huffpost--2020-04-15--Nurse Couple Finds Way To Love Each Other While Treating COVID-19 Patients

“ Everybody ’ s talking about the photo , ” says Cayer , 46 .
It strikes a chord “ because we ’ re all going through the same thing right now and it ’ s a symbol of hope and love.
” Brock , 38 , adds : “ What ’ s important is that we stick together , we work together , and we always support each other .
And not just Ben and I , but the human race right now.
” The Florida pair share a home , a profession and , now , a mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathing tubes in surgery patients , any of whom may have COVID-19 .
Placing a tube into a patient ’ s mouth and down into their airway requires close contact — and because the virus spreads in droplets , the highest level of protective gear .
To conserve gear and expose fewer health care workers , the hospital pared down staff to a minimum for intubations before surgery .
Their patients have been in car crashes , or needed brain surgery because of a ruptured blood vessel .
As is the case at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue at the Tampa hospital , to make room as the pandemic continues to crest .
They met in nurse anesthesia school in 2007 .
In classes , they sat in alphabetical order .
Brock next to Cayer , she says , “ and it just took off from there.
” They married five years ago .
But on the morning of the photo , they bickered during the drive to work .
They disagreed about what to play on the car radio , and who was doing the dishes at home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brock ’ s first day on the new team — were making them both tense .
“ We were arguing , ” she says .
Later , they found each other between surgeries .
The tension melted .
“ All those trivial things that we were arguing about that morning , in the grand scheme of things , aren ’ t that important.
” The photo captures that moment .
He says they don ’ t worry much about getting sick , although the virus has come close .
Brock ’ s mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catching it .
Patients feel alone because visitors have been strictly limited .
“ We have grown men bawling because none of their family can be there with them , ” Brock says .
It helps to be married to another nurse , because “ unless you ’ re here doing this , there ’ s no way to describe it , ” she says .
“ He gets it.
” While nonstop global news about the effects of the coronavirus have become commonplace , so , too , are the stories about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sacrificed for others .
“ One Good Thing ” is an AP continuing series reflecting these acts of kindness .

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Between surgeries one stressful morning, Ben Cayer and Mindy Brock — husband and wife, and fellow nurse anesthetists — peered through layers of protective gear, and locked eyes.
It was a lovers’ gaze in the most unlikely situation. A co-worker was there to snap a picture.
Now the image, shared on social media, is inspiring people around the globe.
“Everybody’s talking about the photo,” says Cayer, 46. It strikes a chord “because we’re all going through the same thing right now and it’s a symbol of hope and love.”
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Brock, 38, adds: “What’s important is that we stick together, we work together, and we always support each other. And not just Ben and I, but the human race right now.”
The Florida pair share a home, a profession and, now, a mission — shouldering the high-risk duty of placing breathing tubes in surgery patients, any of whom may have COVID-19.
They didn’t think twice about volunteering for Tampa General Hospital’s new “airway team,” Cayer says.
Placing a tube into a patient’s mouth and down into their airway requires close contact — and because the virus spreads in droplets, the highest level of protective gear. To conserve gear and expose fewer health care workers, the hospital pared down staff to a minimum for intubations before surgery.
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Their patients have been in car crashes, or needed brain surgery because of a ruptured blood vessel. As is the case at many U.S. hospitals, only emergency surgeries continue at the Tampa hospital, to make room as the pandemic continues to crest.
They met in nurse anesthesia school in 2007. In classes, they sat in alphabetical order. Brock next to Cayer, she says, “and it just took off from there.”
They married five years ago. But on the morning of the photo, they bickered during the drive to work. They disagreed about what to play on the car radio, and who was doing the dishes at home.
The new COVID-19 procedures — it was Brock’s first day on the new team — were making them both tense.
“We were arguing,” she says. Later, they found each other between surgeries. The tension melted. “All those trivial things that we were arguing about that morning, in the grand scheme of things, aren’t that important.” The photo captures that moment.
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He says they don’t worry much about getting sick, although the virus has come close. Brock’s mother has recovered from it. Co-workers fear catching it. Patients feel alone because visitors have been strictly limited.
“We have grown men bawling because none of their family can be there with them,” Brock says.
It helps to be married to another nurse, because “unless you’re here doing this, there’s no way to describe it,” she says. “He gets it.”
___


huffpost--2020-04-14--You Won't Have To Pay Back Coronavirus Relief Money, Feds Say

CHICAGO ( AP ) — Videos and online reports claiming that millions of Americans will have to repay the relief checks they receive from the federal government under the $ 2.2 trillion coronavirus economic recovery bill are not true .
The government began issuing the one-time payments this week .
Most adults who earned up to $ 75,000 will see a $ 1,200 payout , while married couples who made up to $ 150,000 can expect to get $ 2,400 .
Parents will get payments of $ 500 per child .
The checks will be directly deposited into bank accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how you ’ ve filed your tax returns in the past .
In recent days , social media posts have falsely claimed there ’ s one catch to this money ― that you ’ ll eventually have to pay it back .
“ Next year , you ’ re automatically going to owe $ 1,200 come tax season , ” one of the videos , viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube , falsely claims .
The video has also been shared widely on social media platforms including Facebook , Instagram , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department and Internal Revenue Service , which are working to deliver the money to people , confirmed to The Associated Press that households will not have to pay back the money in next year ’ s tax filing .
“ This is not an advance and there is absolutely no obligation to pay it back , ” Treasury spokeswoman Patricia McLaughlin said in an email .
The federal government uses information from 2018 or 2019 tax returns ― whichever was filed most recently ― to determine eligibility for the payouts .
Those payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 75,000 and phase out entirely for those earning more than $ 99,000 .
For married couples , the payments get smaller for those earning more than $ 150,000 , falling to zero at $ 198,000 .
For heads of household with one child , the benefit starts to decline at $ 112,500 and falls to zero at $ 136,500 .
The confusion on social media appears to have stemmed from language in the economic rescue bill that refers to the checks as an “ advance refund ” because the money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax year , before Americans have even filed their tax returns for the year .
The 2020 tax form has not been printed but the relief checks will not have any bearing on your income deductions next year , said Eric Smith , a spokesman for the IRS .

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CHICAGO (AP) — Videos and online reports claiming that millions of Americans will have to repay the relief checks they receive from the federal government under the $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic recovery bill are not true.
The government began issuing the one-time payments this week. Most adults who earned up to $75,000 will see a $1,200 payout, while married couples who made up to $150,000 can expect to get $2,400. Parents will get payments of $500 per child. The checks will be directly deposited into bank accounts or mailed to households, depending on how you’ve filed your tax returns in the past.
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In recent days, social media posts have falsely claimed there’s one catch to this money ― that you’ll eventually have to pay it back.
“Next year, you’re automatically going to owe $1,200 come tax season,” one of the videos, viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube, falsely claims. The video has also been shared widely on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, which are working to deliver the money to people, confirmed to The Associated Press that households will not have to pay back the money in next year’s tax filing.
“This is not an advance and there is absolutely no obligation to pay it back,” Treasury spokeswoman Patricia McLaughlin said in an email.
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The federal government uses information from 2018 or 2019 tax returns ― whichever was filed most recently ― to determine eligibility for the payouts. Those payments begin to get smaller for adults making more than $75,000 and phase out entirely for those earning more than $99,000. For married couples, the payments get smaller for those earning more than $150,000, falling to zero at $198,000. For heads of household with one child, the benefit starts to decline at $112,500 and falls to zero at $136,500.
The confusion on social media appears to have stemmed from language in the economic rescue bill that refers to the checks as an “advance refund” because the money is being given out in the 2020 tax year, before Americans have even filed their tax returns for the year.


huffpost--2020-04-15--Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Steer Wedding Funds To A Good Cause

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are doing their part to make a difference during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex steered $ 113,000 to the charity Feeding Britain , using excess money the BBC made from broadcasting their royal wedding on May 19 , 2018 .
The charity has boosted its food programs to help the increasing numbers of hungry children and families during the COVID-19 outbreak .
The couple is “ delighted to be able to ensure this money is donated to such a great cause , ” a spokesperson for the Sussexes told HuffPost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby , has been a consequential figure in the lives of the duke and duchess .
He presided over their 2018 wedding and baptized Meghan into the Church of England prior to the nuptials in a private ceremony .
“ The Duke and Duchess were able to speak to The Archbishop recently , and were moved to hear all about the work Feeding Britain was doing to support people during Covid-19 , ” the couple ’ s spokesperson added in a statement .
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Windsor Castle during their wedding service , conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby , on May 19 , 2018 .
The donation was first reported by Town & Country , which cited a statement from Andrew Forsey , national director of Feeding Britain , calling the gift a “ godsend.
” The leftover funds from Meghan and Harry ’ s wedding recently became available as the coronavirus pandemic emerged , according to the outlet .
Harry and Meghan paid a visit to Feeding Britain ’ s first supermarket in January 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ particularly fond memories ” of that trip , “ especially the generosity and compassion of everyone working there to help others.
” Harry and Meghan officially open 'Number 7 ' , a 'Feeding Birkenhead ' citizen ’ s supermarket and community café , on Jan. 14 , 2019 in Birkenhead , England .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex , who are now residing in Los Angeles after stepping back from their royal duties last month , revealed the new name of their future charity last week after it was reported in @ @ @

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are doing their part to make a difference during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex steered $113,000 to the charity Feeding Britain, using excess money the BBC made from broadcasting their royal wedding on May 19, 2018. The charity has boosted its food programs to help the increasing numbers of hungry children and families during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The couple is “delighted to be able to ensure this money is donated to such a great cause,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes told HuffPost.
The president of Feeding Britain, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, has been a consequential figure in the lives of the duke and duchess. He presided over their 2018 wedding and baptized Meghan into the Church of England prior to the nuptials in a private ceremony.
“The Duke and Duchess were able to speak to The Archbishop recently, and were moved to hear all about the work Feeding Britain was doing to support people during Covid-19,” the couple’s spokesperson added in a statement.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchange vows in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, on May 19, 2018. POOL New / Reuters
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The donation was first reported by Town & Country, which cited a statement from Andrew Forsey, national director of Feeding Britain, calling the gift a “godsend.” The leftover funds from Meghan and Harry’s wedding recently became available as the coronavirus pandemic emerged, according to the outlet.
Harry and Meghan paid a visit to Feeding Britain’s first supermarket in January 2019. Their spokesperson said the couple has “particularly fond memories” of that trip, “especially the generosity and compassion of everyone working there to help others.”
Harry and Meghan officially open 'Number 7', a 'Feeding Birkenhead' citizen’s supermarket and community café, on Jan. 14, 2019 in Birkenhead, England. Anthony Devlin via Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are now residing in Los Angeles after stepping back from their royal duties last month, revealed the new name of their future charity last week after it was reported in The Telegraph.
“Like you, our focus is on supporting efforts to tackle the global Covid-19 pandemic but faced with this information coming to light, we felt compelled to share the story of how this came to be,” the Sussexes said in a statement about their new, nonprofit, to be called Archewell.
“Before SussexRoyal came the idea of ‘arche’ — the Greek word meaning ‘source of action,’” the couple continued. “We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.” CLARIFICATION: Language has been amended to reflect that the funds were not donated by the Sussexes directly.


huffpost--2020-04-15--Senate Democrats To Trump: You Failed At Managing National Stockpile

Vermont , a state with a population of 623,989 , received the same amount of N95 masks as Texas , which has a population of 28.9 million .
Both states received 120,900 of the masks , which filter 95 % of air particles .
The Democrats also expressed concern over Trump ’ s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner ’ s remarks earlier this month , claiming that the supplies in the federal stockpile were not meant for states to use .
Trump later defended Kushner ’ s comments by saying that the federal government was “ not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fend for themselves , ” Trump said of the states .
After Kushner ’ s comment , the HHS had updated its description of the national stockpile on its website to match the adviser ’ s claim .
The senators sent the president five questions to clarify what the administration ’ s strategy was when sending stockpile supplies to states , including how they prioritized states ’ requests , what role Kushner plays in the coronavirus task force and why the HHS ’ s definition of the stockpile was changed on its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration would ensure that the distribution of supplies to states would not be politicized .

Vermont, a state with a population of 623,989, received the same amount of N95 masks as Texas, which has a population of 28.9 million. Both states received 120,900 of the masks, which filter 95% of air particles.
The Democrats also expressed concern over Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner’s remarks earlier this month, claiming that the supplies in the federal stockpile were not meant for states to use.
Trump later defended Kushner’s comments by saying that the federal government was “not an ordering clerk.”
“They have to fend for themselves,” Trump said of the states.
After Kushner’s comment, the HHS had updated its description of the national stockpile on its website to match the adviser’s claim.
The senators sent the president five questions to clarify what the administration’s strategy was when sending stockpile supplies to states, including how they prioritized states’ requests, what role Kushner plays in the coronavirus task force and why the HHS’s definition of the stockpile was changed on its website.
The Democrats also asked Trump how his administration would ensure that the distribution of supplies to states would not be politicized.
How is the Administration prioritizing requests from states? Who is making decisions about current distribution practices?
Recent reporting indicates that Senior Advisor Jared Kushner is now charged with overseeing the distribution of supplies from the stockpile and additional supplies obtained by the federal government. What is the role of Jared Kushner and how does it interact with other established efforts, including the Coronavirus Task Force led by Vice President Pence and the Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force led by Admiral Polowczyk?
Why were significant changes made to the stockpile’s website on April 3 to align with inaccurate statements made by Mr. Kushner, and who in the Administration requested that the changes be made? Is this change indicative of a larger shift in the management of the stockpile?
What is the current process to replenish the stockpile and how is this coordinated with FEMA’s procurement process?
How is the Administration is working to ensure that the distribution of life-saving supplies is free from political interference?
Read the full letter here:


huffpost--2020-04-15--A Year After Blaze, Notre Dame Restoration Halted By Virus

Some of the 40,000 prickly metal bars — erected for an earlier renovation project — melted in the intense blaze on April 15 , 2019 .
The unstable scaffolding now endangers the Gothic jewel that for many embodies the soul of France .
The restoration of the landmark from the 12th and 13th centuries has been halted and the workers sent home because of France ’ s coronavirus lockdown that began March 17 , thwarting plans to start removing the 250 tons of metal scaffolding .
“ The message of hope is especially important for our compatriots at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , which is sowing anguish and death , ” the archbishop told reporters .
“ As long as we have this scaffolding around , there ’ s still sort of a 50 % chance that more damage can be brought to the cathedral , ” said Notre Dame chaplain Brice de Malherbe , who last year was evacuated from his home next door as flames engulfed the roof .
He recalled his worst moment that night : “ When one had the impression that the fire was coming down and suddenly it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet , Notre Dame de Paris remained standing , still grandly surveying the French capital from the island in the Seine , her two familiar bell towers partially eaten from within by flames but their heavy stones apparently only charred on the outside .
French President Emmanuel Macron wants the cathedral to reopen its giant doors in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris .
But progress has been delayed by setbacks , from the discovery of toxic dust from the melted lead roof and spire to the health and safety demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scaffolding can be removed by the fall .
Then , stones must be analyzed to see which need to be replaced .
Debris and huge ancient beams that burned like kindling must be cleared from the soaring vaults , Malherbe said .
An umbrella structure will then be built to protect the site , which is now surrounded by high barricades .
“ Notre Dame is confined .
I couldn ’ t throw a bouquet of flowers over to her , ” said Cecile Deleville , who had tossed one over the lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s as though they took that away , too.
” The 67-year-old retiree dared to take her first look at the cathedral a day after the fire , along with reporters from The Associated Press .
She said at the time that she felt like an orphan .
Now , she fears she won ’ t see Notre Dame reborn in her lifetime .
Deleville worries that the reconstruction will fall by the wayside as France tries to rebuild its economy once the virus has been vanquished .
Donations large and small are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 400 million euros ( $ 437 million ) from three sources alone : the Total oil company and French tycoons Francois Pinault and Bernard Arnault of the luxury giant LVMH .
Millions more have been pledged , but it was the modest donations , mainly from people in France and the United States , that covered the initial costs .
But it has resisted thermal shocks from the fire , water from hoses that drenched it for days , the summer heat and high winds , he said , adding that sensors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structure have picked up nothing notable .
A timeline for the reconstruction may need to be redrawn to account for the virus lockdown .
What also is unclear is what the new spire will look like .
Will it be a copy of architect Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc ’ s 19th century creation in lead that soared 96 meters ( 315 feet ) high , or be a contemporary version ?

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PARIS (AP) — The Cathedral of Notre Dame stands crippled and alone, locked in a dangerous web of twisted scaffolding one year after a cataclysmic fire gutted its interior, toppled its famous spire and horrified the world.
Some of the 40,000 prickly metal bars — erected for an earlier renovation project — melted in the intense blaze on April 15, 2019. The unstable scaffolding now endangers the Gothic jewel that for many embodies the soul of France.
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The restoration of the landmark from the 12th and 13th centuries has been halted and the workers sent home because of France’s coronavirus lockdown that began March 17, thwarting plans to start removing the 250 tons of metal scaffolding.
So even Notre Dame has been left in isolation by the pandemic that has affected so many people across France.
On Good Friday, Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit led an exceptional but tiny gathering inside the church at the foot of the huge golden cross that remains intact.
“Today, we stand in this half-fallen cathedral to say that life is still here,” Aupetit said in the televised ceremony.
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The gathering in the fragile church that remains under lockdown was meant to raise the spirits of a nation in distress.
“The message of hope is especially important for our compatriots at a time when we are particularly affected by the coronavirus, which is sowing anguish and death,” the archbishop told reporters.
The scaffolding of Notre-Dame Cathedral is seen after repair work stops due to the coronavirus outbreak one year after fire ravaged the emblematic monument as the lockdown continues on April 14, 2020, in Paris. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis via Getty Images
There was no Easter service, and there are no plans to mark the anniversary of the devastating fire.
“As long as we have this scaffolding around, there’s still sort of a 50% chance that more damage can be brought to the cathedral,” said Notre Dame chaplain Brice de Malherbe, who last year was evacuated from his home next door as flames engulfed the roof.
He recalled his worst moment that night: “When one had the impression that the fire was coming down and suddenly it resumed in one of the towers.”
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Yet, Notre Dame de Paris remained standing, still grandly surveying the French capital from the island in the Seine, her two familiar bell towers partially eaten from within by flames but their heavy stones apparently only charred on the outside.
French President Emmanuel Macron wants the cathedral to reopen its giant doors in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. But progress has been delayed by setbacks, from the discovery of toxic dust from the melted lead roof and spire to the health and safety demands of the pandemic.
Officials hope the scaffolding can be removed by the fall. Then, stones must be analyzed to see which need to be replaced. Debris and huge ancient beams that burned like kindling must be cleared from the soaring vaults, Malherbe said. An umbrella structure will then be built to protect the site, which is now surrounded by high barricades.
For one fervent devotee of Notre Dame, the barricades, which replaced a smaller barrier, symbolize her loss, and the virus spreading across France and the world.
“Notre Dame is confined. I couldn’t throw a bouquet of flowers over to her,” said Cecile Deleville, who had tossed one over the lower fencing in December. “It’s as though they took that away, too.”
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The 67-year-old retiree dared to take her first look at the cathedral a day after the fire, along with reporters from The Associated Press. She said at the time that she felt like an orphan.
Now, she fears she won’t see Notre Dame reborn in her lifetime. Deleville worries that the reconstruction will fall by the wayside as France tries to rebuild its economy once the virus has been vanquished.
Donations large and small are helping to pay for the restoration, with 400 million euros ($437 million) from three sources alone: the Total oil company and French tycoons Francois Pinault and Bernard Arnault of the luxury giant LVMH. Millions more have been pledged, but it was the modest donations, mainly from people in France and the United States, that covered the initial costs.
A nun is seen walking on the "De La Tournelle bridge" with Notre Dame Cathedral in the background on April 10, 2020, in Paris. Pierre Suu via Getty Images
Those in charge of returning Notre Dame to its original splendor are still at work, despite being locked down.
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The cathedral “has been gravely injured, undeniably so,” Jean-Luis Georgelin, a retired general appointed by Macron to head the restoration project, said in an interview with the Catholic publication Le Pelerin.
But it has resisted thermal shocks from the fire, water from hoses that drenched it for days, the summer heat and high winds, he said, adding that sensors installed to read any movement of the structure have picked up nothing notable.
A timeline for the reconstruction may need to be redrawn to account for the virus lockdown. What also is unclear is what the new spire will look like. Will it be a copy of architect Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th century creation in lead that soared 96 meters (315 feet) high, or be a contemporary version?
With Notre Dame still in agony, Deleville, the believer who lost her church, cannot muster a vision of the future.
“It makes my heart cry,” she said. “I return but she isn’t there.”
___


huffpost--2020-04-15--China Demand For ‘Other Unforeseeable Event’ Out In Trade Deal Was Possible Red Flag

But the language insisted upon by China in December , according to an informal adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity , creates an exit path for the entire agreement , and should have been seen as another warning sign about the coronavirus outbreak .
Trump , eager to seal the China deal , did nothing to push China for details about the virus , and instead praised its dictator , Xi Jinping , for his “ transparency ” about the matter , the adviser said .
“ The whole month of January was lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser and other critics said it should have been seen as yet another red flag missed by Trump in his zeal to finalize a deal to partially unwind his trade war against China ahead of the 2020 presidential election .
Multiple published reports — which Trump ’ s White House has not refuted — have found that the National Security Council began getting word of the new disease outbreak in late November , and that the first mention of the coronavirus threat entered Trump ’ s “ President ’ s Daily Brief ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the basis for the president ’ s intelligence briefing , which under previous presidents was a daily , early morning fixture but which under Trump appears to be happening only occasionally , and typically in the mid-afternoons on those days when it does take place .
A HuffPost review of Trump ’ s schedules for January shows no briefing until Jan. 6 , and a total of nine all month .
White House officials claim that just because there was no briefing on the schedule does not mean that Trump did not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dates that he received one — or to explain why an intelligence briefing shows on the schedule at all on some days but not on others .
“ As the virus spread , Trump wasted crucial weeks neglecting warnings from his own intelligence experts and praising China ’ s containment efforts as successful and transparent , ” said Andrew Bates , a spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
“ Trump was soft on China during the worst public health crisis in over 100 years , all to protect his trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help him win reelection.
” Outside trade experts , though , said they were not particularly surprised that China insisted on such a provision in this deal .
Unlike most trade pacts , which are mutual agreements to lower or eliminate tariffs , the U.S.-China accord is essentially a promise from China to buy a certain quantity of U.S. goods in exchange for reduced U.S. import tariffs .
Trump , who campaigned on the falsehood that all other countries “ rip off ” American taxpayers by running trade surpluses with the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 by increasing tariffs on its imports .
That move resulted in higher costs to American consumers and wound up devastating farmers , who lost billions in sales to China after it raised retaliatory tariffs .
While Trump has ordered a total of $ 28 billion in bailouts to farmers thus far — while falsely claiming that the money came from China , and not U.S. taxpayers — those funds have not made up for the losses growers have suffered .
Trump ’ s approval ratings in key agricultural states like Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been pushing hard last year for a deal with China as an accomplishment to use in his reelection .
That politically driven effort , critics said , was why Trump declined to criticize China through the signing of the agreement on Jan. 15 , and even through this day , for covering up the severity of the outbreak in Wuhan and not sharing information about the virus with outside health experts .
Trump has repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress , mayors and governors , the news media and Obama for the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his actions to contain the disease — even though Xi did not contain the disease , and , in fact , his coverup efforts led to its spread around the world .
On Tuesday , Trump attacked the World Health Organization for failing to warn the world about the threat , but still continued to defend China .
But trade experts said that figure would have been an unlikely reach for China even before the pandemic .
The deal calls for $ 50 billion in annual agricultural purchases , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. farmers in its peak year .
“ Trump placed cementing and selling his trade deal with China , which he immediately touted as evidence he should be re-elected , ahead of preparing the United States for the impending pandemic , ” said former CIA analyst Ned Price , who served as a National Security Council spokesman under Obama .
“ He ’ s continued to treat Xi with kid gloves for the same reason , namely that he needs to be able to tout the deal in the run-up to November .
@

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WASHINGTON — As negotiators wrapped up the framework of President Donald Trump’s vaunted trade deal in December, China may have provided a missed clue about the coronavirus outbreak already unfolding there: insistence on a provision allowing for an out in case of “a natural disaster or other unforeseeable event.”
Such “force majeure” language, while common in commercial contracts, is rare in trade agreements, particularly between two countries with economies so large that they are essentially immune to localized floods and droughts.
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No such provision existed in the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated under former President Barack Obama, nor in the United States-South Korea agreement modified under Trump. A limited provision was included in the revised North American Free Trade Agreement under Trump in the food export section for the purpose of ensuring “food security.”
But the language insisted upon by China in December, according to an informal adviser close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity, creates an exit path for the entire agreement, and should have been seen as another warning sign about the coronavirus outbreak.
“In the event that a natural disaster or other unforeseeable event outside the control of the parties delays a party from timely complying with its obligations under this agreement, the parties shall consult with each other,” it reads.
Trump, eager to seal the China deal, did nothing to push China for details about the virus, and instead praised its dictator, Xi Jinping, for his “transparency” about the matter, the adviser said. “The whole month of January was lost,” he said.
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The White House, the Treasury Department and the United States Trade Representative’s office did not respond to multiple queries about the provision.
The informal adviser and other critics said it should have been seen as yet another red flag missed by Trump in his zeal to finalize a deal to partially unwind his trade war against China ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Multiple published reports — which Trump’s White House has not refuted — have found that the National Security Council began getting word of the new disease outbreak in late November, and that the first mention of the coronavirus threat entered Trump’s “President’s Daily Brief” in early January.
That document is the basis for the president’s intelligence briefing, which under previous presidents was a daily, early morning fixture but which under Trump appears to be happening only occasionally, and typically in the mid-afternoons on those days when it does take place.
A HuffPost review of Trump’s schedules for January shows no briefing until Jan. 6, and a total of nine all month. White House officials claim that just because there was no briefing on the schedule does not mean that Trump did not have one. But they decline to list the dates that he received one — or to explain why an intelligence briefing shows on the schedule at all on some days but not on others.
“As the virus spread, Trump wasted crucial weeks neglecting warnings from his own intelligence experts and praising China’s containment efforts as successful and transparent,” said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. “Trump was soft on China during the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, all to protect his trade negotiations with them that he thought would help him win reelection.”
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Outside trade experts, though, said they were not particularly surprised that China insisted on such a provision in this deal. Unlike most trade pacts, which are mutual agreements to lower or eliminate tariffs, the U.S.-China accord is essentially a promise from China to buy a certain quantity of U.S. goods in exchange for reduced U.S. import tariffs.
“This is not a trade agreement. This is more like a hostage situation,” said Mary Lovely, an economics professor at Syracuse University specializing in international trade.
Trump, who campaigned on the falsehood that all other countries “rip off” American taxpayers by running trade surpluses with the United States, began his trade war with China in 2018 by increasing tariffs on its imports. That move resulted in higher costs to American consumers and wound up devastating farmers, who lost billions in sales to China after it raised retaliatory tariffs.
While Trump has ordered a total of $28 billion in bailouts to farmers thus far — while falsely claiming that the money came from China, and not U.S. taxpayers — those funds have not made up for the losses growers have suffered. Trump’s approval ratings in key agricultural states like Wisconsin and Iowa have suffered, and he had been pushing hard last year for a deal with China as an accomplishment to use in his reelection.
That politically driven effort, critics said, was why Trump declined to criticize China through the signing of the agreement on Jan. 15, and even through this day, for covering up the severity of the outbreak in Wuhan and not sharing information about the virus with outside health experts.
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Trump has repeatedly criticized Democrats in Congress, mayors and governors, the news media and Obama for the pandemic, even while he continually praised Xi for his actions to contain the disease — even though Xi did not contain the disease, and, in fact, his coverup efforts led to its spread around the world. On Tuesday, Trump attacked the World Health Organization for failing to warn the world about the threat, but still continued to defend China.
Asked why he was praising Xi for being “transparent” when he had not been, Trump answered: “Well, I did a trade deal with China, where China is supposed to be spending $250 billion in our country.”
But trade experts said that figure would have been an unlikely reach for China even before the pandemic. The deal calls for $50 billion in annual agricultural purchases, for example, which is twice what China bought from U.S. farmers in its peak year.
“I thought it was always a stretch. But with the coronavirus, it seems even more unobtainable,” said Wendy Cutler, who worked in the USTR’s office for decades and helped craft the TPP under Obama.
And the structure of the agreement leaves Trump with no recourse should China to fail to hit that purchase goal other than simply canceling the agreement and jacking tariffs back up again — which would hurt American manufacturers, consumers and farmers anew.
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huffpost--2020-04-15--CDC Director Distances From Trump, Says Relationship With WHO Has Been 'Productive'

On Tuesday , Trump announced at a White House news conference that the United States would halt funding to the WHO temporarily because the U.N. health agency “ failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.
” He went on to say that the group promoted China ’ s “ disinformation ” about the virus , “ severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus.
” Trump claimed those actions by the WHO led to the current worldwide outbreak and that “ thousands and thousands would have died ” if he hadn ’ t restricted travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided no evidence to prove the veracity of that claim .
In 2019 , the United States contributed more than $ 400 million to the WHO ― the organization ’ s biggest overall donor , according to Reuters .
Many leaders and powerful organizations have spoken out against Trump ’ s defunding of WHO , including Bill Gates and The United States Chamber of Commerce , an American lobbying group that usually supports Republican political candidates .
On Tuesday night , Gates tweeted that the move was “ as dangerous as it sounds.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them .
The world needs WHO now more than ever , ” he wrote .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce told an Associated Press reporter on Wednesday that Trump ’ s decision is “ not in U.S. interests given the organization ’ s critical role assisting other countries — particularly in the developing world — in their response.
” COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , has been ravaging the world since the end of last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of the virus worldwide , and more than 128,000 deaths , the virus has disrupted life on a global scale as governments both local and federal attempt to slow the spread .

On Tuesday, Trump announced at a White House news conference that the United States would halt funding to the WHO temporarily because the U.N. health agency “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.” He went on to say that the group promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus, “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus.”
Trump claimed those actions by the WHO led to the current worldwide outbreak and that “thousands and thousands would have died” if he hadn’t restricted travel from China on Jan. 31. He provided no evidence to prove the veracity of that claim.
In 2019, the United States contributed more than $400 million to the WHO ― the organization’s biggest overall donor, according to Reuters.
Many leaders and powerful organizations have spoken out against Trump’s defunding of WHO, including Bill Gates and The United States Chamber of Commerce, an American lobbying group that usually supports Republican political candidates.
On Tuesday night, Gates tweeted that the move was “as dangerous as it sounds.”
“Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs WHO now more than ever,” he wrote.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce told an Associated Press reporter on Wednesday that Trump’s decision is “not in U.S. interests given the organization’s critical role assisting other countries — particularly in the developing world — in their response.”
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been ravaging the world since the end of last year. With more than 2 million confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, and more than 128,000 deaths, the virus has disrupted life on a global scale as governments both local and federal attempt to slow the spread.


huffpost--2020-04-15--Gutted U.S. Airline Industry Set To Receive $25 Billion Bailout Amid Pandemic

The nation ’ s biggest airlines have tentatively agreed to terms for $ 25 billion in government aid to pay workers and avoid massive layoffs in an industry that has been slammed by the coronavirus pandemic .
The assistance will include a mix of cash and loans , with the government getting warrants that can be converted into small ownership stakes in the leading airlines .
Ten airlines — including Delta , American , United and Southwest – fell in line after objecting to some of the Treasury Department ’ s demands .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals and hand over the money as quickly as possible .
He said talks were continuing with other carriers .
That streak came to a crashing end in just a few weeks , as governments restricted travel to slow the spread of the new coronavirus , and people feared contracting the illness on a plane .
Air travel ground to a near complete halt .
Airlines cut thousands of flights , and those that remain often carry just a few passengers .
With the payroll grants , airlines and their workers got special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.2 trillion measure designed to help businesses and workers get through the pandemic , which has hit every sector of the economy .
“ Our airlines are now in good shape , and they will get over a very tough period of time that was not caused by them , ” Trump said .
American Airlines said Treasury approved $ 5.8 billion for the airline — a $ 4.1 billion grant and a $ 1.7 billion low-interest loan .
CEO Doug Parker called it “ fantastic news , ” and “ we now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help us withstand this crisis.
” Delta Air Lines said it reached agreement with Treasury for $ 5.4 billion — a $ 3.8 billion grant and a $ 1.6 billion loan .
CEO Ed Bastian said that the aid , along with cutting 80 % of its schedule and having 35,000 employees agree to voluntary leave , will let Delta operate a minimal schedule for people who must travel .
Analysts expected United Airlines to also be eligible for more than $ 5 billion .
United said it expected to complete a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next few days , ” but gave no figures .
The airlines had expected to begin receiving federal aid — entirely in cash that didn ’ t have to be repaid — from the government by April 6 , the deadline set by Congress .
Instead , they found themselves locked in several days of tense negotiations with the Treasury Department , which insisted that only 70 % of the aid should be in cash , with the rest in loans that airlines must repay .
In addition , Treasury demanded that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over warrants equal to 10 % of the loan amounts .
They can be exercised at each airline ’ s closing stock price on April 9 .
The airlines did not want to give up equity , but they had little leverage in negotiations with Treasury — they desperately wanted the aid .
Delta said the government will get warrants for about 1 % of its stock , and Southwest put Treasury ’ s warrants at less than 1 % of its shares .
Others gave no details .
Last month ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 billion program to provide loans to airlines .
Analysts expect fewer airlines to take part because they can tap private credit markets .
But American said it plans to seek a $ 4.75 billion government loan , and Alaska Airlines indicated it too will apply under the separate program .
“ I don ’ t think air travel will snap right back to where it was here this year , maybe it will come back next year , ” said Southwest CEO Gary Kelly .
“ If this is a real recession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take four or five years .
”

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The nation’s biggest airlines have tentatively agreed to terms for $25 billion in government aid to pay workers and avoid massive layoffs in an industry that has been slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The assistance will include a mix of cash and loans, with the government getting warrants that can be converted into small ownership stakes in the leading airlines.
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Ten airlines — including Delta, American, United and Southwest – fell in line after objecting to some of the Treasury Department’s demands. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that the department would work to finalize the deals and hand over the money as quickly as possible. He said talks were continuing with other carriers.
The airlines entered 2020 riding a decade-long hot streak in which together they earned tens of billions of dollars due to strong travel demand. They bought new planes, enriched shareholders, and hired thousands more workers.
That streak came to a crashing end in just a few weeks, as governments restricted travel to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, and people feared contracting the illness on a plane. Air travel ground to a near complete halt. Airlines cut thousands of flights, and those that remain often carry just a few passengers.
With the payroll grants, airlines and their workers got special treatment in last month’s $2.2 trillion measure designed to help businesses and workers get through the pandemic, which has hit every sector of the economy.
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President Donald Trump — perhaps mindful of criticism that the government was bailing out a previously profitable industry — said the deals will support airline workers and protect taxpayers.
“Our airlines are now in good shape, and they will get over a very tough period of time that was not caused by them,” Trump said.
The payroll aid is roughly based on each airline’s spending on wages and benefits from April through September 2019.
American Airlines said Treasury approved $5.8 billion for the airline — a $4.1 billion grant and a $1.7 billion low-interest loan. CEO Doug Parker called it “fantastic news,” and “we now believe we have the financial resources necessary to help us withstand this crisis.”
Delta Air Lines said it reached agreement with Treasury for $5.4 billion — a $3.8 billion grant and a $1.6 billion loan. CEO Ed Bastian said that the aid, along with cutting 80% of its schedule and having 35,000 employees agree to voluntary leave, will let Delta operate a minimal schedule for people who must travel.
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Analysts expected United Airlines to also be eligible for more than $5 billion. United said it expected to complete a final deal with Treasury “in the next few days,” but gave no figures.
Southwest Airlines said it expects to get $3.2 billion, including more than $2.3 billion in cash and the balance in an unsecured loan.
The airlines had expected to begin receiving federal aid — entirely in cash that didn’t have to be repaid — from the government by April 6, the deadline set by Congress. Instead, they found themselves locked in several days of tense negotiations with the Treasury Department, which insisted that only 70% of the aid should be in cash, with the rest in loans that airlines must repay.
In addition, Treasury demanded that to compensate taxpayers, the largest airlines turn over warrants equal to 10% of the loan amounts. They can be exercised at each airline’s closing stock price on April 9. The airlines did not want to give up equity, but they had little leverage in negotiations with Treasury — they desperately wanted the aid.
Delta said the government will get warrants for about 1% of its stock, and Southwest put Treasury’s warrants at less than 1% of its shares. Others gave no details.
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Last month’s economic-relief package also includes a separate $25 billion program to provide loans to airlines. Analysts expect fewer airlines to take part because they can tap private credit markets. But American said it plans to seek a $4.75 billion government loan, and Alaska Airlines indicated it too will apply under the separate program.
Even with the federal aid, airlines are likely to emerge slowly and smaller when the pandemic recedes.


huffpost--2020-04-15--Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Worldwide Double To 2 Million In 2 Weeks

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared past 2 million Wednesday , data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows .
The figure represents a doubling of confirmed global cases in less than two weeks .
Worldwide confirmed cases passed the 1 million threshold on April 2 .
For perspective , it took roughly four and a half months for the new coronavirus to hit the 1 million mark .
The earliest known case of the disease dates back to Nov. 17 , 2019 .
The United States surpassed China as the country with the most reported cases of the virus on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caveat : Intelligence officials believe China ’ s count is unreliable and likely understates the true tally .
Spain , Italy , France , Germany and the United Kingdom have all surpassed China as well , ranking second through sixth in global cases overall , behind the United States .
The coronavirus is responsible for at least 128,000 confirmed deaths worldwide .
Of the more than 600,000 confirmed U.S. cases , roughly 20 % ― or about 110,000 people ― are in New York City .
The city has seen more than 7,600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the broader United States exceed 26,000 .

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Confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared past 2 million Wednesday, data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows. The figure represents a doubling of confirmed global cases in less than two weeks. Worldwide confirmed cases passed the 1 million threshold on April 2.
For perspective, it took roughly four and a half months for the new coronavirus to hit the 1 million mark. The earliest known case of the disease dates back to Nov. 17, 2019.
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The United States surpassed China as the country with the most reported cases of the virus on March 26, though that comes with a caveat: Intelligence officials believe China’s count is unreliable and likely understates the true tally.
Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have all surpassed China as well, ranking second through sixth in global cases overall, behind the United States. The coronavirus is responsible for at least 128,000 confirmed deaths worldwide.
Of the more than 600,000 confirmed U.S. cases, roughly 20% ― or about 110,000 people ― are in New York City. The city has seen more than 7,600 deaths from the disease, while deaths in the broader United States exceed 26,000.
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huffpost--2020-03-24--India’s Prime Minister Decrees 21-Day Lockdown

NEW DELHI ( AP ) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “ total lockdown ” in the country @ @ @ @ @ a televised address Tuesday night , the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
The 21-day lockdown was set to begin at midnight .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ , there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes , ” @ @ @ @ @ if the county failed to manage the next 21 days , it would be set @ @ @ @ @ Indian health officials have reported 469 actives cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ deaths .

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NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “total lockdown” in the country of 1.3 billion people during a televised address Tuesday night, the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The 21-day lockdown was set to begin at midnight.
“To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” Modi said, adding that if the county failed to manage the next 21 days, it would be set back by 21 years.
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huffpost--2020-03-24--America's Governors Reject Trump's Coronavirus Timeline

The dismissal of Trump ’ s mid-April timeframe for a national reopening came from Republicans and Democrats , from leaders struggling to manage hot spots of the outbreak and those still bracing for the worst .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , the head of the National Governors Association and a Republican , called the messaging confusing since most leaders are still focused on enforcing the restrictions , not easing them .
He accused the White House of running on a schedule made of some “ imaginary clock.
” The pushback suggests Trump ’ s talk of an early reboot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most cases , it ’ s state leaders — not the federal government — who are responsible for both imposing and lifting the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions intended to stop the contagion .
The president is eager to get the U.S. back to work as the crisis takes a political toll and the economy , which had been the cornerstone of his re-election bid , begins to wobble .
The economic damage could be worse than the death toll from the virus , he has said .
As soon as next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at recommendations about business closures and self-isolation , and said Tuesday the country could reopen by Easter Sunday — less than a month away .
“ Our people want to return to work , ” he said .
But governors suggested that view had little connection to the reality they ’ re facing .
California Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom said he and Trump are “ clearly operating under a different set of assumptions.
” California , home to 40 million people and the world ’ s fifth-largest economy , reported hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now has more than 2,200 , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
“ If you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy , then it ’ s no contest .
No American is going to say accelerate the economy at the cost of human life , ” Cuomo told reporters Tuesday .
“ Job one has to be save lives .
That has to be the priority.
” Even some of Trump ’ s usual allies are continuing to move ahead with tighter controls on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s words .
In Texas , Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott has endorsed stay-at-home orders that continued to spread through the biggest cities .
Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey said public health needed to come first , and South Dakota Gov .
Krisiti Noem is stressing limiting business activity , not relaxing them .
“ This situation is not going to be over in a week , ” said Noem , whose state has more than two dozen cases .
“ We have another eight weeks until we see our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now more than a week into an unprecedented effort to encourage all Americans to drastically scale back their public activities .
The orders closing schools , restaurants and businesses have largely come from a patchwork of local and state governments — with areas hit hardest imposing the most restrictions , while other communities are still weighing tighter rules .
Michigan ’ s Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , told WWMT-TV/Sinclair Broadcast Group that Trump ’ s “ off-the-cuff statements are really going to undermine our ability to protect people.
” Illinois Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking into account the true damage that this will do to our country if we see truly millions of people die.
” Among the few statehouse leaders to publicly endorse Trump ’ s view was Texas ’ lieutenant governor , Dan Patrick , 69 , who on Monday suggested that people his age and older can “ take care of ourselves ” as the nation gets back to work .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people over 65 are at higher risk for the disease .
Friction between Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
The president said last week that states should be doing more to obtain their own critically needed supplies and while insisting that the federal government was not a shipping clerk .
States , meanwhile , have been pressing the government to help procure necessary protective and breathing equipment .
“ Some of the messaging coming out of the administration doesn ’ t match , ” Hogan , the Maryland governor , told CNN .
“ We don ’ t think that we ’ re going to be in any way ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or six days or so , or whenever this 15 days is up from the time that they started this imaginary clock.
” For most people , the 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 .
Worldwide , more than 375,000 cases have been reported , and while most people recover in weeks , more than 16,000 have died from the virus .

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Governors across the nation on Tuesday rejected President Donald Trump’s new accelerated timeline for reopening the U.S. economy, as they continued to impose more restrictions on travel and public life in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The dismissal of Trump’s mid-April timeframe for a national reopening came from Republicans and Democrats, from leaders struggling to manage hot spots of the outbreak and those still bracing for the worst. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the head of the National Governors Association and a Republican, called the messaging confusing since most leaders are still focused on enforcing the restrictions, not easing them. He accused the White House of running on a schedule made of some “imaginary clock.”
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The pushback suggests Trump’s talk of an early reboot is unlikely to gain traction. In most cases, it’s state leaders — not the federal government — who are responsible for both imposing and lifting the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions intended to stop the contagion.
But the governors’ reaction also revealed the striking disconnect and growing tensions between Trump and the state leaders closer to the front lines of a crisis that threatens to overwhelm U.S. hospitals and claim thousands of lives.
The president is eager to get the U.S. back to work as the crisis takes a political toll and the economy, which had been the cornerstone of his re-election bid, begins to wobble. The economic damage could be worse than the death toll from the virus, he has said. As soon as next week, Trump wants to take another look at recommendations about business closures and self-isolation, and said Tuesday the country could reopen by Easter Sunday — less than a month away. “Our people want to return to work,” he said.
But governors suggested that view had little connection to the reality they’re facing. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said he and Trump are “clearly operating under a different set of assumptions.” California, home to 40 million people and the world’s fifth-largest economy, reported hundreds of new known cases of COVID 19 and now has more than 2,200, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
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In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the infection rate was doubling every three days and pleaded for more federal help as the number of cases in the state surpassed 20,000.
“If you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy, then it’s no contest. No American is going to say accelerate the economy at the cost of human life,” Cuomo told reporters Tuesday. “Job one has to be save lives. That has to be the priority.”
Even some of Trump’s usual allies are continuing to move ahead with tighter controls on travel, commerce and mobility, despite the president’s words. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed stay-at-home orders that continued to spread through the biggest cities. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said public health needed to come first, and South Dakota Gov. Krisiti Noem is stressing limiting business activity, not relaxing them.
“This situation is not going to be over in a week,” said Noem, whose state has more than two dozen cases. “We have another eight weeks until we see our peak infection rate.”
The U.S. is now more than a week into an unprecedented effort to encourage all Americans to drastically scale back their public activities. The orders closing schools, restaurants and businesses have largely come from a patchwork of local and state governments — with areas hit hardest imposing the most restrictions, while other communities are still weighing tighter rules.
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That means the White House is eyeing ways to ease the advisories while some areas are still ramping up their responses — a mixed message that some governors worried would lead Americans to ignore the orders of local officials.
Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, told WWMT-TV/Sinclair Broadcast Group that Trump’s “off-the-cuff statements are really going to undermine our ability to protect people.” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Trump was “not taking into account the true damage that this will do to our country if we see truly millions of people die.”
Trump has defended his handling of outbreak and argued that his administration is doing all it can to help governors.
“They shouldn’t be hitting us,” he said on Fox News. “The fact is we’ve done a lot.”
Among the few statehouse leaders to publicly endorse Trump’s view was Texas’ lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, 69, who on Monday suggested that people his age and older can “take care of ourselves ” as the nation gets back to work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people over 65 are at higher risk for the disease.
Friction between Trump and the governors has been steady throughout the crisis. The president said last week that states should be doing more to obtain their own critically needed supplies and while insisting that the federal government was not a shipping clerk. States, meanwhile, have been pressing the government to help procure necessary protective and breathing equipment.
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On Tuesday, Trump suggested any shortage of ventilators was on the states.
“All they had to do was order them two years ago, but they decided not to do it. They can’t blame us for that,” he said on Fox News.
“Some of the messaging coming out of the administration doesn’t match,” Hogan, the Maryland governor, told CNN. “We don’t think that we’re going to be in any way ready to be out of this in five or six days or so, or whenever this 15 days is up from the time that they started this imaginary clock.”
For most people, the 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. Worldwide, more than 375,000 cases have been reported, and while most people recover in weeks, more than 16,000 have died from the virus.
___
Cooper reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Nancy Benac in Washington; John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois; and David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheO


huffpost--2020-03-24--How To Make Coronavirus Face Masks, And How Effective They Are

When asked to address a nationwide shortage of face masks on Saturday , the White House wasn ’ t able to say when more health care workers across the country would be provided with more protective masks .
Designer Christian Siriano of “ Project Runway ” fame has offered to pitch in by lending his resources to produce masks , and crafters are contributing with helpful tutorials and patterns that are useful for both hospital donations and personal use .
If you ’ ve got a sewing machine , this is one way you may be able to help out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sew , we have no-sew mask tutorials , as well . )
The CDC now recommends that everyone wear masks in public .
In light of the medical profession ’ s shortage of face masks , it ’ s our duty to be responsible with these supplies .
The World Health Organization previously urged that if you ’ re healthy , you only need to wear a mask if you ’ re taking care of a person suspected of having COVID-19 , or if you ’ re coughing or sneezing .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CDC ) have updated their recommendation to advise everyone wear face masks in public .
WHO also reminds us that masks are only effective when they ’ re used in combination with frequent and proper hand-washing .
And if you do wear a mask , you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly .
The ones you see all over the news are surgical face masks , and what doctors , dentists and nurses typically use while treating patients .
They ’ re loose-fitting and relatively thin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the parts of the mask , and they aren ’ t necessarily foolproof .
Then , there are respirators , commonly used by construction workers , but also used by doctors seeing patients who potentially have COVID-19 .
They ’ re heavy-duty and are form-fitted to the face .
According to the CDC , these masks filter out about 95 % of airborne particles , including viruses and bacteria .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that DIY masks can be made in times of crisis as a last resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination with a face shield that covers the entire front ( that extends to the chin or below ) and sides of the face.
” A study of homemade face masks by SmartAirFilters.com found that cotton T-shirts and cotton pillowcases are the best materials for making DIY face masks , based on their ability to capture particles yet remain breathable , and that they perform comparably to surgical-grade masks .
If you want to take the extra precaution of wearing a face mask , the best thing you can do is make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy one and contribute to the shortage .
We ’ ve gathered some easy tutorials here for loose masks that protect against respiratory droplets .
Keep in mind that the edges of the mask should fit snuggly against the skin .
Read through the tutorials and choose one that suits your sewing skills and the materials you have available : If you ’ re adept at sewing and want to help your local hospitals , you can make big batches of face masks at home .
There are specific requirements you must meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for medical use , so make sure you follow them .
Otherwise , your work may be for naught .
While homemade masks can ’ t technically be medical grade , the CDC finds well-made masks like the ones below to be useful .
It ’ s always best to reach out to your hospital in advance to see if they ’ re taking donations ― some locations aren ’ t even allowing donations of personal protective equipment , and others have detailed specifications for the face masks they can receive .
Resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you informed about how to donate .
Note : As many users have noted in the comments on the video above ( click here for the pattern ) , it ’ s best not to reverse the mask and wear it inside out , as she suggests .

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In light of the coronavirus pandemic, face masks are in huge demand right now. Millions of masks are needed, and you can help.
When asked to address a nationwide shortage of face masks on Saturday, the White House wasn’t able to say when more health care workers across the country would be provided with more protective masks.
Advertisement
Designer Christian Siriano of “Project Runway” fame has offered to pitch in by lending his resources to produce masks, and crafters are contributing with helpful tutorials and patterns that are useful for both hospital donations and personal use.
If you’ve got a sewing machine, this is one way you may be able to help out. (And if you can’t sew, we have no-sew mask tutorials, as well.)
The CDC now recommends that everyone wear masks in public.
In light of the medical profession’s shortage of face masks, it’s our duty to be responsible with these supplies. The World Health Organization previously urged that if you’re healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you’re taking care of a person suspected of having COVID-19, or if you’re coughing or sneezing. However the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated their recommendation to advise everyone wear face masks in public.
WHO also reminds us that masks are only effective when they’re used in combination with frequent and proper hand-washing. And if you do wear a mask, you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
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Below are tutorials for making masks for personal use (first section) and for hospital donation (second section).
How effective are homemade masks?
There are two types of face masks that can help cut your odds of getting coronavirus: surgical face masks and respirators, the latter of which are also known as N-95 masks.
CDC.gov
The ones you see all over the news are surgical face masks, and what doctors, dentists and nurses typically use while treating patients. They’re loose-fitting and relatively thin, so tiny droplets can still seep in through the parts of the mask, and they aren’t necessarily foolproof.
Then, there are respirators, commonly used by construction workers, but also used by doctors seeing patients who potentially have COVID-19. They’re heavy-duty and are form-fitted to the face. According to the CDC, these masks filter out about 95% of airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria.
Advertisement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that DIY masks can be made in times of crisis as a last resort and “should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.”
A study of homemade face masks by SmartAirFilters.com found that cotton T-shirts and cotton pillowcases are the best materials for making DIY face masks, based on their ability to capture particles yet remain breathable, and that they perform comparably to surgical-grade masks.
1. Face Masks For Personal Use
If you want to take the extra precaution of wearing a face mask, the best thing you can do is make a mask for yourself ― don’t buy one and contribute to the shortage.
We’ve gathered some easy tutorials here for loose masks that protect against respiratory droplets. Keep in mind that the edges of the mask should fit snuggly against the skin. Read through the tutorials and choose one that suits your sewing skills and the materials you have available:
Tutorial From Juliana Sohn:
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Pattern From State The Label:
Video From FreeSewing.org:
2. Face Masks For Medical Use
If you’re adept at sewing and want to help your local hospitals, you can make big batches of face masks at home. There are specific requirements you must meet in order for them to be acceptable for medical use, so make sure you follow them. Otherwise, your work may be for naught.
While homemade masks can’t technically be medical grade, the CDC finds well-made masks like the ones below to be useful. It’s always best to reach out to your hospital in advance to see if they’re taking donations ― some locations aren’t even allowing donations of personal protective equipment, and others have detailed specifications for the face masks they can receive. Resources such as Masks For Heroes can keep you informed about how to donate.
The following tutorials are for masks that have recently been accepted by hospitals.
Video From Sew It Online:
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Note: As many users have noted in the comments on the video above (click here for the pattern), it’s best not to reverse the mask and wear it inside out, as she suggests.
Tutorial From A Crafty Fox:


huffpost--2020-03-23--Romney Says Mormons Who Welcomed Missionaries Home Are 'Irresponsible'

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) — U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney and Utah state leaders on Monday criticized as irresponsible a weekend gathering of hundreds at a Salt Lake City airport parking garage to welcome home 900 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries returning from the Philippines .
The people who showed up Sunday evening , some hugging arriving loved ones , should have heeded warnings to keep their distance to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus , said Romney , Utah ’ s governor and lieutenant governor and the church itself .
Airport officials had asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of each returning missionary to come and said the guidance for people to stay in their cars wasn ’ t followed by many people , said airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer .
Video and photos of the event showed many inside the parking garage standing shoulder to shoulder instead of at the recommended “ social distancing ” measure of 6 feet ( 1 meter ) apart .
The faith had told its members that only parents of the mostly young adult missionaries should show up at the airport .
“ This is irresponsible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Parents , please pick up your missionary from the airprt alone and help them strictly follow self-quarantine procedures for their first 14 days at home .
We need to work together to keep our communities safe.
” For most people , 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 .
The missionaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early on chartered flights from missions that last up to two years .
Thousands more missionaries are expected to return from abroad in the coming days and weeks after the Utah-based faith said Friday it was bringing home an unspecified but “ substantial ” number of missionaries .
Utah Gov .
Gary Herbert called the event “ dangerous ” in a tweet and Lt. Gov .
Spencer Cox said he was “ Really disappointed in the behavior we saw from missionary families at the SLC airport tonight.
” “ I get it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still have a child serving ) , but this is unacceptable .
In a time of shared sacrifice , we must do better to save lives , ” said Cox , who is a member of the faith widely known as the Mormon church , as are Romney and Hebert .
The church posted a statement online Sunday night urging parents to go alone to pick up their family members and to maintain recommended distance apart from them and for the missionaries go into 14 days of self isolation .
Regional church leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents to take only one vehicle to the airport and stay in their cars until their sons or daughters , said church spokesman Daniel Woodruff .
There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among the missionaries who were serving , Woodruff said , declining to comment on the criticism from Romney and the other political leaders .
It is tradition in Utah for large groups of family and friends to squeeze into the arrivals greeting area at Salt Lake City airport ’ s to welcome home missionaries from with signs , screams and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religions are being forced to alter customs amid the spread of the coronavirus .
The proselytizing missions are an integral part of the religion and considered rites of passages for young members of the faith .
Men serve two years while women serve 18 months .
There were about 65,000 people serving missions before the coronavirus pandemic started .
The church has said it does not plan to suspend its missionary program , but hasn ’ t said when future missionaries will leave or where they will go .

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney and Utah state leaders on Monday criticized as irresponsible a weekend gathering of hundreds at a Salt Lake City airport parking garage to welcome home 900 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries returning from the Philippines.
The people who showed up Sunday evening, some hugging arriving loved ones, should have heeded warnings to keep their distance to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, said Romney, Utah’s governor and lieutenant governor and the church itself.
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Airport officials had asked for only one or two family members of each returning missionary to come and said the guidance for people to stay in their cars wasn’t followed by many people, said airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer.
Video and photos of the event showed many inside the parking garage standing shoulder to shoulder instead of at the recommended “social distancing” measure of 6 feet (1 meter) apart. The faith had told its members that only parents of the mostly young adult missionaries should show up at the airport.
“This is irresponsible,” Sen. Mitt Romney wrote on Facebook. “Parents, please pick up your missionary from the airprt alone and help them strictly follow self-quarantine procedures for their first 14 days at home. We need to work together to keep our communities safe.”
For most people, 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.
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The missionaries who arrived at the airport were returning early on chartered flights from missions that last up to two years. Thousands more missionaries are expected to return from abroad in the coming days and weeks after the Utah-based faith said Friday it was bringing home an unspecified but “substantial” number of missionaries.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert called the event “dangerous” in a tweet and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said he was “Really disappointed in the behavior we saw from missionary families at the SLC airport tonight.”
“I get it, I’ve been there (and still have a child serving), but this is unacceptable. In a time of shared sacrifice, we must do better to save lives,” said Cox, who is a member of the faith widely known as the Mormon church, as are Romney and Hebert.
The church posted a statement online Sunday night urging parents to go alone to pick up their family members and to maintain recommended distance apart from them and for the missionaries go into 14 days of self isolation.
Regional church leaders had been told on Saturday to tell parents to take only one vehicle to the airport and stay in their cars until their sons or daughters, said church spokesman Daniel Woodruff. There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among the missionaries who were serving, Woodruff said, declining to comment on the criticism from Romney and the other political leaders.
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It is tradition in Utah for large groups of family and friends to squeeze into the arrivals greeting area at Salt Lake City airport’s to welcome home missionaries from with signs, screams and balloons — and the event illustrated how religions are being forced to alter customs amid the spread of the coronavirus.
The proselytizing missions are an integral part of the religion and considered rites of passages for young members of the faith. Men serve two years while women serve 18 months. There were about 65,000 people serving missions before the coronavirus pandemic started.


huffpost--2020-03-24--Without Volunteers, Charities Struggling To Cope Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

For more than a week , Elaine Peoples , who cooked for a now-shuttered day care center , has been out of work .
At 68 , she ’ s also at a higher risk for catching the new coronavirus .
Nonetheless , she ’ s showing up four days a week for her volunteer shift at an increasingly crowded Brooklyn soup kitchen and food pantry .
“ Volunteering is vital , ” said Peoples , who herself is experiencing financial strain .
“ Everything I get goes to bills .
My budget is stretched to the limit .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American nonprofits have relied on a cadre of volunteers who — quite suddenly — aren ’ t able to show up .
With millions staying home during the pandemic , charities that help the country ’ s neediest are finding themselves in need .
“ This is a time when we do need everybody pulling together to help us out , ” said Leslie Bacho , CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley , one of the nation ’ s largest food banks .
Sheila Williams , left , who manages the soup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outreach , tells people waiting in line for their food donations to keep bigger distances between one another , in the Brooklyn borough of New York , on Friday , March 20 , 2020 .
Many Americans have now been ordered to stay inside their homes , although there are exceptions for people providing essential services , and , in orders reviewed by The Associated Press , that includes volunteering at food banks .
Nonetheless , Bacho said half of the bank ’ s volunteers — the equivalent of 107 full-time staffers — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means as more people need food , there ’ s less ability to get it to them .
“ Volunteers are needed the most in times of crisis , ” said Dr. Grover Gilmore , dean of Case Western ’ s school of social sciences .
“ This is simply another example , and an extreme example , of everyone needing to help as best they can.
” For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms .
But for some older adults and people with existing health problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kathryn Strickland , chief network officer at Feeding America , the nation ’ s largest organization of food banks , with some 200 , said the group has seen a “ sharp decline ” in volunteers across the country , and is asking for new volunteers and scrambling to hire additional staff for pay .
“ It keeps me healthy , it keeps food in my stomach , ” he said of his trips to St. Stephen .
Without it , he said , “ I ’ d go hungry.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in a terribly vulnerable situation , said Jennifer Loving , CEO of Destination : Home , a public-private partnership that addresses homelessness .
Public health experts have warned that people living in tents or under tarps have less access to soap and water and are more exposed to disease and violence .
“ Further , many others , like intake and shelter workers and food delivery workers are some of our lowest paid residents and are now called to the front lines , ” she said .
“ We must do everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further economic and health peril.
” In Seattle , the initial epicenter of the U.S. outbreak , Food Lifeline is struggling .
It relies on roughly 18,000 volunteers every year to collect and sort food donations , package boxes and deliver goods .
The organization is now telling all but a small core group of volunteers to stay home .
“ We can ’ t take those food donations because we can ’ t sort and repack them , ” Mark Coleman said .
Instead , they ’ re buying prepackaged food that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly $ 30 per box .
All of this is happening as they expect demand for their services to double , Coleman said .
Before the crisis , they packaged 72,000 boxes a month .
Joe Burns , 69 , is among just 20 volunteers still pitching in at Food Lifeline .
For the past four years , he ’ s come four days a week to sort apples , oranges and other fresh fruits and vegetables .
That won ’ t change , he said .
“ People are getting laid off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and very soon aren ’ t going to have any means for buying groceries , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a need right now so you just got ta step up to the plate .
”

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For more than a week, Elaine Peoples, who cooked for a now-shuttered day care center, has been out of work. At 68, she’s also at a higher risk for catching the new coronavirus. Nonetheless, she’s showing up four days a week for her volunteer shift at an increasingly crowded Brooklyn soup kitchen and food pantry.
“Volunteering is vital,” said Peoples, who herself is experiencing financial strain. “Everything I get goes to bills. My budget is stretched to the limit. There is no extra.”
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These days low-income families still need food. Homeless people still need beds. And those puppies in the animal shelter still need walks.
For decades, American nonprofits have relied on a cadre of volunteers who — quite suddenly — aren’t able to show up. With millions staying home during the pandemic, charities that help the country’s neediest are finding themselves in need.
“This is a time when we do need everybody pulling together to help us out,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, one of the nation’s largest food banks.
Sheila Williams, left, who manages the soup kitchen and food pantry at St. Stephen Outreach, tells people waiting in line for their food donations to keep bigger distances between one another, in the Brooklyn borough of New York, on Friday, March 20, 2020. AP
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Many Americans have now been ordered to stay inside their homes, although there are exceptions for people providing essential services, and, in orders reviewed by The Associated Press, that includes volunteering at food banks.
Nonetheless, Bacho said half of the bank’s volunteers — the equivalent of 107 full-time staffers — aren’t showing up. This means as more people need food, there’s less ability to get it to them.
“Volunteers are needed the most in times of crisis,” said Dr. Grover Gilmore, dean of Case Western’s school of social sciences. “This is simply another example, and an extreme example, of everyone needing to help as best they can.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. But for some older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.
One out of four Americans volunteers, performing an estimated 8 billion hours a year of service. The most common work? Collecting, preparing, distributing or serving food, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Kathryn Strickland, chief network officer at Feeding America, the nation’s largest organization of food banks, with some 200, said the group has seen a “sharp decline” in volunteers across the country, and is asking for new volunteers and scrambling to hire additional staff for pay.
Sheila Williams usually has 25 volunteers to feed about 100 people a day at St. Stephen Outreach in Brooklyn.
Now she’s down to just 10, including Peoples, with lines out the door, more people than she’s ever seen.
“Folks that don’t normally come are coming,” she said, after dishing out countless plates of franks, rice, beans and fruit. “They’ve lost their job, there’s nothing in the supermarket.”
Jose Rosa, 63, comes to the soup kitchen once a week. He lives in a homeless shelter and says he doesn’t get enough to eat there.
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“It keeps me healthy, it keeps food in my stomach,” he said of his trips to St. Stephen. Without it, he said, “I’d go hungry.”
In Silicon Valley, some 10,000 homeless people are in a terribly vulnerable situation, said Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination:Home, a public-private partnership that addresses homelessness. Public health experts have warned that people living in tents or under tarps have less access to soap and water and are more exposed to disease and violence.
“Further, many others, like intake and shelter workers and food delivery workers are some of our lowest paid residents and are now called to the front lines,” she said. “We must do everything we can to protect these heroes from further economic and health peril.”
Food banks are also largely canceling soup kitchens to avoid close contact that can spread the virus. Instead, they’re planning to drop boxes of food into people’s trunks at drive through stations.
In Seattle, the initial epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, Food Lifeline is struggling. It relies on roughly 18,000 volunteers every year to collect and sort food donations, package boxes and deliver goods. The organization is now telling all but a small core group of volunteers to stay home.
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“We can’t take those food donations because we can’t sort and repack them,” Mark Coleman said. Instead, they’re buying prepackaged food that doesn’t require sorting, at roughly $30 per box. All of this is happening as they expect demand for their services to double, Coleman said. Before the crisis, they packaged 72,000 boxes a month.
“It’s really tough. The stock market crash in 2008 was tough, but nothing like this,” he said.
Joe Burns, 69, is among just 20 volunteers still pitching in at Food Lifeline. For the past four years, he’s come four days a week to sort apples, oranges and other fresh fruits and vegetables. That won’t change, he said.
“People are getting laid off left and right and going on unemployment and very soon aren’t going to have any means for buying groceries,” he said. “There’s a need right now so you just gotta step up to the plate.”
It’s not just food banks whose volunteer workforce has dwindled.
Laura Condouris, 38, a graphic designer, continued to show up for her weekly shift at the Maryland Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals in Baltimore until it closed on Monday. But even then her work wasn’t over: That night, Condouris brought a mutt named Roxie, who’d been staying at another shelter, to a new foster home.
“The volunteers who are usually there on weekdays are retirees and older people,” Condouris said. “Some of the people I normally see there can and should be staying home, so I’ve got to pick up the slack.”
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