huffpost--2020-03-30--This Is What It's Like To Get A Coronavirus Test

As COVID-19 spreads and is now within many of our communities , there are all sorts of rumors , questions and horror stories flying around about what the testing process is like : Does it hurt to get the nasal swab done ?
How long does it take to get the results back ?
Where do you go to get the test done ?
And what happens if a test comes back positive ?
While the experience is different for everyone , there are some general elements you can expect .
We chatted with experts to get the details on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is administered to how long you have to wait for results .
Here ’ s what you should know : The first step of the coronavirus testing process is to call your doctor Be prepared for the COVID-19 test to feel uncomfortable This process , also known as a nasopharyngeal swab , is the best way to get the most accurate specimen type at the moment , said Gary W. Procop , chair of the American Society for Clinical Pathology ’ s Commission on Science , Technology and Policy and vice chair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The problem , however , is that the inventory of these swabs is running low .
“ And so plan B is to use a throat swab , just like when you swab the throat of a child with strep throat , ” Procop said .
This is a less reliable method because the nose is “ where the virus is most prevalent , ” he added .
But when the nasal swabs are not available , a throat swab is the next step .
“ If you ’ ve ever had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something to compare it to , ” Ghosh said .
“ They really stick something down your throat and try to scrape some of the throat cells out .
Same with the nose ; they try to scrape some of your cells out of your nose to see if the virus is growing in there.
” Fichtenbaum added that the clinic may also ask you some questions about where you have traveled recently and what your activities for the past few weeks might have been , like if you have been self-isolating or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You may also be asked to quarantine yourself until you get your test results .
Coronavirus test result times vary from one day to 10 days or more After your get your swab done , the clinicians will send it off for examination to see if the virus is present in any of the cells collected , Ghosh said .
It can take anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days to get your results , depending on the lab and how backed up it is , she added .
If your test comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and monitor your symptoms “ If you live with people , try to stay in a separate room , try to use a separate bathroom , try to avoid sharing personal items like cups and utensils , ” Ghosh said , noting that you should also be smart about making sure that frequently touched items ― like doorknobs and handles ― should be cleaned often because the virus can live on surfaces for up to a few days .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As COVID-19 spreads and is now within many of our communities, there are all sorts of rumors, questions and horror stories flying around about what the testing process is like: Does it hurt to get the nasal swab done? How long does it take to get the results back? Where do you go to get the test done? And what happens if a test comes back positive?
While the experience is different for everyone, there are some general elements you can expect. We chatted with experts to get the details on everything from how the novel coronavirus test is administered to how long you have to wait for results. Here’s what you should know:
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The first step of the coronavirus testing process is to call your doctor
Before rushing off to a testing center, you should have your doctor evaluate you over the phone and determine whether it’s appropriate that you have testing done, said Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, a professor of clinical medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
If this is a yes, you will be referred to a testing center, which Fichtenbaum said may be a drive-thru or a clinical site.
“Usually you are called and given an appointment time and then you come in at that designated time,” he said.
Be prepared for the COVID-19 test to feel uncomfortable
The COVID-19 test is a swab, usually taken through your nose, explained Tista Ghosh, the medical director at Grand Rounds, an epidemiologist and former member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Community Preventive Services Task Force.
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“I have to say it’s not probably the most comfortable thing,” she said, but noted that it is over pretty quickly and that she wouldn’t describe it as painful.
This process, also known as a nasopharyngeal swab, is the best way to get the most accurate specimen type at the moment, said Gary W. Procop, chair of the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s Commission on Science, Technology and Policy and vice chair and director for virology at Cleveland Clinic. The problem, however, is that the inventory of these swabs is running low.
“And so plan B is to use a throat swab, just like when you swab the throat of a child with strep throat,” Procop said. This is a less reliable method because the nose is “where the virus is most prevalent,” he added. But when the nasal swabs are not available, a throat swab is the next step.
“If you’ve ever had a strep throat test, that might be something to compare it to,” Ghosh said. “They really stick something down your throat and try to scrape some of the throat cells out. Same with the nose; they try to scrape some of your cells out of your nose to see if the virus is growing in there.”
In total, the actual test shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Olan Soremekun, chief medical officer at Ready Responders, said, “Some patients may experience mild and temporary discomfort at having a cotton swab inserted deeply into their nostrils and throat.”
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Fichtenbaum added that the clinic may also ask you some questions about where you have traveled recently and what your activities for the past few weeks might have been, like if you have been self-isolating or if you were around any crowds. You may also be asked to quarantine yourself until you get your test results.
Sebastian Condrea via Getty Images
Coronavirus test result times vary from one day to 10 days or more
After your get your swab done, the clinicians will send it off for examination to see if the virus is present in any of the cells collected, Ghosh said. It can take anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days to get your results, depending on the lab and how backed up it is, she added.
If you find out that you are positive, your health care provider will be notified and they should connect with you immediately.
They will likely conduct a follow-up with you. “We want to have our physicians answer all questions patients may have, especially if testing is positive,” added Bradley Younggren, chief medical officer at 98point6.
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If your test comes back positive, you should alert multiple people and monitor your symptoms
By now, you should be staying away from most people and staying home as much as you can. If you have a test that comes back positive, this practice is even more essential.
“If you live with people, try to stay in a separate room, try to use a separate bathroom, try to avoid sharing personal items like cups and utensils,” Ghosh said, noting that you should also be smart about making sure that frequently touched items ― like doorknobs and handles ― should be cleaned often because the virus can live on surfaces for up to a few days.
“And if your symptoms get worse at all, especially if there’s difficulty breathing, you need to go to an ER or urgent care immediately,” Ghosh said.
If you can, try calling ahead before doing this so you can let the facility know that you have COVID-19. And try wearing a mask or something around your mouth so that you’re not spreading it to other people when you get there.
“Giving the ER or the urgent care a heads-up is really useful because they can put protocols in place so that you’re not exposing other people in the waiting room,” she said.
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Taking care of yourself and following proper protocol could be vital for more than just you.


huffpost--2020-03-30--Who Can Get A Coronavirus Test?

Who Can Get A Coronavirus Test?

Those who have been refused tests are being told to quarantine at home and to manage symptoms by their own accord unless they become ill enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room .
So what ’ s the deal ?
Why are we hearing about celebrities like Idris Elba ― who wasn ’ t experiencing any symptoms at the time of his diagnosis ― getting tested while other who are sick are not ?
Testing is categorized by three priority levels “ So we ’ re not testing , let ’ s say , a young , otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tract infection , as we really would not do anything to change the recommendation to that person , ” Procop said .
He added , “ If we had all the tests in the world , we ’ d test them .
But the fact of the matter is testing is limited and there ’ s not all the testing in the world.
” The goal here is to treat those who are the sickest and also to control health care-associated infections , Ghosh said .
“ We want to make sure health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being exposed to so they can take precautions because they ’ re going to be a limited resource in the coming week , ” she said .
“ So hospitalized patients and health care facility workers with symptoms are priority number one.
” “ Those might be patients in longterm care facilities or patients 65 and older because they have higher death rates , ” Ghosh said .
She added that patients with underlying conditions who are experiencing symptoms are also included in this group .
“ For example , people with diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , asthma , if they have symptoms , ” she said .
First responders who are symptomatic are included in this category .
“ This is really , as resources allow , individuals in the community and the area where they ’ re seeing increasing cases , ” Ghosh said , adding that the goal of testing this group is to be able to tell how much the virus is spreading in one place .
This includes testing critical infrastructure workers .
“ We want to keep our power on , we want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thing .
So critical infrastructure workers are definitely higher up in that priority three , ” Ghosh said .
For the most part , patients with “ mild ” coronavirus symptoms are being denied tests The majority of people will have a “ mild ” case of COVID-19 , which can include a lower-grade fever , cough and fatigue .
Fichtenbaum said that if you have those symptoms , the advice is going to be the same whether you have a positive test : “ Stay home untll you ’ re better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roommates or friends .
Get rest plenty of liquids .
Take some cough syrup or Tylenol for aches and pains.
” So why are all these celebrities getting tested for COVID-19 ?
How to get a coronavirus test if you need one Most importantly , take care of yourself if you ’ re sick .
Make sure you isolate away from others and monitor your symptoms .
A positive test is useful for data , but the major way to stem this pandemic is preventing the spread as much as possible .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As cases of COVID-19 spread, many people are hearing of friends and family who have been exhibiting symptoms. But many of those people are having a hard time getting approved to take an official test to confirm it.
Those who have been refused tests are being told to quarantine at home and to manage symptoms by their own accord unless they become ill enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room. So what’s the deal? Why are we hearing about celebrities like Idris Elba ― who wasn’t experiencing any symptoms at the time of his diagnosis ― getting tested while other who are sick are not?
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Here’s a (brutal, frustrating) breakdown on how the testing process is working and some advice on how you can potentially get screened:
Testing is categorized by three priority levels
According to Dr. Gary W. Procop, vice chair and director for virology at Cleveland Clinic, medical facilities are working with limited resources. As a result, they’re prioritizing testing those with symptoms in high-risk groups, like older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Anyone admitted to the hospital and demonstrating a more serious illness in line with COVID-19 is being tested as well.
“So we’re not testing, let’s say, a young, otherwise healthy individual who has an upper respiratory tract infection, as we really would not do anything to change the recommendation to that person,” Procop said. He added, “If we had all the tests in the world, we’d test them. But the fact of the matter is testing is limited and there’s not all the testing in the world.”
Dr. Tista Ghosh, medical director at the Grand Rounds health care company, said the current guidelines are breaking people into three priority categories:
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Priority one: Hospitalized patients and medical staff.
The goal here is to treat those who are the sickest and also to control health care-associated infections, Ghosh said. “We want to make sure health care workers know who they’re being exposed to so they can take precautions because they’re going to be a limited resource in the coming week,” she said. “So hospitalized patients and health care facility workers with symptoms are priority number one.”
Priority two: Those in high-risk groups who are showing symptoms.
“Those might be patients in longterm care facilities or patients 65 and older because they have higher death rates,” Ghosh said. She added that patients with underlying conditions who are experiencing symptoms are also included in this group. “For example, people with diabetes or heart disease or high blood pressure, asthma, if they have symptoms,” she said. First responders who are symptomatic are included in this category.
Priority three: Community testing.
“This is really, as resources allow, individuals in the community and the area where they’re seeing increasing cases,” Ghosh said, adding that the goal of testing this group is to be able to tell how much the virus is spreading in one place. This includes testing critical infrastructure workers. “We want to keep our power on, we want to keep clean water, that kind of thing. So critical infrastructure workers are definitely higher up in that priority three,” Ghosh said.
The symptoms that doctors are looking for include a fever (typically over 100.4 degrees), cough and shortness of breath. “So that’s why having symptoms is one of the key criteria to get you access to a test and then being in those three priority groups,” Ghosh said.
For the most part, patients with “mild” coronavirus symptoms are being denied tests
Until the availability of testing increases, screenings will have to be reserved for higher-risk patients, said Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, a professor of clinical medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
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The majority of people will have a “mild” case of COVID-19, which can include a lower-grade fever, cough and fatigue. Fichtenbaum said that if you have those symptoms, the advice is going to be the same whether you have a positive test: “Stay home untll you’re better. Quarantine yourself away from family or roommates or friends. Get rest plenty of liquids. Take some cough syrup or Tylenol for aches and pains.”
If symptoms progress to a more severe state, then it’s time to call your physician.
In the face of a massive shortage of tests, new tests are in development.
“More and more of the commercial companies have received FDA approval for their emergency use of their platforms,” Procop said. “And these platforms are more widely available. So, as those companies gear up, they will be able to offer more testing locally.”
Nuthawut Somsuk via Getty Images
So why are all these celebrities getting tested for COVID-19?
Reports of public figures like NBA players, actors and lawmakers testing positive for the coronavirus is becoming more common. However, it’s often the case that many of them weren’t even showing symptoms when they were tested. If regular people can’t get tests when they’re asymptomatic, what gives here?
Procop said the reason someone like Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) ― who has said he was not exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, when he was tested ― was screened is because of how fast he could have infected others.
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“When you get into individuals, like senators or police officers or firefighters, you’re actually looking at this a little bit differently,” Procop said. “You’re trying to protect the entire Senate. And so by identifying those people early, you’re actually pulling them from spreading it into a group that’s really important for society.”
Still, it’s also very likely that some people with bigger pocketbooks are calling in favors, said Dr. Nishant Rao, chief medical officer of the telehealth care company, DocTalkGo.
“Facilities locally may have some inventory of tests for certain clientele that they’re saving those for, which isn’t really ethical,” he said.
Ghosh said she’s hopeful that health care providers and health departments across the country do their best to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on who gets tested, “because there really is a shortage and we need to reserve these resources for those who need it most.”
How to get a coronavirus test if you need one
The first step in trying to get a coronavirus test is to call your doctor and discuss your symptoms. You can also make a telemedicine appointment, where a physician like Rao will evaluate you and then provide a lab requisition form if you meet the criteria for a test.
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“That doesn’t necessarily guarantee they’ll get tested because, currently, it will depend on their location and the inventory of test kits where they are,” Rao said. But if kits allow, having a script that says that you meet the criteria will make you a priority, he explained.
“Patients can present themselves to a local center. They don’t have to have a doctor’s recommendation,” Rao said.
However, many of these facilities are operating on prescheduled appointments and are overbooked. So driving up to a location on your own may be futile.
Fichtenbaum suggested calling a testing center to explain your situation and to see if you need a referral.
“Most of the drive-thru centers are not like McDonald’s, where you just show up and order something. Most of it is controlled,” he said. He also noted that most locations only have a certain amount of tests they can administer each day.
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huffpost--2020-04-21--When The Holy Month Of Ramadan Comes At The Peak Of A Pandemic

Hannah Yoon for HuffPost Layla Comstock , at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on Sunday , was hoping to celebrate Ramadan with her friends this week but will instead join video chats and send cards .
These closures are particularly painful during Ramadan , the holy month that begins later this week .
For one month , Muslims fast from dawn to dusk every day and increase their daily prayers in order to achieve self-discipline and piety .
Ramadan is also a popular time for worshippers to gather and eat together when they are not fasting , meet for evening prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social services in large numbers .
Keeping Up With The Technology “ Many of the mosques did not have a strong online presence and did not have an effective means of reaching its congregants through the virtual platforms , ” said Osamah Salhia , the resident imam at the Clifton location of the Islamic Center of Passaic County , New Jersey , which is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S. “ So I think this has definitely been a growth experience.
” The Islamic Center of Passaic County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , closed down at the state ’ s direction in March .
Since then , it has continued its social services , including aid to congregants who need financial help , and launched several online programs for the month of Ramadan .
The community , like others across the U.S. , is suffering during the pandemic and consequent economic shutdown .
Congregants have reached out to Salhia about congregants ’ mental health concerns due to isolation , how to bury a Muslim congregant who died of COVID-19 and technical questions about virtual prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director at the Imam Ghazali Institute , a religious organization that provides religious seminars and access to Islamic experts .
He wants to make it easy for families to engage one another at home since they can ’ t go to mosques or other institutions for educational programs .
Imam Ghazali Institute launched a COVID-19 prep course that teaches how to worship and maximize Ramadan while social distancing .
It also started the mini-Masjid campaign , encouraging parents to “ build a mosque at home ” and implement mosque-like programs , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mommy & Me Zoom sessions with other families .
“ This Ramadan is a very unique Ramadan , and it ’ s probably going to be one of the most memorable moments for young people , ” Sattaur told HuffPost .
“ I think that it ’ s important that parents take a moment and really reflect and plan for this Ramadan , in terms of what they want their families to get out of it.
” In her previous years , Bawla participated in volunteer opportunities during the day during Ramadan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hungry and visiting shelters .
At night , she joined hundreds of New York Muslim students and community members for an iftar followed by tarweeh prayers ― the additional evening prayers practiced by Muslims during the month .
Often , she and girlfriends would pack into her car and go out for ice cream at odd hours when they could eat .

Last year, 26-year-old Layla Comstock broke fast with her friends almost every night during Ramadan. A recent convert who joined the Islamic faith a few years ago, being surrounded by her Muslim friends meant she always had someone to break fast or walk to prayer services with.
The plan was to do the same this year. Then the coronavirus pandemic happened, throwing Comstock and millions of other Muslims’ plans for the holy month into flux.
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Comstock is a student at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in her last semester and the president of her Muslim Student Association. She and her friends are forfeiting their in-person plans this year, given the statewide shelter-in-place order and the need to socially distance to stay safe. This Ramadan, she’ll be breaking her fast alone.
“The situation is super isolating,” said Comstock, who lives alone.
In order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, mosques across the country have closed their doors, putting a pause on communal Friday prayers and other activities in which Muslims might worship together. Families can no longer host large iftars (dinner parties to break fast), and evening prayers that often last into the night are suspended.
These closures are particularly painful during Ramadan, the holy month that begins later this week. For one month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk every day and increase their daily prayers in order to achieve self-discipline and piety. Ramadan is also a popular time for worshippers to gather and eat together when they are not fasting, meet for evening prayers and perform acts of charity and other social services in large numbers.
This year, mosques and religious organizations have pivoted to online programming, and Muslims like Comstock have turned to the internet for communal support in order to make the most out of the holy month.
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To combat the loneliness this Ramadan, Comstock plans to host “Zoom iftars,” where she and friends line up their menus, cook and break the fast together through video chat. She hopes the digital get-togethers help her keep in the Ramadan spirit of celebrating with others.
“I know as a revert, Ramadan was always, like, kind of lonely if I didn’t have the community around me,” Comstock said. “My first four years of being Muslim, I was the only person I knew who was a Muslim.”
Layla Comstock plans to celebrate Ramadan with her friends this week via "Zoom iftars." Hannah Yoon for HuffPost
Hosting ‘E-ftars’
Many Muslim organizations have made efforts to ensure people don’t have to break fast alone during Ramadan, which is an important practice for sharing community and spirituality. Center D.C., a Washington-based Muslim organization, launched a D.C. Iftar League four years ago to ensure people could congregate even if they didn’t know many other Muslims in the area.
Individuals who signed up were assigned an “iftar team” and then joined fellow Muslims for a weekly evening meal during Ramadan.
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With social distancing rules in place, the organization took its efforts online for this Ramadan. Iftar League members now can sign up to virtually participate and join other Muslims in the region for a communal break-fast meal or even have a predawn meal together before the next fast begins.
“We hope that we can feed some of that social connection and that communal reflection that people might be missing from a lack of in-person gatherings,” said Lauren Schreiber, the co-founder and executive director of Center D.C.
Other Muslims, like Comstock, are organizing their own virtual events. Outside of Richmond, Virginia, 33-year-old Salaam Bhatti has scheduled what he called “e-ftars” with friends and family at least once a week.
“It will be a nice way to still have that semblance of gathering, like the way we would have gathered in our mosque, but you know, we just can’t have that right now,” Bhatti said.
He and his wife and son are all at home, and Bhatti wants to dedicate their extra time together to worship as a family ― an opportunity he did not have with a regular work schedule and commute.
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“We can just supplement our time now and really just be dedicated to what Ramadan is all about and that is that spiritual nourishment,” he said. “We don’t get to take advantage of that any other year.”
Keeping Up With The Technology
Imam Osamah Salhia, at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Clifton, New Jersey, has been live-streaming services to thousands of viewers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan Christopher Jones for HuffPost
Transitioning to an online-only worship and community isn’t easy. Mosques often relied on large congregations during Ramadan to raise money in order to pay for that year’s expenses. Now that those funds aren’t coming in, some imams were laid off when their mosques could no longer pay their salaries.
Other mosques and religious institutions have been forced to confront their glaring technological incapabilities.
“Many of the mosques did not have a strong online presence and did not have an effective means of reaching its congregants through the virtual platforms,” said Osamah Salhia, the resident imam at the Clifton location of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, New Jersey, which is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S. “So I think this has definitely been a growth experience.”
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The Islamic Center of Passaic County, which serves more than 25,000 congregants, closed down at the state’s direction in March. Since then, it has continued its social services, including aid to congregants who need financial help, and launched several online programs for the month of Ramadan. The community, like others across the U.S., is suffering during the pandemic and consequent economic shutdown. Congregants have reached out to Salhia about congregants’ mental health concerns due to isolation, how to bury a Muslim congregant who died of COVID-19 and technical questions about virtual prayers.
The imam tries to quell concerns and remind Muslims that this isn’t the first time mosques were forced to close because of pandemics or warfare. He encourages people to take advantage of the time at home to practice the Islamic tradition of seclusion and inward reflection
“Ramadan, just as it’s special for Muslims every single year, it remains special even if we’re not physically in the same location,” Salhia said. “It still carries the same blessings.”
Imam Osamah Salhai's online outreach has helped congregants with their questions and fears. Ryan Christopher Jones for HuffPost
Getting Creative
Muhammad Sattaur is the founder and executive director at the Imam Ghazali Institute, a religious organization that provides religious seminars and access to Islamic experts. He wants to make it easy for families to engage one another at home since they can’t go to mosques or other institutions for educational programs. Imam Ghazali Institute launched a COVID-19 prep course that teaches how to worship and maximize Ramadan while social distancing. It also started the mini-Masjid campaign, encouraging parents to “build a mosque at home” and implement mosque-like programs, such as leading evening prayers with your family and Mommy & Me Zoom sessions with other families.
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The organization also launched a virtual weekend Islamic school, where parents can access three to four hours’ worth of resources to engage their children each week during Ramadan. So far, more than 4,500 children across the country have enrolled in the program.
“This Ramadan is a very unique Ramadan, and it’s probably going to be one of the most memorable moments for young people,” Sattaur told HuffPost. “I think that it’s important that parents take a moment and really reflect and plan for this Ramadan, in terms of what they want their families to get out of it.”
Combating Loneliness
Gathering online is a good thing, but it still isn’t quite the same as the friend and family gatherings and communal prayers and worship that make up most Ramadans.
Asma Bawla, a 19-year-old sophomore at New York University who was forced to return home when it closed its campus and went remote after the coronavirus outbreak, is sad to miss all of the social aspects that came with Ramadan.
In her previous years, Bawla participated in volunteer opportunities during the day during Ramadan, such as making meals for the hungry and visiting shelters. At night, she joined hundreds of New York Muslim students and community members for an iftar followed by tarweeh prayers ― the additional evening prayers practiced by Muslims during the month. Often, she and girlfriends would pack into her car and go out for ice cream at odd hours when they could eat.
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During the weekends, she would return home to her family in Albany, where the social events continued. Together, they attended iftar parties with her family and relatives and visited their mosque.
Asma Bawla, 19, would typically spend part of Ramadan with friends and on the weekends with her mother and sister in Albany, New York. Photo provided by Asma Bawla
But with all the social aspects of the month eliminated, Bawla was forced to step back and readjust.
“I am a little bit sad,” she said. “But I was reflecting and asking how can I benefit from that extra time that I’m not socializing and hanging out with my friends. I think I can grow in a different way.”
Bawla made a list of new ways to reconnect with her faith, including making it an effort to worship with her parents and siblings who live with her now, taking advantage of online programming and reconnecting with the outdoors.
Although she acknowledges that she’s lucky to be home with family members, she recognizes not everyone is in her situation. In light of that, she hopes to call and text people in her circle more frequently.
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Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Comstock compiled a list of 20 people ― some who are friends in North Africa and West Asia ― to send handwritten letters.
“I thought that would be a good idea, especially because our communities are separated, just to send out like, hey, you’re not alone, here’s a cute little message about Ramadan,” she said.
She’s excited to start sending out the cards this week. She hopes to get some back ― that she and other Muslims can be reminded of their community during a holy month that’s tougher than many.
“Basically all that I’m doing between the cards and just reaching out to anyone is trying to just make connections,” said Comstock.


huffpost--2020-04-21--I Worried About Having My Wedding On Zoom, But It Was Incredible. Here's Why.

COVID-19 has taken its full course in shutting down just about everything .
Social distancing is the norm instead of a rare occurrence .
I personally know friends and family members who are being affected by COVID-19 , many of their health conditions taking a turn for the worse .
My own exposure to the virus is increasing at an alarming rate since I ’ m a registered nurse .
As such , I am high-risk for exposing my husband and others on my commute or at work to the virus .
Our vendors had been paid their deposits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my wedding dress was in the process of being made .
We were faced with a difficult decision to assess the harrowing situation of COVID-19 and on March 10 , we mutually decided to postpone the wedding until further notice .
This potentially seemed stress-free at the time , giving us more time to save money for the wedding and plan more intricate details for our special day .
In reality , this posed another difficult conundrum .
Farzan and I come from two fairly traditional Muslim families .
Postponing our wedding ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives together in terms of cohabitating with each other .
One day as we were making the painstaking phone calls of contacting each vendor about our decisions to postpone , I posed a question to Farzan .
“ Hey , why don ’ t we just have a nikkah over Zoom ?
” A nikkah , the Islamic marriage , would solidify our partnership within the realms of our shared Islamic faith and to both our families .
Traditionally , it would take place in a mosque and would require an Imam or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our wedding would be reduced to Zoom , I broke down into tears .
I began to have vivid visions of what I would be missing out on by not proceeding with the ceremony we planned for the summer .
Having dreamt of this day as a little girl , I couldn ’ t believe my elaborate plans would be limited to a video conference .
I knew that we were postponing and this wasn ’ t the final ceremony .
Even so , my heart still felt shattered .
After waiting what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person whose soul was connected to mine , postponing the main events truly felt devastating .
I felt as though the world was playing a trick on me .
I could not wrap my head around how battling numerous obstacles and roadblocks could yet lead to another challenge .
I could not imagine my special day without my family , best friends and loved ones we grew up with , next to me in person .
Despite acknowledging that we were indeed postponing , not having a clear date in mind and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year made me feel anxious and deeply saddened me .
However , at the same time , I was witnessing the heartaches that people close to me were going through in barely making ends meet , being laid off , not being able to afford mortgages and witnessing lifelong businesses being shut down .
At work , I was seeing an increase in people having to discuss end-of-life care forms with seemingly prior healthy family members .
I quickly realized the reality of my situation wasn ’ t going to change anytime soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a privileged one that I could quickly remedy .
I embraced that change was occurring and ultimately realized that even before COVID-19 had existed , the health and happiness of my loved ones were most significant to me .
In 2017 , I had lost my only brother , Rashad , to spinal muscular atrophy .
After the loss of my brother , I couldn ’ t fathom the idea that my future wedding would be missing any more of my family members or loved ones .
And so we discussed our ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the legality of it , and we found that it was completely allowed and acceptable as long as we still had two witnesses .
So Farzan and I would be on one screen together , our officiant would call in from his own to abide by social distancing rules , and then all of our loved ones would be witnesses .
Planning for our Zoom wedding was very different than what I was previously planning .
Firstly , we had to break it to our traditional Bengali and Pakistani parents .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video conferencing ceremony , essentially explaining not being able to invite anyone in person , even if they lived next door .
This was an extremely difficult conversation to have as our parents didn ’ t fully grasp the importance of social distancing yet and didn ’ t want to personally offend anyone by not inviting them in person .
Although it was a challenging conversation , we ultimately decided it was the best decision to include everyone from a virtual standpoint and not risk their safety for the sake of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept on asking us if we would be regretful of this decision when looking back on this moment in the future .
We faithfully and confidently knew , the only regret we would ever have is to not be together when given the opportunity to do so , especially during a global pandemic and both being essential workers .
On March 28 , we made sure our technical issues were taken care of .
We had our Wi-Fi and data networks triple-checked to ensure everything would go smoothly .
Ultimately , everyone had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even dressed up ( from the bottom up , of course ) in traditional clothing and in wedding attire .
An emotional reunion across all generations unfolded , as Farzan and I exchanged our vows and became one .
We had about 70 screens filled with two or more people each logged on to witness our wedding .
What we thought would be a short 30-minute event turned into an hour and a half celebration with our loved ones .
Everyone stayed long after the officiant proclaimed us husband and wife and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold close .
Not wanting to let anything get in the way of our love made it that much easier to have an unconventional wedding .
Of course I wish I could have hugged my family members , or taken traditional photos of the big day , but we ’ ll still celebrate in person with everyone after the pandemic .
After Farzan moved in with me unexpectedly quickly — on the same day as the nikkah , so we could start our lives while still being socially responsible because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve regretted waiting many more months to start this journey with him .
Having him there as my day starts and as my day ends has made me feel blissfully carefree especially in such trying times .
I thought it would have been difficult to have this change because I have lived alone for the past year , and I never lived with anyone besides my parents , but our support and love for each other have been keeping us afloat .
In hindsight , all of the changes and concerns that occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blessing in disguise now .
Although planning glamorous details and extravagance can be extremely time consuming , personalized and special , the essence of what ultimately mattered to us was being together .
As things still unfold drastically in the world , I am reminded that life is way too short to be apart from someone and live without them in the midst of a pandemic .
Our nikkah remains as one of the most precious moments in my life and serves as a gentle reminder of how individuals can still remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were lucky and grateful to share the opportunity to focus on something beautiful , joyous and positive even if it was just for two hours during such chaotic and uncertain times .
Despite all of the obstacles we faced , a dreamy and magical wedding day still occurred and our beautiful union was celebrated .
We can ’ t wait to finalize a new date for our events and celebrate with everyone in person , and I know it will be even more meaningful and special than the initial plans we had @

The author and her husband on the day of their Zoom wedding. Courtesy of Unsha Bakker
COVID-19 has taken its full course in shutting down just about everything. Social distancing is the norm instead of a rare occurrence. I personally know friends and family members who are being affected by COVID-19, many of their health conditions taking a turn for the worse. My own exposure to the virus is increasing at an alarming rate since I’m a registered nurse. As such, I am high-risk for exposing my husband and others on my commute or at work to the virus.
Yet in all of the chaos, I was planning a wedding for this summer, and my husband, Farzan, and I knew we had to make quick, important decisions about our future together.
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Our vendors had been paid their deposits, flights were booked for overseas individuals and my wedding dress was in the process of being made. We were faced with a difficult decision to assess the harrowing situation of COVID-19 and on March 10, we mutually decided to postpone the wedding until further notice. This potentially seemed stress-free at the time, giving us more time to save money for the wedding and plan more intricate details for our special day. In reality, this posed another difficult conundrum. Farzan and I come from two fairly traditional Muslim families. Postponing our wedding ceremony further meant postponing the start of our lives together in terms of cohabitating with each other.
With hourly changes on the news, state curfews and shelter-in-place rules, we knew we had to make a decision quickly before potentially being banned form seeing each other for what could be months, since I am from New York, and Farzan is from New Jersey.
One day as we were making the painstaking phone calls of contacting each vendor about our decisions to postpone, I posed a question to Farzan. “Hey, why don’t we just have a nikkah over Zoom?” A nikkah, the Islamic marriage, would solidify our partnership within the realms of our shared Islamic faith and to both our families. Traditionally, it would take place in a mosque and would require an Imam or Muslim officiant.
“Postponing our wedding seemed stress-free at the time, giving us more time to save money for the wedding and plan more intricate details for our special day. In reality, this posed another difficult conundrum.”
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Imagining the possibility that our wedding would be reduced to Zoom, I broke down into tears. I began to have vivid visions of what I would be missing out on by not proceeding with the ceremony we planned for the summer. Having dreamt of this day as a little girl, I couldn’t believe my elaborate plans would be limited to a video conference. I knew that we were postponing and this wasn’t the final ceremony. Even so, my heart still felt shattered.
After waiting what felt like a lifetime to meet the person whose soul was connected to mine, postponing the main events truly felt devastating. I felt as though the world was playing a trick on me. I could not wrap my head around how battling numerous obstacles and roadblocks could yet lead to another challenge. I could not imagine my special day without my family, best friends and loved ones we grew up with, next to me in person. Despite acknowledging that we were indeed postponing, not having a clear date in mind and not knowing that it could even happen this year made me feel anxious and deeply saddened me.
The unconventional, technological-based route, and doing things seemingly out of order, stirred panic in me. I knew that planning a wedding and being married would include its obstacles but nothing seemed to have prepared us for this.
However, at the same time, I was witnessing the heartaches that people close to me were going through in barely making ends meet, being laid off, not being able to afford mortgages and witnessing lifelong businesses being shut down. At work, I was seeing an increase in people having to discuss end-of-life care forms with seemingly prior healthy family members. I quickly realized the reality of my situation wasn’t going to change anytime soon and I recognized that my heartache was a privileged one that I could quickly remedy.
“After the loss of my brother, I couldn’t fathom the idea that my future wedding would be missing any more of my family members or loved ones.”
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I embraced that change was occurring and ultimately realized that even before COVID-19 had existed, the health and happiness of my loved ones were most significant to me. In 2017, I had lost my only brother, Rashad, to spinal muscular atrophy. After the loss of my brother, I couldn’t fathom the idea that my future wedding would be missing any more of my family members or loved ones.
And so we discussed our ideas to proceed over Zoom with our officiant on the legality of it, and we found that it was completely allowed and acceptable as long as we still had two witnesses. So Farzan and I would be on one screen together, our officiant would call in from his own to abide by social distancing rules, and then all of our loved ones would be witnesses.
Planning for our Zoom wedding was very different than what I was previously planning. Firstly, we had to break it to our traditional Bengali and Pakistani parents. We had to explain the full concept of a video conferencing ceremony, essentially explaining not being able to invite anyone in person, even if they lived next door. This was an extremely difficult conversation to have as our parents didn’t fully grasp the importance of social distancing yet and didn’t want to personally offend anyone by not inviting them in person.
Although it was a challenging conversation, we ultimately decided it was the best decision to include everyone from a virtual standpoint and not risk their safety for the sake of our wedding day. In addition, everyone kept on asking us if we would be regretful of this decision when looking back on this moment in the future. We faithfully and confidently knew, the only regret we would ever have is to not be together when given the opportunity to do so, especially during a global pandemic and both being essential workers.
On March 28, we made sure our technical issues were taken care of. We had our Wi-Fi and data networks triple-checked to ensure everything would go smoothly. Ultimately, everyone had successfully logged on and many people had even dressed up (from the bottom up, of course) in traditional clothing and in wedding attire. An emotional reunion across all generations unfolded, as Farzan and I exchanged our vows and became one. We had about 70 screens filled with two or more people each logged on to witness our wedding.
Advertisement
“We faithfully and confidently knew, the only regret we would ever have is to not be together when given the opportunity to do so, especially during a global pandemic and both being essential workers.”
What we thought would be a short 30-minute event turned into an hour and a half celebration with our loved ones. Everyone stayed long after the officiant proclaimed us husband and wife and we exchanged many loving conversations with those we hold close. Not wanting to let anything get in the way of our love made it that much easier to have an unconventional wedding. Of course I wish I could have hugged my family members, or taken traditional photos of the big day, but we’ll still celebrate in person with everyone after the pandemic.
After Farzan moved in with me unexpectedly quickly — on the same day as the nikkah, so we could start our lives while still being socially responsible because of the coronavirus — I quickly realized I would’ve regretted waiting many more months to start this journey with him. Having him there as my day starts and as my day ends has made me feel blissfully carefree especially in such trying times. I thought it would have been difficult to have this change because I have lived alone for the past year, and I never lived with anyone besides my parents, but our support and love for each other have been keeping us afloat.
In hindsight, all of the changes and concerns that occurred prior to the Zoom nikkah seems like a blessing in disguise now. Although planning glamorous details and extravagance can be extremely time consuming, personalized and special, the essence of what ultimately mattered to us was being together. As things still unfold drastically in the world, I am reminded that life is way too short to be apart from someone and live without them in the midst of a pandemic.
Our nikkah remains as one of the most precious moments in my life and serves as a gentle reminder of how individuals can still remain connected at a time like this. We were lucky and grateful to share the opportunity to focus on something beautiful, joyous and positive even if it was just for two hours during such chaotic and uncertain times. Despite all of the obstacles we faced, a dreamy and magical wedding day still occurred and our beautiful union was celebrated. We can’t wait to finalize a new date for our events and celebrate with everyone in person, and I know it will be even more meaningful and special than the initial plans we had.
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huffpost--2020-04-21--Lucinda Williams Is Ready To Push People's Buttons

But shortly afterward , people started asking : “ Is she still going to be able to write songs now ?
” The question made Williams doubt her abilities , but it also forced her to reach beyond her songwriting comfort level .
“ I was kind of like , OK , I ’ ll show you , this is a challenge .
I ’ m going to show you I can do this , and it proved to be really liberating , ” Williams told HuffPost .
Williams was in a reflective mood during our phone interview in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Good Souls Better Angels , ” was due to be released .
Holed up at home because of coronavirus social distancing measures , she was trying to stay as occupied as possible .
“ I think a lot of people of people feel like you have all this extra spare time , so you should be doing all this other stuff like cleaning the house , exercising , ” she said .
“ But then you don ’ t feel like it , so then you beat yourself up because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s weird.
” Despite everything going on , Williams , 67 , still was in a relatively happy place .
A place that ’ s made her wonder over the years whether she could stretch her lyrics beyond love and loss .
“ To be honest , it was a test because I ’ ve been in other relationships before where I would kind of lose that part of myself .
... And if I wasn ’ t going to be able to be my creative normal self , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the other direction.
” “ We ’ re living in unprecedented times , ” Willams said .
“ We ’ ve never had a person like this in the White House before .
And I mean , just all the fallout from that ― and it pisses you off .
People are pissed off and angry , frustrated.
” “ It proved to be really liberating , and so that was kind of the first step with writing ‘ Soldier Song , ’ which is an anti-war song , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about these subjects without it being that obvious thing like , OK , everybody , let ’ s hold hands and come together and that kind of thing.
” “ When I was starting out as a songwriter and learning how to write and all that , to me it was a lot more challenging .
Those types of songs are harder to write .
And I think other songwriters might agree because you don ’ t want to sound too hokey or corny.
” “ The big black cloud of depression , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really been affecting .
...
It makes me almost cry every time I sing it , ” she said .
“ Several people told me that that song made them cry.
” “ I consider myself an artist first , in the same way that we look at painters and refer to them as artist .
Art is about self-expression .
So it ’ s going to piss some people off.
” Ultimately , Williams wanted to write songs that move people .
It was the same force that pushed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her debut album , 1979 ’ s “ Ramblin ’ on My Mind , ” to 1997′s Grammy-winning album , “ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road ” and beyond .
“ I feel like I ’ m sort of an anomaly at this point because people seem so surprised and say , ‘ Wow , you ’ re this age and you still have the energy and spunk that you ’ ve always had.
’ I don ’ t really think about it that much .
Nothing ’ s really changed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t imagine not doing what I ’ m still doing , you know ?
… It has continued to grow over the years .
I ’ m one of those kinds of artists who are slow and steady kind of thing .
”

Lucinda Williams' new album is called “Good Souls Better Angels." Danny Clinch
Does heartbreak make for better art? It’s an interesting question and one that Lucinda Williams has grappled with over the last several years.
It all started when the singer-songwriter found her soulmate: Tom Overby. She and Overby moved in together, got engaged and eventually wed in 2009. Williams called it a “huge turning point” in her life.
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But shortly afterward, people started asking: “Is she still going to be able to write songs now?” The question made Williams doubt her abilities, but it also forced her to reach beyond her songwriting comfort level.
“I was kind of like, OK, I’ll show you, this is a challenge. I’m going to show you I can do this, and it proved to be really liberating,” Williams told HuffPost.
Williams was in a reflective mood during our phone interview in March, a month before her new album, “Good Souls Better Angels,” was due to be released. Holed up at home because of coronavirus social distancing measures, she was trying to stay as occupied as possible.
“I think a lot of people of people feel like you have all this extra spare time, so you should be doing all this other stuff like cleaning the house, exercising,” she said. “But then you don’t feel like it, so then you beat yourself up because you’re not getting anything done. “It’s weird.”
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Despite everything going on, Williams, 67, still was in a relatively happy place. A place that’s made her wonder over the years whether she could stretch her lyrics beyond love and loss.
“To be honest, it was a test because I’ve been in other relationships before where I would kind of lose that part of myself. ... And if I wasn’t going to be able to be my creative normal self, I would run as fast as I could in the other direction.”
Williams had to postpone her tour because of the coronavirus. Danny Clinch
Williams ended up pushing beyond her limits on this new album, tackling current events with the song “Man Without a Soul,” in which she alludes to President Donald Trump.
“We’re living in unprecedented times,” Willams said. “We’ve never had a person like this in the White House before. And I mean, just all the fallout from that ― and it pisses you off. People are pissed off and angry, frustrated.”
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Williams said the state of affairs drove her to write more topical songs and, dare she say, even protest songs.
“It proved to be really liberating, and so that was kind of the first step with writing ‘Soldier Song,’ which is an anti-war song,” she said. “And learning how to write about these subjects without it being that obvious thing like, OK, everybody, let’s hold hands and come together and that kind of thing.”
She thought a lot about Bob Dylan while writing this new body of work, noting she grew up with his music.
“When I was starting out as a songwriter and learning how to write and all that, to me it was a lot more challenging. Those types of songs are harder to write. And I think other songwriters might agree because you don’t want to sound too hokey or corny.”
Williams doesn’t stop at politics on “Good Souls Better Angels.” She also sings about mental health in “Big Black Train.”
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“The big black cloud of depression, that kind of thing. That one’s really been affecting. ... It makes me almost cry every time I sing it,” she said. “Several people told me that that song made them cry.”
Williams said she’s not worried about being blunt in her music, as she’s always “liked to push peoples buttons.”
“I consider myself an artist first, in the same way that we look at painters and refer to them as artist. Art is about self-expression. So it’s going to piss some people off.”
Ultimately, Williams wanted to write songs that move people. It was the same force that pushed her throughout her four-decade career ― from writing her debut album, 1979’s “Ramblin’ on My Mind,” to 1997′s Grammy-winning album, “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” and beyond.
“I’m not writing for the radio. I’m not writing for Music Row. I want to make it palatable, so it reaches other people,” Williams said.
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Williams said she hasn’t lost her love for songwriting and performing.
“I feel like I’m sort of an anomaly at this point because people seem so surprised and say, ‘Wow, you’re this age and you still have the energy and spunk that you’ve always had.’ I don’t really think about it that much. Nothing’s really changed that much for me. I mean, I can’t imagine not doing what I’m still doing, you know? … It has continued to grow over the years. I’m one of those kinds of artists who are slow and steady kind of thing.”


huffpost--2020-04-21--Donald Trump Jr. Erupts As Facebook Cuts Dangerous COVID-19 Protest Posts

Facebook has removed posts and some event pages promoting protests against COVID-19 safety measures — and Donald Trump Jr. is having a meltdown about it .
The action was taken Monday for planned protests against stay-at-home measures in California , New Jersey and Nebraska .
Facebook removed the pages after the company was informed by state officials that the gatherings would violate state orders limiting crowds and requiring social distancing to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases .
Pages for protests in other states were allowed to remain up for the time being .
The first son accused Facebook of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s free speech.
” He called it a “ chilling and disturbing government-directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights .
Very dangerous !
” Why is @ Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech ?
Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them , this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights .
Very dangerous !
https : //t.co/rnG09TSVhI — Donald Trump Jr. ( @ DonaldJTrumpJr ) April 20 , 2020 The relevant state guidelines concern health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws restrict the number of people who can safely pack into a performance venue because of safety issues .
Facebook , which is a publicly traded corporation not legally required to provide a platform for everyone , is blocking people from using its social network to encourage violating state safety guidelines .
Where no such regulations exist , organizers are still allowed to promote protests .
“ Unless government prohibits the event during this time , we allow it to be organized on Facebook , ” a company representative told Politico .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defy government ’ s guidance on social distancing aren ’ t allowed on Facebook.
” State officials and Democrats see the action as safeguarding social distancing health measures , which are also supported by the Trump administration .
Sen. Richard Blumenthal ( D-Conn. ) praised Facebook ’ s action .
“ Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19 , ” he warned on Twitter .
Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19 .
Facebook is right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All tech companies must act forcefully to protect public health.https : //t.co/WaAszc0b3G — Richard Blumenthal ( @ SenBlumenthal ) April 21 , 2020 Despite protests in several cities against COVID-19 safety measures , polls reveal broad public support for social distancing efforts .
A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that 58 % of voters were more worried that lifting restrictions would lead to more COVID-19 deaths than they were about continued stay-at-home orders harming the economy .
A HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 86 % of Americans said they were trying to stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 % said they ’ d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area .

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Facebook has removed posts and some event pages promoting protests against COVID-19 safety measures — and Donald Trump Jr. is having a meltdown about it.
The action was taken Monday for planned protests against stay-at-home measures in California, New Jersey and Nebraska. Facebook removed the pages after the company was informed by state officials that the gatherings would violate state orders limiting crowds and requiring social distancing to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases.
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Pages for protests in other states were allowed to remain up for the time being.
The first son accused Facebook of “colluding with state governments to quash people’s free speech.” He called it a “chilling and disturbing government-directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous!”
Why is @Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech?
Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them, this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous! https://t.co/rnG09TSVhI — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 20, 2020
The relevant state guidelines concern health issues, not speech, much as laws restrict the number of people who can safely pack into a performance venue because of safety issues.
Facebook, which is a publicly traded corporation not legally required to provide a platform for everyone, is blocking people from using its social network to encourage violating state safety guidelines. Where no such regulations exist, organizers are still allowed to promote protests.
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“Unless government prohibits the event during this time, we allow it to be organized on Facebook,” a company representative told Politico. “For this same reason, events that defy government’s guidance on social distancing aren’t allowed on Facebook.”
State officials and Democrats see the action as safeguarding social distancing health measures, which are also supported by the Trump administration.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) praised Facebook’s action. “Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19,” he warned on Twitter.
Powerful special interests are using astroturfing & dangerous tactics to undermine the fight against COVID-19. Facebook is right to take a stand against harmful misinformation. All tech companies must act forcefully to protect public health.https://t.co/WaAszc0b3G — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) April 21, 2020
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Despite protests in several cities against COVID-19 safety measures, polls reveal broad public support for social distancing efforts. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that 58% of voters were more worried that lifting restrictions would lead to more COVID-19 deaths than they were about continued stay-at-home orders harming the economy. A HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 86% of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible, and about 65% said they’d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area.
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear scrubs pic.twitter.com/fisnLdZxWU — NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 20, 2020
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


huffpost--2020-04-21--Our Kids Are Desperately Lonely In Lockdown. Here Are 10 Ways to Help

She ’ s not the only one .
Mom Sascha Akhtar tells me her seven-year-old has was playing up recently .
“ She was snapping at me as I was trying to get her to bed , ” says Akhtar .
“ After about 20 exhausting minutes , she burst into a flood of tears and said , ‘ I miss my friends !
’ In that moment , I knew there was no point saying anything else besides , ‘ Oh I ’ m so sorry , ’ and she just nestled up really small next to me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ It must be awful !
’ ” The schools are closed – taking away children ’ s usual 8am to 3pm routine .
And if they ’ re young , they probably don ’ t have their own phone or independent means to chat to friends .
With the holidays now over , too , but no clear date for when their lives will return to normal , no wonder they may be feeling lonely .
Citron says kids may have tantrums to express their frustration , or may be sad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling lonely .
“ As parents , we have a duty to recognize the low feelings they might be having , and give them a hug , ” she says .
“ Share empathy by saying you know how tough it is.
” It can be useful to see how kids ‘ self-describe ’ experiences of the pandemic .
Teacher Camilla Block , who lives in Denmark – which is the first country to allow children to return to school – asked her class to write down words they had experienced during lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loneliness.
” “ Why we feel the way we do ( emotions ) ; the impact on the way we talk to ourselves ( thoughts ) ; how we respond to others around us ( behaviors ) ; and how our emotions , thoughts and behaviors can affect our bodies ( physical body ) .
Parents can work towards changing small things in each ‘ corner ’ that are unhelpful , to help them feel better.
” Akhtar says she would usually remind her daughter how nice it is to spend time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen to how she was feeling instead .
“ She ’ s seeing her father more than she usually does , and I know how good it is for her , ” she says .
“ But I saw how much she was missing not squealing with her friends , not playing nonsensical games and not imagining endless fantastical scenarios – and I realized how nourishing a society of peers is for children.
” “ Discuss it with them in a very open-ended way , ” Emma Citron advises .
“ Ask them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re missing your friends ?
” They might say it ’ s during the school day , because they ’ re used to seeing them between 8am and 43pm .
You could reassure them that it ’ s been the holidays , and that ’ s why they haven ’ t spoken to them .
And you can share with them that you realize it ’ s hard because the holidays started early.
” “ When they say , “ It ’ s not fair , I ’ m not seeing my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ You can say , ‘ Even though you ’ d normally do those things , try to understand it ’ s not personal to you and it ’ s affecting everyone.
’ Ask them what they think would help them feel better .
It may be that they want more contact with their friends – you can help them create a WhatsApp group or HouseParty or Zoom session on your phone or laptop , with supervision.
” Help them identify feelings by writing them down “ Tell them , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated , angry , overwhelmed , sad , confused – come to me and we can stick them on the fridge and you can point to one and tell me how you ’ re feeling .
Then we can talk about it.
’ This will help them to process the emotional experiences they ’ re having.
” Remember that kids need privacy , too It ’ s okay to feel irritable , too “ Acknowledge your feelings and normalize them , ” Citron says .
“ Remind yourself that they are something you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the garden , if you ’ re lucky enough , or take yourself out to the park to speak to friends on the phone .
If you ’ re feeling good , you ’ ll have more headspace to help your kids.
” This three-fold technique – ‘ label ’ , ‘ reflect ’ and ‘ normalize ’ – can be a useful way to make your child feel heard and understood , says Street , and also develop confidence in talking about their feelings .
“ Start by labelling their emotions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
’ and allow them to open up in their own time .
Next try to reflect their emotions in your response ie .
‘ So , you feel sad because… ?
’ Finally , try to normalize their feelings ie .
‘ I would feel sad because of that too.
’ ” “ Practicing acceptance of some uncertainty plays an important part in helping children to develop emotional resilience , ” Street says .
“ Attention-training exercises such as mindfulness can help children be more aware of their thoughts and how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you find they ’ re stuck in a ‘ worry cycle ’ , setting aside specific times to talk about their worries such as half an hour in the morning or evening can be helpful .
”

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“Can I do FaceTime with my friends?” is the most common cry I hear during lockdown. My daughter is missing her usual weekly playdates – badly.
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She’s not the only one. Mum Sascha Akhtar tells me her seven-year-old has been playing up recently. “She was snapping at me as I was trying to get her to bed,” says Akhtar. “After about 20 exhausting minutes, she burst into a flood of tears and said, ‘I miss my friends!’ In that moment, I knew there was no point saying anything else besides, ‘Oh I’m so sorry,’ and she just nestled up really small next to me. ‘Poor you,’ I said, ‘It must be awful!’”
If you’re a parent, it can feel like you’re not getting a moment alone right now. But it’s worth stopping to think what this says about kids’ states of mind?
The schools are closed – taking away children’s usual 9am to 4pm routine. And if they’re young, they probably don’t have their own phone or independent means to chat to friends. With the holidays now over, too, but no clear date for when their lives will return to normal, no wonder they may be feeling lonely.
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As Akhtar found out, dealing with our children’s complex emotions during lockdown isn’t easy, warns consultant clinical psychologist Emma Citron.
“Loneliness is an underrepresented, very important emotion,” she tells HuffPost UK. “Usually, what it means for a child is that they’re missing their friends. It can wax and wane throughout the week, but it’s very real and very palpable.”
Citron says kids may have tantrums to express their frustration, or may be sad and slightly withdrawn if they’re feeling lonely. “As parents, we have a duty to recognise the low feelings they might be having, and give them a hug,” she says. “Share empathy by saying you know how tough it is.”
It can be useful to see how kids ‘self-describe’ experiences of the pandemic. Teacher Camilla Block, who lives in Denmark – which is the first country to allow children to return to school – asked her class to write down words they had experienced during lockdown and one of the children wrote “loneliness”.
“That was important to talk about because he’s from quite a big family, so it’s not because he’s been alone during the lockdown,” she told the BBC’s World Tonight. “Not being able to be with his friends felt like loneliness to him.”
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Brendan Street, head of wellbeing at Nuffield Health (which has issued a free Parents’ Guide to Kids Emotional Wellbeing) suggests parents try a ‘four corners’ approach. This can help children make sense of what’s happening by breaking any situation down into more easily recognisable areas, he explains.
“Why we feel the way we do (emotions); the impact on the way we talk to ourselves (thoughts); how we respond to others around us (behaviours); and how our emotions, thoughts and behaviours can affect our bodies (physical body). Parents can work towards changing small things in each ‘corner’ that are unhelpful, to help them feel better.”
Akhtar says she would usually remind her daughter how nice it is to spend time with her family, but decided simply to listen to how she was feeling instead. “She’s seeing her father more than she usually does, and I know how good it is for her,” she says. “But I saw how much she was missing not squealing with her friends, not playing nonsensical games and not imagining endless fantastical scenarios – and I realised how nourishing a society of peers is for children.”
Here are 10 tips on how to help your child if you think they’re feeling lonely:
Identify their ‘triggers’
“Discuss it with them in a very open-ended way,” Emma Citron advises. “Ask them: “When have you noticed you’re missing your friends?” They might say it’s during the school day, because they’re used to seeing them between 9 and 4pm. You could reassure them that it’s been the holidays, and that’s why they haven’t spoken to them. And you can share with them that you realise it’s hard because the holidays started early.”
Listen when they’re feeling frustrated
“When they say, “It’s not fair, I’m not seeing my friends’, listen,” Citron says. “You can say, ‘Even though you’d normally do those things, try to understand it’s not personal to you and it’s affecting everyone.’ Ask them what they think would help them feel better. It may be that they want more contact with their friends – you can help them create a WhatsApp group or HouseParty or Zoom session on your phone or laptop, with supervision.”
Help them identify feelings by writing them down
“Tell them, ‘When you are feeling that way – frustrated, angry, overwhelmed, sad, confused – come to me and we can stick them on the fridge and you can point to one and tell me how you’re feeling. Then we can talk about it.’ This will help them to process the emotional experiences they’re having.”
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Remember that kids need privacy, too
“They’ve lost privacy by not being with their friends,” Citron says. “Even if they’re little, it’s important for kids to have ‘private time’ to make silly jokes or chat about normal ‘kid’ things. Try to give them back some privacy.”
Diffuse rather than stoke tantrums
Avoid doing anything that provokes kids unduly – sarcasm, making them feel worse, or showing them up, Citron says. “Be empathetic and understanding with them. Say something like, ‘It’s very hard to help you when you’re screaming and waving your arms around. But I’m here to hug you.’”
It’s okay to feel irritable, too
“Acknowledge your feelings and normalise them,” Citron says. “Remind yourself they’re also something you can do something about – by going into the garden, if you’re lucky enough, or take yourself out to the park to speak to friends on the phone. If you’re feeling good, you’ll have more headspace to help your kids.”
Try ‘reflective listening’
This three-fold technique – ‘label’, ‘reflect’ and ‘normalise’ – can be a useful way to make your child feel heard and understood, says Street, and also develop confidence in talking about their feelings. “Start by labelling their emotions, ie. ‘You look/sound sad?’ and allow them to open up in their own time. Next try to reflect their emotions in your response ie. ‘So, you feel sad because…?’ Finally, try to normalise their feelings ie. ‘I would feel sad because of that too.’”
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Encourage acceptance
“Practicing acceptance of some uncertainty plays an important part in helping children to develop emotional resilience,” Street says. “Attention-training exercises such as mindfulness can help children be more aware of their thoughts and how to direct attention away from worrying. If you find they’re stuck in a ‘worry cycle’, setting aside specific times to talk about their worries such as half an hour in the morning or evening can be helpful.”
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Practise breathing techniques
“If you feel your children are getting worked up, pay attention to the length of their exhales and inhales,” Street says. “Slower respirations decrease the body’s stress response so encourage them to breathe less than 12 breaths a minute. Pairing breathing exercises with mindfulness can be a great way to help them relax before bed and promote good sleeping habits, which are fundamental to children’s emotional wellbeing.”
Create a nurturing environment


huffpost--2020-04-20--The American Public Isn't Ready To Reopen America

Allen J. Schaben via Getty Images UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers bang on the windows in a return of gratitude as they watch Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade to show support for them on April 14 , 2020 .
Instead , a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves .
Most respondents say that they ’ d continue to stay home even with no limitations in place .
And far more are concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too long to do so .
This consensus , polling suggests , hasn ’ t diminished in recent days , even as Americans ’ personal concerns about contracting the virus appear to have ticked down from their peak at the start of April .
In four surveys over the past month , the share of Americans staying home has remained between 86 % and 89 % , and the share supporting states ’ decisions to issue stay-at-home orders has stayed between 77 % and 81 % .
In the most recent HuffPost/YouGov survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 86 % of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible , and about 65 % said they ’ d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area .
Just 15 % said there are too many coronavirus-related restrictions in place where they live , with 53 % saying restrictions are at the right level , and 23 % that there are not enough restrictions .
A 78 % majority said state governments that have told residents to stay at home unless they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making the right decision by issuing such orders , with just 9 % saying those states are making the wrong decision .
Americans said , 60 % to 24 % , that they ’ re more concerned that states will lift the restrictions too quickly than that they will not lift the restrictions quickly enough .
Americans were evenly split in their attitudes toward Trump ’ s handling of coronavirus , the poll found , with 46 % approving and an equal percentage disapproving .
Polling was slightly more positive toward the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % approving and 43 % disapproving of how it has handled the virus .
The HuffPost/YouGov survey is just one of a number of new polls to find widespread support for continued , aggressive social distancing .
Taken as a whole , the surveys suggest the response to the coronavirus crisis has to some extent defied the hyperpartisan pattern of public opinion so often seen during Trump ’ s presidency .
As of yet , this crisis has not massively affected overall views of Trump ; but neither have Trump ’ s sporadic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect public unwillingness to do so .
Concerns about the coronavirus intensified rapidly , and across party lines , as the crisis grew .
And while there are still significant partisan divides on the subject ― Democrats are more seriously worried about the virus and far unhappier with the government ’ s response ― there ’ s also substantial agreement .
In the latest HuffPost/YouGov poll , 87 % of Democrats and 77 % of Republicans said that state stay-at-home orders remain the right decision ; 91 % of Democrats and 85 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making an effort to remain at home .
Although Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be primarily concerned that states will reopen too slowly , that ’ s hardly the consensus of the party .
Rather , the poll finds , Republicans themselves are closely divided on the issue — and , if anything , lean slightly toward concerns about reopening too quickly .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the latest HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by subgroups : HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls .
You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov ’ s nationally representative opinion polling .
More details on the polls ’ methodology are available here .
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors .
YouGov ’ s reports include a model-based margin of error , which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate .
Click here for a more detailed explanation of the model-based margin of error .

UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers bang on the windows in a return of gratitude as they watch Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade to show support for them on April 14, 2020. Allen J. Schaben via Getty Images
There’s a new silent majority in America: the millions of people who have remained quietly withdrawn from public life in an effort to stem the nation’s coronavirus outbreak.
Over the past week, small protests against stay-at-home orders ― obliquely encouraged by President Donald Trump ― have dotted the nation. Their highly visible frustration, however, doesn’t reflect a wider groundswell of public opposition to those orders.
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Instead, a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves. Most respondents say that they’d continue to stay home even with no limitations in place. And far more are concerned about states reopening too quickly than taking too long to do so.
This consensus, polling suggests, hasn’t diminished in recent days, even as Americans’ personal concerns about contracting the virus appear to have ticked down from their peak at the start of April. In four surveys over the past month, the share of Americans staying home has remained between 86% and 89%, and the share supporting states’ decisions to issue stay-at-home orders has stayed between 77% and 81%.
The overwhelming majority of Americans are supportive of state stay-at-home orders and are making an effort to stay home themselves, a new set of HuffPost/YouGov polling finds. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
In the most recent HuffPost/YouGov survey, conducted last Friday through Sunday, 86% of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible, and about 65% said they’d continue to stay home even if all restrictions were lifted in their area.
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Just 15% said there are too many coronavirus-related restrictions in place where they live, with 53% saying restrictions are at the right level, and 23% that there are not enough restrictions.
A 78% majority said state governments that have told residents to stay at home unless they have an essential reason for going out are making the right decision by issuing such orders, with just 9% saying those states are making the wrong decision. Americans said, 60% to 24%, that they’re more concerned that states will lift the restrictions too quickly than that they will not lift the restrictions quickly enough.
Americans were evenly split in their attitudes toward Trump’s handling of coronavirus, the poll found, with 46% approving and an equal percentage disapproving. Polling was slightly more positive toward the U.S. government as a whole, with 47% approving and 43% disapproving of how it has handled the virus.
The HuffPost/YouGov survey is just one of a number of new polls to find widespread support for continued, aggressive social distancing. Taken as a whole, the surveys suggest the response to the coronavirus crisis has to some extent defied the hyperpartisan pattern of public opinion so often seen during Trump’s presidency. As of yet, this crisis has not massively affected overall views of Trump; but neither have Trump’s sporadic calls to reopen the country appeared to affect public unwillingness to do so.
Concerns about the coronavirus intensified rapidly, and across party lines, as the crisis grew. And while there are still significant partisan divides on the subject ― Democrats are more seriously worried about the virus and far unhappier with the government’s response ― there’s also substantial agreement.
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In the latest HuffPost/YouGov poll, 87% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans said that state stay-at-home orders remain the right decision; 91% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans said they’re personally making an effort to remain at home.
Although Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be primarily concerned that states will reopen too slowly, that’s hardly the consensus of the party. Rather, the poll finds, Republicans themselves are closely divided on the issue — and, if anything, lean slightly toward concerns about reopening too quickly.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the latest HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
The HuffPost/YouGov polls each consisted of 1,000 completed interviews, conducted April 10-12 and April 17-19, among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
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HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.