission risks to a minimum. Here are some steps many of us take — fera lorde (@feralorde) March 10, 2020
As for the industry as a whole, Brown is looking for reasons to be optimistic. “It’s like when we had that huge snowstorm last year,” Brown said. “Some clients were home with their families and others were single and bored” — i.e. some forms of sex work declined, but others took their place. Now it’s possible the industry may move online or indoors in ways no one has envisioned yet.
Alex Andrews, the co-founder of SWOP Behind Bars, a community outreach organization that supports incarcerated sex workers, echoed this view, pointing out that the sex industry is remarkably resilient to external events like recessions, political shifts and even, yes, disease outbreaks.
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“I think that we will have a brief drop,” she said, “but ultimately nothing stands in the way of people wanting sex.”


huffpost--2020-03-12--EU Condemns Trump Travel Ban From Europe As Virus Spreads

BRUSSELS ( AP ) — The European Union on Thursday lashed out at President Donald Trump ’ s “ unilateral ” decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States over the coronavirus , saying that the illness does not respect borders .
Trump announced that all European travel would be cut off , but U.S. officials later clarified that restrictions would apply only to most foreign citizens who have been in Europe ’ s passport-free travel zone at any point for 14 days prior to their arrival to the United States .
“ The European Union disapproves of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation , ” EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement .
“ The coronavirus is a global crisis , not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action , ” the two said .
They rejected Trump ’ s suggestion that Europe is not doing enough to combat COVID-19 , saying that the 27-nation bloc “ is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.
” The so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members France , Italy , German , Greece , Austria and Belgium , where the bloc has its headquarters , but also others like Switzerland , Norway and Iceland .
The restrictions announced by Trump don ’ t apply to the United Kingdom , where the number of confirmed cases has reached 460 , or Ireland , which isn ’ t part of Schengen .
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ’ s latest figures , more than 17,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Europe , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continent .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
With the virus now present in all 27 EU countries , the bloc ’ s top officials have pledged to stand united in fighting the disease and are likely to adopt a common approach in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This week , von der Leyen announced the launch of a “ corona response investment fund ” seeded with 7.5 billion euros that she said would reap billions more .
It ’ s aimed at propping up health care structures , small businesses suffering from the impact of the virus and labor markets where jobs might be hit .
Several EU meetings have been cancelled to slow the spread , but the bloc ’ s interior ministers are still scheduled to gather in Brussels on Friday .
EU health ministers were holding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreads , more European countries are adopting drastic measures .
After Italy entered a lockdown , Denmark said all schools and day-care facilities in the country will be closed from Monday .
All public servants who don ’ t perform critical functions , have been ordered to stay home for the next two weeks .
Meanwhile , the U.S. Army decided to cut down the number of troops taking part in massive war games that have been planned across Europe over the next six months because of the virus pandemic .
The Defender-Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 American personnel , the biggest deployment of U.S. troops to Europe in the last 25 years .
But U.S. Army Europe said “ in light of the current coronavirus outbreak , we will modify the exercise by reducing the number of U.S. participants.
” No details on numbers were provided .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Thursday lashed out at President Donald Trump’s “unilateral” decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States over the coronavirus, saying that the illness does not respect borders.
Trump announced that all European travel would be cut off, but U.S. officials later clarified that restrictions would apply only to most foreign citizens who have been in Europe’s passport-free travel zone at any point for 14 days prior to their arrival to the United States.
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“The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,” EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.
“The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action,” the two said.
They rejected Trump’s suggestion that Europe is not doing enough to combat COVID-19, saying that the 27-nation bloc “is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.”
The so-called Schengen area comprises 26 countries including EU members France, Italy, German, Greece, Austria and Belgium, where the bloc has its headquarters, but also others like Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
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The restrictions announced by Trump don’t apply to the United Kingdom, where the number of confirmed cases has reached 460, or Ireland, which isn’t part of Schengen.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s latest figures, more than 17,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Europe, and more than 700 people have died on the continent.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.
With the virus now present in all 27 EU countries, the bloc’s top officials have pledged to stand united in fighting the disease and are likely to adopt a common approach in their response to Trump’s announcement.
This week, von der Leyen announced the launch of a “corona response investment fund” seeded with 7.5 billion euros that she said would reap billions more. It’s aimed at propping up health care structures, small businesses suffering from the impact of the virus and labor markets where jobs might be hit.
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Von der Leyen postponed a trip Thursday to Greece to discuss the migrant stand-off with Turkey in order to focus on combating the rapid spread of the virus.
Several EU meetings have been cancelled to slow the spread, but the bloc’s interior ministers are still scheduled to gather in Brussels on Friday. EU health ministers were holding a video-conference later Thursday.
As the virus spreads, more European countries are adopting drastic measures. After Italy entered a lockdown, Denmark said all schools and day-care facilities in the country will be closed from Monday. All public servants who don’t perform critical functions, have been ordered to stay home for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army decided to cut down the number of troops taking part in massive war games that have been planned across Europe over the next six months because of the virus pandemic.
The Defender-Europe 2020 exercises were set to involve around 20,000 American personnel, the biggest deployment of U.S. troops to Europe in the last 25 years.
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But U.S. Army Europe said “in light of the current coronavirus outbreak, we will modify the exercise by reducing the number of U.S. participants.” No details on numbers were provided.
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Jan M. Olsen contributed to this story from Copenhagen, Denmark.
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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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huffpost--2020-03-12--Pentagon Silent On Coronavirus Test Kits At Overseas Military Bases

ED JONES via Getty Images President Donald Trump speaks to military personnel and their families stationed in South Korea at Osan Air Base , south of Seoul , in June 2019 .
Amid concerns that the coronavirus may spread at U.S. military facilities in countries experiencing big outbreaks , the Department of Defense has not said if all facilities abroad have the means to test people for the virus .
“ We asked the Department of Defense whether the Army has coronavirus testing kits physically at all bases abroad , ” said Rep. Mark Pocan ( D-Wis. ) in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are still unable to tell us [ a ] yes or no answer — does every military base overseas have current access to coronavirus kits ?
” A Pentagon official told Pocan ’ s office to anticipate more information on Friday but provided “ no real answers ” as of Thursday , a spokesman for the congressman told HuffPost .
Test kits for COVID-19 , which is the disease caused by the coronavirus , are not the only line of defense for health professionals trying to contain the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluating individuals and taking quarantine measures based on whether patients are showing likely symptoms of the coronavirus .
Pocan ’ s office contacted the Pentagon based on a report that several military personnel on a base in Afghanistan were experiencing “ flu-like symptoms , ” which are a potential sign of infection .
The unnamed military base is a few miles from a town in Afghanistan with five known cases of COVID-19 , Pocan said , and 75 miles from the border of Iran , where cases of the virus have surpassed 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have conducted operations or what other precautions might be in place .
Around the globe , there are tens of thousands of military personnel and families based in countries where cases of the virus have been confirmed .
Individual U.S. military bases in countries with severe outbreaks are already taking extra precautions against the virus , like widespread disinfection efforts and scaled-back military operations .
In Daegu , the town at the epicenter of South Korea ’ s outbreak , the U.S. garrison of more than 9,000 soldiers , personnel and families has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks for people entering the base .
U.S. military bases in Italy have closed schools and daycare facilities .
But the lack of a ready answer about testing , specifically , mirrors a broader dearth of clear information coming out of the Trump administration .
“ The fact that we can not figure out this basic answer for our troops serving abroad is very concerning , ” Pocan said .
“ I hope that the military can get us an affirmative answer immediately .
”

President Donald Trump speaks to military personnel and their families stationed in South Korea at Osan Air Base, south of Seoul, in June 2019. ED JONES via Getty Images
Amid concerns that the coronavirus may spread at U.S. military facilities in countries experiencing big outbreaks, the Department of Defense has not said if all facilities abroad have the means to test people for the virus.
“We asked the Department of Defense whether the Army has coronavirus testing kits physically at all bases abroad,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) in a statement. “After following up, they are still unable to tell us [a] yes or no answer — does every military base overseas have current access to coronavirus kits?”
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A Defense Department official did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
A Pentagon official told Pocan’s office to anticipate more information on Friday but provided “no real answers” as of Thursday, a spokesman for the congressman told HuffPost.
Test kits for COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the coronavirus, are not the only line of defense for health professionals trying to contain the spread of the virus. Many hospitals and health professionals are evaluating individuals and taking quarantine measures based on whether patients are showing likely symptoms of the coronavirus.
Pocan’s office contacted the Pentagon based on a report that several military personnel on a base in Afghanistan were experiencing “flu-like symptoms,” which are a potential sign of infection.
The unnamed military base is a few miles from a town in Afghanistan with five known cases of COVID-19, Pocan said, and 75 miles from the border of Iran, where cases of the virus have surpassed 10,000. It is not clear where personnel have conducted operations or what other precautions might be in place.
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Around the globe, there are tens of thousands of military personnel and families based in countries where cases of the virus have been confirmed. Individual U.S. military bases in countries with severe outbreaks are already taking extra precautions against the virus, like widespread disinfection efforts and scaled-back military operations.
In Daegu, the town at the epicenter of South Korea’s outbreak, the U.S. garrison of more than 9,000 soldiers, personnel and families has halted most offsite travel and instituted health checks for people entering the base. U.S. military bases in Italy have closed schools and daycare facilities.
But the lack of a ready answer about testing, specifically, mirrors a broader dearth of clear information coming out of the Trump administration.
“The fact that we cannot figure out this basic answer for our troops serving abroad is very concerning,” Pocan said. “I hope that the military can get us an affirmative answer immediately.”
Keep up with the latest updates on the coronavirus at our live blog.


huffpost--2020-03-11--What It Means When Doctors Say Coronavirus Symptoms Are Often 'Mild'

As many have pointed out , most people who contract the disease will experience “ mild symptoms , ” which is good and bad news .
On the plus side , the virus is not deadly for the vast majority of those infected .
On the other hand , the large number of mild or asymptomatic cases makes the pandemic harder to track and contain .
This is why it ’ s crucial to pay attention to mild symptoms you may be experiencing and take precautions to protect your health and safety ― and the health and safety of others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what exactly “ mild ” means when it comes to coronavirus and what people should know about the symptoms .
“ Mild symptoms refer to similar symptoms that you may experience with a cold or mild flu-like illness , ” said Kristin Dean , a board-certified physician and medical director at the telemedicine service Doctor on Demand .
“ Most people experience a mild form of coronavirus with these symptoms being the most common : cough , body aches , runny nose , sore throat , nasal congestion or diarrhea .
In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not exhibit any symptoms.
” “ An individual may think nothing of these symptoms because they do not significantly change or impact their daily lives , ” said Eudene Harry , a board-certified physician in emergency medicine and medical director for the Oasis Wellness & Rejuvenation Center in Orlando , Florida .
She noted that people could tend to be dismissive of symptoms that may be early signs of coronavirus .
When Should You Seek Medical Care ?
If you fall into one of those categories and are experiencing any symptoms , contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual video visit to talk it through and discuss the next steps .
This is especially important if you have traveled to areas with high community transmission or been in contact with someone diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus ( even if you aren ’ t exhibiting symptoms , it is advisable to self-isolate for 14 days after contact ) .
What If You Don ’ t Need Hospitalization Or Medical Care ?
Due to test kit shortages in the U.S. , people who show mild symptoms but haven ’ t been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-risk areas may not be able to get a diagnosis .
But it ’ s still important to stay home if you aren ’ t feeling well to help reduce the spread of illness .
“ If you suspect you have COVID-19 , please do not go to work , school or out in public places until you are directed to do so by a health care provider , ” Dean said .
“ Mild COVID-19 , just like other colds you have experienced , will typically resolve on its own by taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can take over-the-counter cold remedies to help treat your symptoms , such as acetaminophen for fevers or headaches , and cough medications to alleviate coughing , ” she added .
“ Since this illness is due to a virus , antibiotics are not effective .
Stay in touch with your doctor about changes in your symptoms , and when it ’ s all right to return to your usual activities.
” Doctors still aren ’ t certain about how long patients infected with coronavirus are contagious , but one study suggests that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by about 10 days after they first experienced symptoms .
Pending more conclusive research , however , it ’ s best to exercise caution and stay in touch with your doctor .
Avoiding high-risk places , washing hands , disinfecting surfaces , keeping a safe distance between people , not touching your face , and coughing or sneezing into elbows instead of hands are all measures everyone can take to help slow the rate of infection ― even if you aren ’ t experiencing symptoms .
Taking care of yourself is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the time of a pandemic .
“ If everyone with a sore throat goes to hospital , resources will be used unnecessarily , ” said Jake Deutsch , a physician specializing in emergency medicine and co-founder of Specialty Infusion .
“ Statistically speaking , most people won ’ t need an intensive-care level of treatment , so make sure those resources are available for people who clearly are more at risk .
If you don ’ t have underlying medical conditions , I ’ d recommend staying home until you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put them in context of your medical problems .
”

sestovic via Getty Images It's important to be mindful of any mild symptoms you may be experiencing.
COVID-19 can be an unpredictable illness, with range of severity spanning from symptom-free to deadly.
As many have pointed out, most people who contract the disease will experience “mild symptoms,” which is good and bad news. On the plus side, the virus is not fatal for the vast majority of those infected. On the other hand, the large number of mild or asymptomatic cases makes the pandemic harder to track and contain. Not to mention the fact that COVID-19 has caused a lot of long-term health problems for many patients.
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This is why it’s crucial to pay attention to mild symptoms you may be experiencing and take precautions to protect your health and safety ― and the health and safety of others. HuffPost asked doctors to break down what exactly “mild” means when it comes to the coronavirus and what people should know about the symptoms.
What Are Mild Symptoms?
“Mild symptoms refer to similar symptoms that you may experience with a cold or mild flu-like illness,” said Kristin Dean, a board-certified physician and medical director at the telemedicine service Doctor on Demand. “In some cases, people who are infected will not exhibit any symptoms.”
Indeed, COVID-19 can present as a cold in mild cases. The most common symptoms of the disease include fever, body aches, fatigue, chills, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, headaches and nasal congestion.
The incubation period for COVID-19 indicates that it takes two to 14 days for an infected person to actually exhibit even mild symptoms. Research suggests that on average it takes about five days.
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“An individual may think nothing of these symptoms because they do not significantly change or impact their daily lives,” said Eudene Harry, a board-certified physician in emergency medicine and medical director for the Oasis Wellness & Rejuvenation Center in Orlando, Florida. She noted that people could tend to be dismissive of symptoms that may be early signs of the coronavirus.
“It includes symptoms that one may be denying to themselves or others because no one wants to be sick ― that’s human nature,” said Daniel Berliner, a physician at the virtual health platform PlushCare.
“Mild” cases of the coronavirus can also be more severe than people imagine, however. Early in the pandemic, Bruce Aylward of the World Health Organization told The New York Times that “mild” cases were not necessarily like a mild cold.
″‘Mild’ was a positive test, fever, cough ― maybe even pneumonia, but not needing oxygen,” he explained. ”‘Severe’ was breathing rate up and oxygen saturation down, so needing oxygen or a ventilator. ‘Critical’ was respiratory failure or multi-organ failure.”
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Due to the mildness of many early symptoms, it can be difficult to know when to seek medical care for a potential case of COVID-19.
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“One symptom that does raise a ‘red flag’ is shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing, although many people do not have this symptom as early as the other symptoms,” Berliner noted.
A high fever and worsening cough can also indicate a bigger issue that requires medical attention. If you have a history of medical conditions that can decrease your immune system’s response, you’ll want to be extra cautious as well.
“Decreased immunity may be caused by some of the following conditions: being older than age 65, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, HIV or taking immunosuppressive medications,” Dean explained.
If you fall into one of those categories and are experiencing any symptoms, contact a health care provider via phone or a virtual video visit to talk it through and discuss the next steps. This is especially important if you have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (even if you aren’t exhibiting symptoms, it is advisable to self-isolate for 14 days after contact).
Conducting initial consultations through telemedicine networks can help reduce the spread of the virus by allowing health care workers to take protective measures to prepare for a visit from a potentially infectious patient. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, however, call 911 to get immediate medical care.
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What If You Don’t Need Hospitalization Or Medical Care?
If you suspect you have COVID-19 or have come into contact with someone who does, you should get tested and otherwise quarantine to prevent potential spread to others.
Dean advised people who are exhibiting mild symptoms to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and remain isolated from others.
“You can take over-the-counter cold remedies to help treat your symptoms, such as acetaminophen for fevers or headaches, and cough medications to alleviate coughing,” she added. “Since this illness is due to a virus, antibiotics are not effective. Stay in touch with your doctor about changes in your symptoms, and when it’s all right to return to your usual activities.”
Experts believe people with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms, so it’s best to isolate as soon as you learn of potential exposure.
“Most people with coronavirus who have symptoms will no longer be contagious by 10 days after symptoms resolve,” Harvard Medical School’s health website notes. “People who test positive for the virus but never develop symptoms over the following 10 days after testing are probably no longer contagious, but again there are documented exceptions. So some experts are still recommending 14 days of isolation.”
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Wearing a face mask, washing hands, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and social distancing are all measures everyone can take to help slow the rate of infection ― even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms.
It’s important to follow guidance from reputable public health leaders as well. Check out the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your local health departments. You can also chat with your doctor.
“The best treatment we can provide is making sure people have correct information and can process everything,” said Jake Deutsch, a physician specializing in emergency medicine and co-founder of Specialty Infusion.
This story has been updated to include more information about COVID-19 symptoms learned over the course of the pandemic.


huffpost--2020-03-12--Desperate Cruise Lines Are Downplaying The Risk Of Coronavirus

The travel industry as a whole is suffering due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus , which as of Wednesday had infected more than 120,000 people globally .
But it ’ s cruise ships , in particular , that have become notorious hotbeds for the disease .
Last month , a Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined at a port in Japan for two weeks due to positive tests for coronavirus among passengers .
Ultimately , there were nearly 700 people with confirmed cases stemming from the ship , six of whom have died .
According to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the fourth-highest cause of coronavirus contraction among Americans .
Similar outbreaks have occurred in the weeks following .
As a result , Princess Cruise Lines announced Thursday that it is halting its global ship operations for the next 60 days .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department recommend that Americans avoid cruise ships right now , especially older adults and those with compromised immune systems .
“ Right now , it is not safe to take a cruise , ” said Patrick Hardy , a certified risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disaster preparedness planning app Disaster Hawk .
“ When you are confined to an enclosed area like a ship with passengers , there is little that personal disaster plans and preparedness can do for you ... People should avoid cruises until the pandemic is controlled , not one second earlier.
” Though most ships are still setting sail as scheduled , many passengers have decided to bail on their plans .
According to one survey by GOBankingRates , 65 % of respondents wouldn ’ t go on a cruise even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― a $ 150 billion business that carries 30 million passengers a year ― is taking a beating as a result .
Stocks of cruise operators have lost about 60 % of their value since the first coronavirus cases were reported on Jan. 20 ( the market as a whole , as measured by the S & P 500 , dropped 22 % so far this year ) .
It ’ s estimated that every lost voyage equals $ 3- $ 4 million in revenue down the drain .
Recently leaked Norwegian Cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lied to travelers to encourage bookings .
An anonymous employee told the Miami New Times that managers provided several talking points to use in case the coronavirus came up in conversation with potential customers .
Though some respiratory viruses such as the flu slow down in warmer months , they don ’ t disappear .
And because the coronavirus is so new , there is not enough evidence to know for certain how it will react to warmer temperatures .
Customers who attempt to cancel their trips due to health concerns have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrific example , a family from Hawaii scheduled to travel on the Norwegian Jade and stop in Hong Kong last month was denied a refund for canceling the $ 32,000 trip .
Other cruise lines may not be engaging in the same egregious practices , but they are encouraging customers to stick with their travel plans despite the very real risks .
A Carnival Cruise representative , for example , shared with HuffPost a handful of letters that the company is sending to customers in light of the coronavirus threat .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety precautions being taken , one letter details updated rescheduling policies as well as financial incentives for keeping plans intact : Guests who choose to keep your booking as currently scheduled for departures between March 6 and May 31 will receive the following Onboard Credit ( OBC ) amounts : • None $ 100 per cabin for 3 and 4 day cruises • None $ 200 per cabin for 6 day and longer cruises For our guests booked on Carnival Radiance European itineraries , we are finalizing some itinerary changes and a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next few days .
Chad Smith , vice president of engineering for a Chicago-based home automation company in Wichita , Kansas , said his family is booked on a five-day Carnival cruise that departs on Monday .
Not only did he receive an offer for $ 150 in credit , but his travel agent was able to negotiate another $ 200 due to so many passengers canceling .
“ You ’ ve probably seen the jokes people are posting about there being cheap cruises available right now , and it appears it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , cruise prices may not be at rock-bottom rates quite yet , but they are still trying to entice travelers with minor deals .
“ There are definitely some cheap prices out there for some specific sailings .
It ’ s just not across the board , ” said Tanner Callais , founder of Cruzely.com , noting that he ’ s seeing prices of about $ 50- $ 100 cheaper per person right now .
“ [ My family and I ] are fairly healthy , so it definitely makes keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Smith said , noting his family is on the fence about what to do .
But how much is a person ’ s health and safety worth ?
“ I personally think it would be better for everyone to reschedule , but know that their jobs are not as flexible as ours , ” Smith said .
“ The fact that pretty much every other organization is canceling activities when cruise lines are not speaks a lot about where their priorities lie.
” Though doctors say most cases of COVID-19 are mild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially considered a pandemic ― is responsible for at least 38 deaths in the U.S. so far .
Just because you are healthy now doesn ’ t mean you ’ re immune to the potentially serious effects of the virus .
And even if you do avoid falling ill , you ’ re still capable of spreading the disease to others who are more vulnerable .

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The travel industry as a whole is suffering due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, which as of Wednesday had infected more than 120,000 people globally. But it’s cruise ships, in particular, that have become notorious hotbeds for the disease.
Last month, a Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined at a port in Japan for two weeks due to positive tests for coronavirus among passengers. Ultimately, there were nearly 700 people with confirmed cases stemming from the ship, six of whom have died. According to The New York Times, that cruise ship is the fourth-highest cause of coronavirus contraction among Americans. Similar outbreaks have occurred in the weeks following.
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As a result, Princess Cruise Lines announced Thursday that it is halting its global ship operations for the next 60 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department recommend that Americans avoid cruise ships right now, especially older adults and those with compromised immune systems.
“Right now, it is not safe to take a cruise,” said Patrick Hardy, a certified risk manager, former FEMA representative and CEO of the disaster preparedness planning app Disaster Hawk. “When you are confined to an enclosed area like a ship with passengers, there is little that personal disaster plans and preparedness can do for you ... People should avoid cruises until the pandemic is controlled, not one second earlier.”
Carl Court via Getty Images The Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Daikoku Pier on Feb. 10, 2020, in Yokohama, Japan. Numerous passengers aboard contracted the coronavirus.
Though most ships are still setting sail as scheduled, many passengers have decided to bail on their plans. According to one survey by GOBankingRates, 65% of respondents wouldn’t go on a cruise even if it was all-expenses-paid.
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The cruise industry ― a $150 billion business that carries 30 million passengers a year ― is taking a beating as a result. Stocks of cruise operators have lost about 60% of their value since the first coronavirus cases were reported on Jan. 20 (the market as a whole, as measured by the S&P 500, dropped 22% so far this year). It’s estimated that every lost voyage equals $3-$4 million in revenue down the drain.
Cruise lines are feeling the pressure, and some are resorting to desperate measures to keep customers.
Cruise Lines Incentivize Customers To Stay On Board
Recently leaked Norwegian Cruise Line emails show that the company flat-out lied to travelers to encourage bookings. An anonymous employee told the Miami New Times that managers provided several talking points to use in case the coronavirus came up in conversation with potential customers.
“The Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise,” said one.
“Scientists and medical professionals have confirmed that the warm weather of the spring will be the end of the Coronavirus,” reads another.
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Though some respiratory viruses such as the flu slow down in warmer months, they don’t disappear. And because the coronavirus is so new, there is not enough evidence to know for certain how it will react to warmer temperatures.
Customers who attempt to cancel their trips due to health concerns have been met with resistance. In one particularly horrific example, a family from Hawaii scheduled to travel on the Norwegian Jade and stop in Hong Kong last month was denied a refund for canceling the $32,000 trip.
Norwegian did not respond to a request for comment.
Other cruise lines may not be engaging in the same egregious practices, but they are encouraging customers to stick with their travel plans despite the very real risks.
A Carnival Cruise representative, for example, shared with HuffPost a handful of letters that the company is sending to customers in light of the coronavirus threat. In addition to outlining enhanced screening measures and other safety precautions being taken, one letter details updated rescheduling policies as well as financial incentives for keeping plans intact:
Guests who choose to keep your booking as currently scheduled for departures between March 6 and May 31 will receive the following Onboard Credit (OBC) amounts: $100 per cabin for 3 and 4 day cruises $150 per cabin for 5 day cruises $200 per cabin for 6 day and longer cruises For our guests booked on Carnival Radiance European itineraries, we are finalizing some itinerary changes and a special offer that we will be sharing in the next few days.
Chad Smith, vice president of engineering for a Chicago-based home automation company in Wichita, Kansas, said his family is booked on a five-day Carnival cruise that departs on Monday. Not only did he receive an offer for $150 in credit, but his travel agent was able to negotiate another $200 due to so many passengers canceling.
“You’ve probably seen the jokes people are posting about there being cheap cruises available right now, and it appears it be somewhat true,” Smith said. Indeed, cruise prices may not be at rock-bottom rates quite yet, but they are still trying to entice travelers with minor deals. “There are definitely some cheap prices out there for some specific sailings. It’s just not across the board,” said Tanner Callais, founder of Cruzely.com, noting that he’s seeing prices of about $50-$100 cheaper per person right now. “[My family and I] are fairly healthy, so it definitely makes keeping our current plans slightly more appealing,” Smith said, noting his family is on the fence about what to do. But how much is a person’s health and safety worth? “I personally think it would be better for everyone to reschedule, but know that their jobs are not as flexible as ours,” Smith said. “The fact that pretty much every other organization is canceling activities when cruise lines are not speaks a lot about where their priorities lie.”
Travelers Are Still Setting Sail
Despite warnings from the CDC and State Department and horror stories about cruise ship passengers getting stuck in quarantine at sea, plenty of people are willing to take the risk.
The hassle of rescheduling plus the added incentives some cruise ship operators are promising might cause some passengers to feel they can’t afford not to go on their dream vacations.
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Though doctors say most cases of COVID-19 are mild, the highly contagious disease ― now officially considered a pandemic ― is responsible for at least 38 deaths in the U.S. so far. Just because you are healthy now doesn’t mean you’re immune to the potentially serious effects of the virus. And even if you do avoid falling ill, you’re still capable of spreading the disease to others who are more vulnerable.
“We scheduled the trip for my son’s spring break back in August, and I don’t want to ruin his time off, but I also don’t want to risk passing a lethal virus on to someone in poorer health or to end up barred from re-entering the country for 30 days,” Smith said.


huffpost--2020-03-12--Bernie Sanders Calls For National Emergency Response To Coronavirus Pandemic

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) warned that the coronavirus pandemic could reach wartime-levels of horror , in terms of both death count and economic fallout , if the United States does not act urgently to ensure universal access to health care , paid leave and unemployment benefits to American families .
In an address from his hometown in Burlington , Vermont , Sanders took aim at the Trump administration for being “ largely incompetent ” in the face of an international crisis , calling for the country to declare a national emergency .
Sanders laid out a plan that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free health care , expanding food safety assistance , housing security , and unemployment benefits , as well as measures to keep businesses afloat — like ensuring access to lines of credit for small business owners .
His message about the coronavirus sounded not unlike some of his most famous campaign speeches , asking Americans to fight for someone they do not know , and emphasizing the most vulnerable communities in the country .
“ It will be easy for us to feel like we are all alone ... or that we must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone else should fend for themselves , but in my view that would be a tragic and dangerous mistake , ” Sanders said in his address .
“ If our neighbor or coworker gets sick , we have the potential to become sick .
If our neighbor loses his or her job , then our local community suffers and we may lose our jobs .
We are in this together.
” Sanders campaign held a roundtable event on the coronavirus outbreak earlier this week in Detroit , Michigan , where doctors and nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case for government-run health insurance and called for any forthcoming vaccine developed for the virus be free of charge .
Sanders emphasized those policies Thursday , but with more urgency .
“ Unfortunately , as I think the American people increasingly understand , our country is at a severe disadvantage compared to every other major country on earth because we do not guarantee health care to all people as a right , ” Sanders said .
He added that even as the fight for “ Medicare For All ” — which would move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United States should offer treatment for coronavirus free of cost , now .
Both Sanders and Biden have canceled major campaign events and rallies in light of the coronavirus spread .
Biden also addressed the nation Thursday , censuring President Donald Trump for using xenophobic language when addressing the virus and downplaying the severity of its spread .
There were 1,323 documented cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and 38 related deaths in the United States as of Thursday afternoon .
The United States has lagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus .
As of Thursday , fewer than 10,000 possible cases had been tested , and there have been countless reports of Americans experiencing symptoms struggling to get tested .
By comparison , South Korea has built the capability to run 15,000 diagnostic tests per day .
Despite this , Trump has repeatedly said the testing has been going smoothly .
Sanders also called on Congress to take responsibility for mitigating the coronavirus crisis in a bipartisan manner .
Congress has been gridlocked in negotiations .
House Democrats intend to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would bolster funding for food security assistance programs , like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women , Infants and Children ; guarantee free coronavirus testing ; establish a national paid leave program ; and allocate additional unemployment benefits for those impacted by the economic upheaval — many of the policies Sanders supported Thursday .

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to reporters about coronavirus on Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) warned that the coronavirus pandemic could reach wartime-levels of horror, in terms of both death count and economic fallout, if the United States does not act urgently to ensure universal access to health care, paid leave and unemployment benefits to American families.
In an address from his hometown in Burlington, Vermont, Sanders took aim at the Trump administration for being “largely incompetent” in the face of an international crisis, calling for the country to declare a national emergency. Sanders laid out a plan that emphasized mobilizing the medical community to provide free health care, expanding food safety assistance, housing security, and unemployment benefits, as well as measures to keep businesses afloat — like ensuring access to lines of credit for small business owners.
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His message about the coronavirus sounded not unlike some of his most famous campaign speeches, asking Americans to fight for someone they do not know, and emphasizing the most vulnerable communities in the country.
“It will be easy for us to feel like we are all alone ... or that we must only worry about ourselves and think that everyone else should fend for themselves, but in my view that would be a tragic and dangerous mistake,” Sanders said in his address. “If our neighbor or coworker gets sick, we have the potential to become sick. If our neighbor loses his or her job, then our local community suffers and we may lose our jobs. We are in this together.”
Sanders campaign held a roundtable event on the coronavirus outbreak earlier this week in Detroit, Michigan, where doctors and nurses who have supported his campaign made the case for government-run health insurance and called for any forthcoming vaccine developed for the virus be free of charge. Sanders emphasized those policies Thursday, but with more urgency.
“Unfortunately, as I think the American people increasingly understand, our country is at a severe disadvantage compared to every other major country on earth because we do not guarantee health care to all people as a right,” Sanders said.
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He added that even as the fight for “Medicare For All” — which would move every American onto government-run insurance — continues, the United States should offer treatment for coronavirus free of cost, now.
Both Sanders and Biden have canceled major campaign events and rallies in light of the coronavirus spread. Biden also addressed the nation Thursday, censuring President Donald Trump for using xenophobic language when addressing the virus and downplaying the severity of its spread.
There were 1,323 documented cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 38 related deaths in the United States as of Thursday afternoon. The United States has lagged nearly every major developed country in testing for the virus. As of Thursday, fewer than 10,000 possible cases had been tested, and there have been countless reports of Americans experiencing symptoms struggling to get tested. By comparison, South Korea has built the capability to run 15,000 diagnostic tests per day. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly said the testing has been going smoothly. Sanders also called on Congress to take responsibility for mitigating the coronavirus crisis in a bipartisan manner.
Congress has been gridlocked in negotiations. House Democrats intend to vote on a package of bills Thursday that would bolster funding for food security assistance programs, like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; guarantee free coronavirus testing; establish a national paid leave program; and allocate additional unemployment benefits for those impacted by the economic upheaval — many of the policies Sanders supported Thursday.
But Republicans have already pushed back on the package.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called it an “ideological wishlist.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) also said he would oppose the package.


huffpost--2020-03-12--‘It’s Only March’: Colbert Reveals How 2020 Has Already ‘Done The Impossible’

Hindsight is supposed to be 20/20 ... but in this case , it just might be 2019 .
“ Late Show ” host Stephen Colbert noted that the news just keeps getting worse as the COVID-19 coronavirus infections continue to spread .
Colbert played a clip of Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warning that the outbreak will get worse and that daily life is about to change as a result .
“ We would like the country to realize that as a nation we can ’ t be doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months ago , ” he said this week .
“ A few months ago , it was great .
It was the holidays , I was drunk on eggnog , I was watching ‘ Cheer , ’ I was falling in love with baby Yoda , I was looking forward to impeaching the president .
Remember that feeling ?
” “ It ’ s only March , ” he said .
” 2020 has done the impossible : Made me nostalgic for 2019.
” See more of his monologue below : TONIGHT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wishing it was a few months ago .
# LSSC pic.twitter.com/8W4lmBUpzd — The Late Show ( @ colbertlateshow ) March 12 , 2020

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Hindsight is supposed to be 20/20... but in this case, it just might be 2019.
“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert noted that the news just keeps getting worse as the COVID-19 coronavirus infections continue to spread.
Colbert played a clip of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warning that the outbreak will get worse and that daily life is about to change as a result.
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“We would like the country to realize that as a nation we can’t be doing the kinds of things we were doing a few months ago,” he said this week.
“But I want to!” Colbert replied, adding:
“A few months ago, it was great. It was the holidays, I was drunk on eggnog, I was watching ‘Cheer,’ I was falling in love with baby Yoda, I was looking forward to impeaching the president. Remember that feeling?”
“It’s only March,” he said. ”2020 has done the impossible: Made me nostalgic for 2019.”
See more of his monologue below:
TONIGHT: The Coronavirus has got us all wishing it was a few months ago. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/8W4lmBUpzd — The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) March 12, 2020