huffpost--2020-04-10--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

Death Toll In U.S. Surpasses 20,000 ― 4/12/20 , 11:10 a.m .
ET More than 20,000 in the U.S. have died from the coronavirus , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The number of coronavirus-linked deaths in the U.S. doubled in less than a week .
The U.S. has reported the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus , as well as the highest death toll compared to any other country .
More than 530,000 of the world ’ s more than 1.7 million confirmed cases have been recorded in the U.S. Italy has reported the second highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19,000 .
U.K. PM Boris Johnson Discharged From Hospital ― 4/12/20 , 8:40 a.m .
ET U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from the hospital after being treated for the coronavirus .
He will take time to recover at Chequers , the prime minister ’ s official country residence located about 40 miles northwest of London .
“ On the advice of his medical team , the PM will not be immediately returning to work , ” a spokesperson for Johnson said in a statement .
“ He wishes to thank everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care he has received.
” U.S. Overtakes Italy With Largest Number Of Coronavirus Deaths ― 4/11/20 , 2:47 p.m .
ET The United States surpassed Italy in COVID-19 fatalities on Saturday to become the nation with the highest number of reported virus deaths worldwide , according to Johns Hopkins data .
Italy has counted 152,271 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 19,468 deaths , while the U.S. has counted 514,415 infections and 19,882 deaths as of early Saturday afternoon .
The U.S. , once considered to be two weeks behind Italy , rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s grim stats .
Deaths have been increasing around three times faster in the U.S. compared to Italy in the past week , The Associated Press reported .
Spain Death Toll Falls To Lowest In 19 Days — 4/11/20 , 6:25 a.m .
ET Spain ’ s daily coronavirus death toll fell for the third day in a row on Saturday after 510 fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours , the health ministry said in a statement , marking the smallest overnight increase since March 23 .
Total fatalities from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , the ministry said , while the number of confirmed cases climbed to 161,852 from 157,022 .
Record 2,000 People Die From COVID-19 In A Single Day In U.S. — 4/10/20 , 9:39 p.m .
ET At least 2,000 people in the U.S. died of the coronavirus in one day , marking the largest number of deaths in a single day in the country .
By Friday night , there were an estimated 2,108 people who died in the last 24 hours , according to Johns Hopkins University ’ s outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country in the world to see more than 2,000 people die in a day from complications of the virus .
The total death toll for the country is now at 18,637 .
Italy , which has seen the most deaths during the pandemic , has a death toll of 18,849 .
Tech titans Apple and Google are launching a system to help alert people if and when they come into contact with someone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis .
The program will use bluetooth technology to build a contact tracing network , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an app by mid-May .
For those who download it , the system will keep data on which phones have been in close proximity to each other and send that information to public health authorities .
Then , people who ’ ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 can report their status to the app , which will alert anyone they ’ ve been in close contact with that they may be infected .
“ All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most pressing problems , ” a statement from the companies said .
“ Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers , governments and public health providers , we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.
” San Francisco Caps The Cut Delivery Apps Can Take From Restaurants ― 4/10/2020 , 3:15 p.m .
ET San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the city is instituting a temporary cap on how much of a commission delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with .
The charge will be capped at 15 % .
Apps such as Uber Eats , Grubhub , DoorDash , Caviar and Postmates typically charge anywhere from 10 % to 30 % per order for use of their services .
The cap will be in effect until the statewide emergency is over or until restaurants are able to open again for dine-in service .
“ Restaurants are struggling to survive and delivery is their main option for staying open , ” Breed tweeted .
“ I ’ m instituting a cap on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants during this emergency , because it can make the difference between them staying afloat or laying-off staff.
” Italy Extends Lockdown Until May — 4/10/20 , 3:09 p.m .
ET Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended the country ’ s nationwide lockdown to May 3 in order to prevent a potential second wave of infections .
The restriction were set to expire on April 13 .
Conte said a limited number of businesses would be allowed to reopen before May 3 , with more gradually reopening after .
U.S. COVID-19 Cases Appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But ‘ This Is Not The Time ’ To Stop Social Distancing , Birx And Fauci Say — 4/10/20 , 2:57 p.m .
ET There is growing evidence that the number of infections is “ leveling off ” and the rate of increase “ seems to be stabilizing , ” said the top public health officials leading the COVID-19 response in the U.S. States and metropolitan areas particularly hard hit by the pandemic have reported encouraging signs this week .
But the experts cautioned that Americans need to continue to practice social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states in order to prevent further spikes or a potential second wave of infections , especially in states and cities where the virus spread later .
“ It ’ s really about the encouraging signs that we see , but as encouraging as they are we have not reached the peak , ” said White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx .
“ This is not the time ... that we can be pulling back at all , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci added .
Birx said “ a lot of the movement has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City and the New York metropolitan area , the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said Friday that daily admissions to intensive care , one of the indicators used to track the pandemic , had gone down for the first time .
Throughout the week , the rate of hospitalizations has also slowed dramatically .
The number of people around the globe who have died from coronavirus has reached 100,000 , according to a tally updated by Johns Hopkins University .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is believed to be much higher , as there is limited available testing .
The new benchmark was hit as leaders worldwide are urging their Christian residents to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday remotely instead of at in-person church services .
Boris Johnson Is Now Able To Do ‘ Short Walks ’ — 4/10/20 , 1:15 p.m .
ET Boris Johnson has been able to do “ short walks , between periods of rest , as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery , ” a spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care he has received.
” The prime minister is back on a ward at St. Thomas ’ Hospital in London after being discharged from the intensive care unit , where he was being treated for COVID-19 .
England ’ s chief nursing officer has pleaded with the British public to stay at home this weekend , saying it ’ s the best way to thank National Health Service workers on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis .
Speaking at the daily press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ personally frustrating to see people clearly not social distancing.
” “ This is a long weekend , ” she said .
“ We need you to stay at home , and stay safe.
” Tokyo Olympics Chief Hints Games Could Be In Doubt Even In 2021 — 4/10/20 , 8:34 a.m .
ET The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed an entire year , but even that timeframe could be in doubt , the head of the organizing committee suggested Friday .
“ I don ’ t think anyone would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be possible to get it under control by next July or not , ” Toshiro Muto , the Tokyo organizing committee ’ s CEO , told reporters at a remote news conference , The Associated Press reported .
“ We ’ re certainly are not in a position to give you a clear answer.
” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee postponed the games last month , giving a new start date of July 23 , 2021 , for the Olympics and Aug. 24 , 2021 , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has worsened in Japan since then .
Abe declared a state of emergency earlier this week .
“ All we can do is work hard to prepare for the games , ” Muto said Friday .
“ We sincerely hope that come next year mankind will manage to overcome the coronavirus crisis.
” Boris Johnson Is ‘ Not Out Of The Wood ’ Yet , Says Father — 4/10/20 , 4:40 a.m .
ET Boris Johnson ’ s father says the prime minister will need a period of rest after being moved from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Hospital in London .
Stanley Johnson said the whole family was “ amazingly grateful ” for the efforts of the National Health Service and for the huge outpouring of support .
However , he downplayed suggestions that his son would quickly return to work at Downing Street .
“ This is pretty straightforward now .
He must rest up .
As I understand it , he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don ’ t think you can say this is out of the wood now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He has to take time .
I can not believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.
” He also said his son ’ s illness had underlined just how serious the coronavirus outbreak was .
Australia Cracks Down On Easter Travel — 4/10/20 , 4:10 a.m .
ET Australia will deploy helicopters , set up police checkpoints and hand out hefty fines to deter people from breaking an Easter travel ban , officials warned Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .
With places of worship closed , bans on public gatherings of more than two people and nonessential travel limited to combat the spread of the virus , Australians were told to stay home this year or face dire consequences .
“ Police will take action , ” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters , adding that police had issued almost 50 new fines for breaches of public health orders in the previous 24 hours .
Australia had 6,152 coronavirus infections by Friday , up 100 from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Yemen Announces Its First Case Of Coronavirus ― 4/10/20 , 3:20 a.m .
ET Yemen authorities announced Friday that the country had its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus .
Even before the announcement , the U.N. had described Yemen as the world ’ s worst humanitarian disaster .
Since war erupted there in 2014 , over 100,000 people have been killed .
Many of the country ’ s citizenry are on the brink of starvation and more than half of Yemen ’ s health facilities have been destroyed or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be devastating , according to The Associated Press .
New York State Has More Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Than Any Country ― 4/9/20 , 10:28 p.m .
ET The state of New York now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any country .
New York had 161,799 confirmed cases as of Thursday evening , according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center .
After the United States , the country with the highest number of confirmed cases is Spain with 153,222 cases .
The increase in the number of virus patients hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slower rate over the past two weeks , from over 20 % a day at one point to just a 1 % increase from Wednesday to Thursday .
But the number of New Yorkers dying of COVID-19 keeps growing , with the state recording another one-day high from Wednesday to Thursday with 799 deaths .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo stressed that social distancing and other guidelines must continue to be enforced so that the state can maintain its progress .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Johnson said : “ The prime minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward , where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery .
...
He is in extremely good spirits.
” Johnson has spent three nights in intensive care at London ’ s St. Thomas ’ Hospital after he was admitted on Sunday night with persistent symptoms of coronavirus .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here .

Read more.
― Hayley Miller
Death Toll In U.S. Surpasses 20,000 ― 4/12/20, 11:10 a.m. ET
More than 20,000 in the U.S. have died from the coronavirus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The number of coronavirus-linked deaths in the U.S. doubled in less than a week. The U.S. has reported the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus, as well as the highest death toll compared to any other country. More than 530,000 of the world’s more than 1.7 million confirmed cases have been recorded in the U.S. Italy has reported the second highest number of deaths, with more than 19,000.
― Hayley Miller
U.K. PM Boris Johnson Discharged From Hospital ― 4/12/20, 8:40 a.m. ET
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from the hospital after being treated for the coronavirus.
He will take time to recover at Chequers, the prime minister’s official country residence located about 40 miles northwest of London.
“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work,” a spokesperson for Johnson said in a statement. “He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received.”
Read more.
― Hayley Miller
U.S. Overtakes Italy With Largest Number Of Coronavirus Deaths ― 4/11/20, 2:47 p.m. ET
The United States surpassed Italy in COVID-19 fatalities on Saturday to become the nation with the highest number of reported virus deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Italy has counted 152,271 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 19,468 deaths, while the U.S. has counted 514,415 infections and 19,882 deaths as of early Saturday afternoon.
The U.S., once considered to be two weeks behind Italy, rapidly caught up with the European country’s grim stats. Deaths have been increasing around three times faster in the U.S. compared to Italy in the past week, The Associated Press reported.
Read more.
― Sara Boboltz
Spain Death Toll Falls To Lowest In 19 Days — 4/11/20, 6:25 a.m. ET
Spain’s daily coronavirus death toll fell for the third day in a row on Saturday after 510 fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said in a statement, marking the smallest overnight increase since March 23. Total fatalities from the virus rose to 16,353, from 15,843 on Friday, the ministry said, while the number of confirmed cases climbed to 161,852 from 157,022.
— Reuters
Record 2,000 People Die From COVID-19 In A Single Day In U.S. — 4/10/20, 9:39 p.m. ET
At least 2,000 people in the U.S. died of the coronavirus in one day, marking the largest number of deaths in a single day in the country.
By Friday night, there were an estimated 2,108 people who died in the last 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University’s outbreak tracker.
The U.S. is the only country in the world to see more than 2,000 people die in a day from complications of the virus.
The total death toll for the country is now at 18,637. Italy, which has seen the most deaths during the pandemic, has a death toll of 18,849.
— Carla H. Russo
Apple And Google Developing Coronavirus Tracking Program — 4/10/2020, 6:40 p.m. ET
Tech titans Apple and Google are launching a system to help alert people if and when they come into contact with someone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
The program will use bluetooth technology to build a contact tracing network, which the companies expect to be available on an app by mid-May. For those who download it, the system will keep data on which phones have been in close proximity to each other and send that information to public health authorities. Then, people who’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 can report their status to the app, which will alert anyone they’ve been in close contact with that they may be infected.
“All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems,” a statement from the companies said. “Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.”
— Lydia O’Connor
San Francisco Caps The Cut Delivery Apps Can Take From Restaurants ― 4/10/2020, 3:15 p.m. ET
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the city is instituting a temporary cap on how much of a commission delivery apps can charge the restaurants they partner with.
The charge will be capped at 15%. Apps such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash, Caviar and Postmates typically charge anywhere from 10% to 30% per order for use of their services. The cap will be in effect until the statewide emergency is over or until restaurants are able to open again for dine-in service.
“Restaurants are struggling to survive and delivery is their main option for staying open,” Breed tweeted. “I’m instituting a cap on the fees that delivery services can charge restaurants during this emergency, because it can make the difference between them staying afloat or laying-off staff.”
— Lydia O’Connor
Italy Extends Lockdown Until May — 4/10/20, 3:09 p.m. ET
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended the country’s nationwide lockdown to May 3 in order to prevent a potential second wave of infections. The restriction were set to expire on April 13.
Conte said a limited number of businesses would be allowed to reopen before May 3, with more gradually reopening after.
— Marina Fang
U.S. COVID-19 Cases Appear To Be ‘Leveling Off,’ But ‘This Is Not The Time’ To Stop Social Distancing, Birx And Fauci Say — 4/10/20, 2:57 p.m. ET
There is growing evidence that the number of infections is “leveling off” and the rate of increase “seems to be stabilizing,” said the top public health officials leading the COVID-19 response in the U.S.
States and metropolitan areas particularly hard hit by the pandemic have reported encouraging signs this week.
But the experts cautioned that Americans need to continue to practice social distancing and abide by stay-at-home orders in their states in order to prevent further spikes or a potential second wave of infections, especially in states and cities where the virus spread later.
“It’s really about the encouraging signs that we see, but as encouraging as they are we have not reached the peak,” said White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx.
“This is not the time ... that we can be pulling back at all,” Dr. Anthony Fauci added.
Birx said “a lot of the movement has been driven” by decreases in New York City and the New York metropolitan area, the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Friday that daily admissions to intensive care, one of the indicators used to track the pandemic, had gone down for the first time. Throughout the week, the rate of hospitalizations has also slowed dramatically.
— Marina Fang
Global Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 100,000 — 4/10/20, 2:25 p.m.
The number of people around the globe who have died from coronavirus has reached 100,000, according to a tally updated by Johns Hopkins University.
The actual number of victims from this pandemic is believed to be much higher, as there is limited available testing.
The new benchmark was hit as leaders worldwide are urging their Christian residents to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday remotely instead of at in-person church services.
— Carla H. Russo
Boris Johnson Is Now Able To Do ‘Short Walks’ — 4/10/20, 1:15 p.m. ET
Boris Johnson has been able to do “short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery,” a spokesperson said. “He has spoken to his doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care he has received.”
The prime minister is back on a ward at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London after being discharged from the intensive care unit, where he was being treated for COVID-19.
England’s chief nursing officer has pleaded with the British public to stay at home this weekend, saying it’s the best way to thank National Health Service workers on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis. Speaking at the daily press conference, Ruth May said it had been “personally frustrating to see people clearly not social distancing.”
“This is a long weekend,” she said. “We need you to stay at home, and stay safe.”
Read more on HuffPost U.K.
— Ned Simons
Tokyo Olympics Chief Hints Games Could Be In Doubt Even In 2021 — 4/10/20, 8:34 a.m. ET
The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed an entire year, but even that timeframe could be in doubt, the head of the organizing committee suggested Friday.
“I don’t think anyone would be able to say if it is going to be possible to get it under control by next July or not,” Toshiro Muto, the Tokyo organizing committee’s CEO, told reporters at a remote news conference, The Associated Press reported. “We’re certainly are not in a position to give you a clear answer.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee postponed the games last month, giving a new start date of July 23, 2021, for the Olympics and Aug. 24, 2021, for the Paralympics.
But the COVID-19 outbreak has worsened in Japan since then. Abe declared a state of emergency earlier this week.
“All we can do is work hard to prepare for the games,” Muto said Friday. “We sincerely hope that come next year mankind will manage to overcome the coronavirus crisis.”
— Marina Fang
Boris Johnson Is ‘Not Out Of The Wood’ Yet, Says Father — 4/10/20, 4:40 a.m. ET
Boris Johnson’s father says the prime minister will need a period of rest after being moved from the intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Stanley Johnson said the whole family was “amazingly grateful” for the efforts of the National Health Service and for the huge outpouring of support. However, he downplayed suggestions that his son would quickly return to work at Downing Street.
“This is pretty straightforward now. He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don’t think you can say this is out of the wood now,” Stanley Johnson told the BBC. “He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.”
He also said his son’s illness had underlined just how serious the coronavirus outbreak was.
Read more on HuffPost U.K.
— Nadine White
Australia Cracks Down On Easter Travel — 4/10/20, 4:10 a.m. ET
Australia will deploy helicopters, set up police checkpoints and hand out hefty fines to deter people from breaking an Easter travel ban, officials warned Friday, in their toughest crackdown against the novel coronavirus.
With places of worship closed, bans on public gatherings of more than two people and nonessential travel limited to combat the spread of the virus, Australians were told to stay home this year or face dire consequences.
“Police will take action,” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters, adding that police had issued almost 50 new fines for breaches of public health orders in the previous 24 hours.
Australia had 6,152 coronavirus infections by Friday, up 100 from the previous day, with 53 virus-related deaths.
Read more.
— Reuters
Yemen Announces Its First Case Of Coronavirus ― 4/10/20, 3:20 a.m. ET
Yemen authorities announced Friday that the country had its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus.
Even before the announcement, the U.N. had described Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. Since war erupted there in 2014, over 100,000 people have been killed. Many of the country’s citizenry are on the brink of starvation and more than half of Yemen’s health facilities have been destroyed or closed. A COVID-19 outbreak there could be devastating, according to The Associated Press.
― Jade Walker
New York State Has More Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Than Any Country ― 4/9/20, 10:28 p.m. ET
The state of New York now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any country.
New York had 161,799 confirmed cases as of Thursday evening, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. After the United States, the country with the highest number of confirmed cases is Spain with 153,222 cases.
The increase in the number of virus patients hospitalized in New York has grown at a slower rate over the past two weeks, from over 20% a day at one point to just a 1% increase from Wednesday to Thursday.
But the number of New Yorkers dying of COVID-19 keeps growing, with the state recording another one-day high from Wednesday to Thursday with 799 deaths.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stressed that social distancing and other guidelines must continue to be enforced so that the state can maintain its progress.
― Sanjana Karanth
Boris Johnson Released From Intensive Care — 4/9/20, 2:30 p.m. ET
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from intensive care into a hospital ward.
A spokesman for Johnson said: “The prime minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery. ... He is in extremely good spirits.”
Johnson has spent three nights in intensive care at London’s St. Thomas’ Hospital after he was admitted on Sunday night with persistent symptoms of coronavirus.
Read more.
— Rachel Wearmouth
For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.


huffpost--2020-05-01--13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of April 25 to May 1 .
@ @ @ @ @ Above : Pictures of fans , players , coaches and staff of Bundesliga club Borussia @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday in Moenchengladbach , Germany .
Borussia Moenchengladbach supporters sustain their club by buying @ @ @ @ @ , that will be printed and then displayed at the stadium should the Bundesliga continue @ @ @ @ @ played without fans .
Credit : Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach/Getty Images

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of April 25 to May 1. Check them out below.
Above: Pictures of fans, players, coaches and staff of Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach are seen at Borussia-Park on Tuesday in Moenchengladbach, Germany. Borussia Moenchengladbach supporters sustain their club by buying cardboard characters, so-called Pappkameraden, that will be printed and then displayed at the stadium should the Bundesliga continue with matches that will be played without fans. Credit: Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach/Getty Images


huffpost--2020-05-01--Puerto Rico To Partially Reopen Despite Coronavirus Concerns

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) — Puerto Rico is taking its first tentative steps in relaxing a nearly two-month lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic , while health experts warn that the U.S. territory is relying on faulty statistics and has not yet seen its peak of cases .
Gov .
Wanda Vázquez announced Thursday night that starting Monday , certain sectors including finance and real estate will reopen .
On May 11 , construction and manufacturing are allowed to restart .
Other businesses also allowed to soon reopen on weekdays will include laundromats , moving services and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units .
In mid to late May , the retail trade , barbershops and beauty salons will be allowed to operate .
All businesses are ordered to provide protective equipment to their workers , and anyone entering a business has to wear a face mask .
The lockdown for everyone else was extended until May 25 , with some exceptions .
People will be allowed outside to run , bike and walk their dogs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m .
Parks , gyms and beaches remain closed , and everyone except essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Puerto Rico has reported at least 92 deaths and more than 1,500 confirmed cases .
However , the government is no longer sharing key statistics , including how many people have been tested .
As of last week , Puerto Rico had the lowest per capita testing rate compared with any U.S. state , with some 12,000 people tested on an island of 3.2 million .
“ We don ’ t know where we stand with the infections and the pandemic , ” she said in a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have less access to data.
” One of her biggest concerns is how the government would be able to determine if there is widespread contagion following the partial reopening of businesses .
She noted that Vázquez ’ s televised address came on the same day that more than 100 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were announced , one of the highest numbers since the lockdown was implemented in mid-March .
Others have concerns over the economic damage that the extended lockdown will have on an island still recovering from Hurricane Maria and a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Economist José Caraballo said in a phone interview that the lockdown has had a $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion impact on the island ’ s economy .
He also worries about a growing number of small businesses that have permanently closed .
While Puerto Rico ’ s government has started distributing incentives to certain workers , tens of thousands are still awaiting unemployment benefits and food assistance .
And islanders have yet to receive the $ 1,200 federal incentive .
Among those cautiously cheering the governor ’ s announcement amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is now authorized to open his laundromat .

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico is taking its first tentative steps in relaxing a nearly two-month lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic, while health experts warn that the U.S. territory is relying on faulty statistics and has not yet seen its peak of cases.
Gov. Wanda Vázquez announced Thursday night that starting Monday, certain sectors including finance and real estate will reopen. On May 11, construction and manufacturing are allowed to restart. Other businesses also allowed to soon reopen on weekdays will include laundromats, moving services and those that repair elevators and air conditioning units. In mid to late May, the retail trade, barbershops and beauty salons will be allowed to operate. All businesses are ordered to provide protective equipment to their workers, and anyone entering a business has to wear a face mask.
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The lockdown for everyone else was extended until May 25, with some exceptions. People will be allowed outside to run, bike and walk their dogs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parks, gyms and beaches remain closed, and everyone except essential workers are ordered to stay inside from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“We cannot forget that we’re facing a real emergency,” Vázquez said. “If there’s no need to leave your house, don’t.”
Puerto Rico has reported at least 92 deaths and more than 1,500 confirmed cases. However, the government is no longer sharing key statistics, including how many people have been tested. As of last week, Puerto Rico had the lowest per capita testing rate compared with any U.S. state, with some 12,000 people tested on an island of 3.2 million.
It’s an issue that worries Mónica Feliú-Mójer, spokeswoman for CienciaPR, a nonprofit group of Puerto Rican scientists who seek widespread testing.
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“We don’t know where we stand with the infections and the pandemic,” she said in a phone interview. “Every day, we have less access to data.”
One of her biggest concerns is how the government would be able to determine if there is widespread contagion following the partial reopening of businesses. She noted that Vázquez’s televised address came on the same day that more than 100 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were announced, one of the highest numbers since the lockdown was implemented in mid-March.
Others have concerns over the economic damage that the extended lockdown will have on an island still recovering from Hurricane Maria and a series of recent earthquakes amid a long recession.
Economist José Caraballo said in a phone interview that the lockdown has had a $5 billion to $10 billion impact on the island’s economy. He also worries about a growing number of small businesses that have permanently closed.
“There’s been no mention about implementing measures to counteract the negative impact of the lockdown’s extension,” he said.
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While Puerto Rico’s government has started distributing incentives to certain workers, tens of thousands are still awaiting unemployment benefits and food assistance. And islanders have yet to receive the $1,200 federal incentive.
Among those cautiously cheering the governor’s announcement amid the financial squeeze was Jesús Vázquez, who is now authorized to open his laundromat.


huffpost--2020-04-30--How To Act Like A Teacher — So Your Kid Actually Listens To You

Whatever enthusiasm my 5-year-old had for “ remote learning ” when his school was first canceled eight weeks ago is gone .
He hates video chatting with classmates .
He ’ s not impressed by my mastery of phonetics .
Oh and no , he does not want to work on another art project with me .
The only discernible skill he has picked up is the art of crushing his parents ’ souls negotiation .
He vigorously resists structured activities , we cave and then we do the whole dance again the next day .
I didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about my ability to be a good teacher .
But I also didn ’ t really consider how long this would go on — and now that it ’ s clear my kid won ’ t be going back to school until at least the fall , it feels like I should step up my game a bit .
So I spoke with some experts , who shared six simple ways to channel your inner teacher .
Kids ( understandably ) don ’ t get how hard it is for parents who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suddenly master teaching while trying to get their own work done .
One way to foster a bit of understanding — and to work through tense moments — is to momentarily flip roles , said Annie Snyder , a senior learning scientist at McGraw-Hill .
“ Role-play is used very often in early childhood , primary and elementary settings to help learners work out their own feelings , understand the perspectives of others and solve problems or conflicts , ” said Snyder , who holds a doctorate in educational psychology .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those moments when everybody is tearing out their hair and cabin fever gets to be a little too much.
” Set a timer for 10 minutes or so , tell your kid that they ’ re the teacher and you ’ re the student , then reenact whatever scenario you were just struggling through .
Hopefully , they ’ ll get a taste of how challenging it can be to teach and you might get a sense of the challenges they ’ re working through .
When the timer is up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide they ’ re ready to get back to the task at hand , Snyder said .
2 .
Tell them : “ Repeat after me ” I tried it today , and it was a total lightbulb moment for me .
I thought my son was resisting a school science activity because he ’ s an obstinate sass bucket .
It turned out , he just did not get it .
I only realized that , however , when I asked him to walk me through what he thought his teacher ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just totally ... off .
3 .
Keep your academic blocks really , really short When schools were first canceled , social media was filled with aspirational daily schedules , and lots of parents were totally onboard .
( Me included . )
Now , not so much .
But experts said mapping out the day is a good discipline to borrow from teachers , and they suggested sticking with it as much as possible — even if that just means mapping out a rough sequence of events rather than slotting in specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not need to be a color-coded Insta-worthy masterpiece .
5 .
Be honest with yourself about who your kid is Good teachers are adept at meeting individual children where they are , noting their particular interests , strengths and weaknesses without expecting them to be like someone else .
That is a more challenging skill to cultivate when you ’ re suddenly a weird hybrid teacher/parent , but acceptance can go a looooong way in making this less painful for everyone .
Take Snyder ’ s child , for example .
The education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly into school in the first place and seems even less interested now that he ’ s at home .
Rather than fighting him every step of the way , Snyder said she is trying to help him get through the work he does need to complete by giving him plenty of opportunities to use his physical energy up throughout the day , literally designating a space for him to run laps .
6 .
Cut yourself — and your kid — some serious slack

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MoMo Productions via Getty Images Remote learning is difficult, but experts have some tips on channeling your inner teacher.
Whatever enthusiasm my 5-year-old had for “remote learning” when his school was first canceled eight weeks ago is gone. He hates video chatting with classmates. He’s not impressed by my mastery of phonetics. Oh and no, he does not want to work on another art project with me. The only discernible skill he has picked up is the art of crushing his parents’ souls negotiation. He vigorously resists structured activities, we cave and then we do the whole dance again the next day.
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I didn’t head into COVID-19 lockdown with any delusions about my ability to be a good teacher. But I also didn’t really consider how long this would go on — and now that it’s clear my kid won’t be going back to school until at least the fall, it feels like I should step up my game a bit. So I spoke with some experts, who shared six simple ways to channel your inner teacher.
1. Role-play
Kids (understandably) don’t get how hard it is for parents who are totally new at this remote education thing to suddenly master teaching while trying to get their own work done. One way to foster a bit of understanding — and to work through tense moments — is to momentarily flip roles, said Annie Snyder, a senior learning scientist at McGraw-Hill.
“Role-play is used very often in early childhood, primary and elementary settings to help learners work out their own feelings, understand the perspectives of others and solve problems or conflicts,” said Snyder, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology. “It can be a very effective tool for those moments when everybody is tearing out their hair and cabin fever gets to be a little too much.”
Set a timer for 10 minutes or so, tell your kid that they’re the teacher and you’re the student, then reenact whatever scenario you were just struggling through. Hopefully, they’ll get a taste of how challenging it can be to teach and you might get a sense of the challenges they’re working through. When the timer is up, you can continue role-playing or they might decide they’re ready to get back to the task at hand, Snyder said.
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2. Tell them: “Repeat after me”
Educators will often prompt kids to repeat instructions or “retell their understanding of a learning task,” Snyder said, which is an effective way to get on the same page.
“It can help kids build up their listening skills,” she added. “It can also help parents understand where there may be misunderstandings.”
I tried it today, and it was a total lightbulb moment for me. I thought my son was resisting a school science activity because he’s an obstinate sass bucket. It turned out, he just did not get it. I only realized that, however, when I asked him to walk me through what he thought his teacher’s instructions were, and he was just totally ... off.
3. Keep your academic blocks really, really short
Even if you’ve got older kids, it’s important to remember that people — adults included! — can only focus on tasks in relatively short bursts. There is no clear consensus on exactly what that means, but high school and college classes tend to last about 50 to 60 minutes max.
“Twenty to 25 minutes is a stretch goal for many kids. Some kids can do two minutes.”
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For younger kids (say, 12 and under), activities should be closer to the 20-minute range, Snyder said. Even that might be a reach, though, and that’s OK.
“Twenty to 25 minutes is a stretch goal for many kids. Some kids can do two minutes,” she said. “Parents can stretch it out a bit at a time. I did 30-second increases for my kids to get to the point of 20 to 25 minutes.”
4. Don’t forsake the idea of a daily schedule
When schools were first canceled, social media was filled with aspirational daily schedules, and lots of parents were totally onboard. (Me included.) Now, not so much. But experts said mapping out the day is a good discipline to borrow from teachers, and they suggested sticking with it as much as possible — even if that just means mapping out a rough sequence of events rather than slotting in specific times. I repeat: It does not need to be a color-coded Insta-worthy masterpiece.
“Now more than ever, we want that predictability in our lives, but ourselves and our children,” said Ellen Birnbaum, director of early childhood programs for the community center 92Y. “Go through what the day is going to be like.”
Kids like a bit of warning about what’s coming next, she added.
5. Be honest with yourself about who your kid is
Good teachers are adept at meeting individual children where they are, noting their particular interests, strengths and weaknesses without expecting them to be like someone else. That is a more challenging skill to cultivate when you’re suddenly a weird hybrid teacher/parent, but acceptance can go a looooong way in making this less painful for everyone.
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“You have to know who your child is and what they can handle,” said Sally Tannen, director of the 92Y’s Parenting Center.
Take Snyder’s child, for example. The education expert admitted her child isn’t particularly into school in the first place and seems even less interested now that he’s at home. Rather than fighting him every step of the way, Snyder said she is trying to help him get through the work he does need to complete by giving him plenty of opportunities to use his physical energy up throughout the day, literally designating a space for him to run laps.
6. Cut yourself — and your kid — some serious slack
This whole remote learning arrangement isn’t just difficult for parents and kids. It’s difficult for teachers, too.
“This is a really hard task, because learning is all about connection and learning in place with someone,” Birnbaum said. If you’ve managed to just get through the day, “pat yourself on the back,” she and Tannen both urged.
Don’t beat yourself up about rough patches or fret that if your kid is less than enthused with your efforts, they’re somehow “bad” or falling behind.
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“Remind yourself that this feels hard because it is hard. Even professional teachers and caregivers who are now overseeing their own kids' daily education are struggling.”
“Resistance is normal and to be expected,” Snyder said.
It can certainly help to do a bit more digging. Is your kid resisting because the task is super boring? Are they hungry? Do they need to run around? (All three experts I spoke with emphasized repeatedly that kids need to be physically active throughout the day, especially when they’re stuck at home.)
Then, channel your inner teacher and be as unflappable as possible, even if it requires some hardcore acting. Try not to yell. Take deep breaths. Remind yourself that this feels hard because it is hard. Even professional teachers and caregivers who are now overseeing their own kids’ daily education are struggling.
“There are no good solutions for any of this,” Snyder said. “The real good solution would be for all of this to be over.”
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but it’s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.
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huffpost--2020-05-01--I Studied The 2014 Ebola Outbreak. Here's The Lesson We Didn't Learn.

As a health journalist , I have reported on previous outbreaks that were devastating in their own right .
But none was as fear-inducing as the 2014 Ebola epidemic , the largest and most widespread outbreak of the disease in history .
Nearly 30,000 people were infected with the virus , and more than 11,000 died in the three hardest-hit countries : Sierra Leone , Liberia and Guinea .
Yes , the virus itself was an entity to fear , especially since no vaccine was available at the time .
But what frightened me was everything that an outbreak brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the crisis , 35 hospitals across the U.S. were designated as Ebola Treatment Centers , which meant they were deemed by state health officials to be equipped to treat those afflicted with the disease .
Fortunately , many of those centers never saw an Ebola case , because the reality was that none of the facilities had the capacity to quarantine or isolate more than one Ebola patient at a time .
Many outside of West Africa who had watched the Ebola outbreak unfold criticized communities that were the hardest hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisting other public health measures that discouraged people from participating in age-old traditional and cultural practices , such as funerals and religious celebrations .
Some of the same reactions have taken hold in the U.S. , as Americans grapple with the coronavirus affecting their community structure and way of life .
Frontline health workers in the Ebola response were exponentially more likely to die from Ebola than any other group .
They continued to work despite shortages of protective equipment and inadequate training on ways to prevent getting infected .
Also , local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they cared for too often did not have a seat at the table where policy decisions were made .
These are just some factors that have replayed in some variation in the larger response to COVID-19 .
The parallel experiences drawn from past outbreaks , and now COVID-19 , serve as another reminder to me that we are one global community .
The health of one person in the world can quickly matter to the health of every person anywhere in the world .
Viruses do not recognize national borders , nor do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or religious differences .
If we are to effectively combat outbreaks , we must shift our culture to operate the same way .
It is possible to alter the culture of outbreak response , but it is not something that can be done during the pandemic .
The quiet space between epidemics offers the best chance to build up a state of perpetual preparedness .
Investing in readiness involves creating a military-style governance structure dedicated to global health security .
Such a global , centralized system would share information across agencies and regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no outbreak but also ensure accountability in the midst of a response .
Ebola responders likened the outbreak environment to that of a war , and it ’ s a sentiment being echoed in some of the hospitals hardest hit by COVID-19 .
Far more people around the world have died from infectious diseases than in war , yet more is invested in military response than in outbreak preparedness .
Improving the capacity of health systems has done more to create a stable socioeconomic and political environment than any exercise of military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded with the same level of concern as warfare , the world would invest in and achieve the level of readiness needed to respond with precision and speed .
The Ebola outbreak is in some ways a looking glass into the future of life with ― and possibly after ― COVID-19 .
The fallout from Ebola was significant .
Entire social and health care systems collapsed in the hardest-hit countries in West Africa and the rebuilding of community and health systems continues to this day .
Many who lived through the Ebola epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breakdown and emotional trauma that accompanied the outbreak .
An upsurge in the incidence of mental health disorders occurred , including depression , anxiety , post-traumatic stress and substance abuse .
Now , as an invisible contagion continues to spread quick and wide , major psychosocial consequences to the halting “ normal life ” likely will result .

A sign posted last September in Goma, Congo, offers tips on how to stem the spread of Ebola. picture alliance via Getty Images
In 2015, just as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa had begun to taper, I teamed up with computational geneticist Dr. Pardis Sabeti to survey more than 200 Ebola responders about their experiences during its height. Journalists don’t typically team up with their sources to work on an investigation, but our experiences demanded our collaboration.
Sabeti and her lab had been conducting extensive research in Kenema, Sierra Leone, which soon became one of the areas hardest hit by the outbreak. Her team had faced major barriers as they conducted lifesaving research that changed the way scientists understood the disease. The frustrations culminated with the death of their colleague, a renowned Sierra Leonean virologist who died of Ebola after treating so many others with the disease.
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Our conversations during the efforts to stymie the spread of Ebola prompted me to compare our experiences to previous major outbreaks around the world. I began to see patterns emerge. And we wondered whether our experiences could apply to any outbreak environment. Our first look into that question only scratched the surface of what we would soon find.
Nearly all respondents to our survey had found that at times political and interpersonal challenges slowed the response to the outbreak. Many reportedly feared the politics more than the virus. Some said these various challenges put them at higher risk of contracting the virus. More than a quarter reported either witnessing, hearing about or falling victim to illegal or unethical tactics while working in their respective capacities.
“Nearly all respondents to our survey had found that at times political and interpersonal challenges slowed the response to the outbreak. Many reportedly feared the politics more than the virus.”
Some of the reported tactics included: money and other forms of aid disappearing before it reached its intended recipients; inadequate and knowingly defective personal protective equipment sent to health workers treating Ebola patients; harmful competitive practices like intimidation and data hoarding to prevent some from conducting research in the field.
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Many of the major themes that emerged from our survey matched reports I had examined amid past major outbreaks including AIDS and SARS, Zika and MERS. Some of our survey respondents also reported experiencing the same dysfunctions ― and sometimes worse ― during previous and subsequent large-scale epidemics, regardless of the name of the pathogen. I reached out to key sources who were critical decision-makers in outbreak response, and they also confirmed what repeated stories, and now the data, showed.
As a health journalist, I have reported on previous outbreaks that were devastating in their own right. But none was as fear-inducing as the 2014 Ebola epidemic, the largest and most widespread outbreak of the disease in history. Nearly 30,000 people were infected with the virus, and more than 11,000 died in the three hardest-hit countries: Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Yes, the virus itself was an entity to fear, especially since no vaccine was available at the time. But what frightened me was everything that an outbreak brought to the environment it enveloped.
While mostly centered in West Africa, Ebola emerged in the U.S., and was in some ways a test run of our preparedness and abilities to respond to a large-scale epidemic. It did not go so well then. The 11 Ebola cases treated in the U.S. exposed the vulnerabilities of our health care system, which is significantly more developed than in West Africa.
In response to the crisis, 35 hospitals across the U.S. were designated as Ebola Treatment Centers, which meant they were deemed by state health officials to be equipped to treat those afflicted with the disease. Fortunately, many of those centers never saw an Ebola case, because the reality was that none of the facilities had the capacity to quarantine or isolate more than one Ebola patient at a time.
This made clear that if something more contagious were to hit that would require sustained use of supportive care in hospitals, the bottom of our health care system could fall out. That’s the message I had heard in covering previous outbreaks in developed countries, but health experts again sounded the alarm after Ebola: Something is coming and we are not prepared.
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“Health experts again sounded the alarm after Ebola: Something is coming and we are not prepared.”
Outbreaks create an intense, high-stakes, pressure-filled environment. What’s happening is volatile, often unclear and rapidly evolving, and the pathogen is life-threatening. Amid this environment, a culture can form, created by both individual actors and larger agents, that at times has proven to be as lethal as the virus itself. The scenario is a test of humanity and our response to unpredictability.
Medical historian Charles Rosenberg describes an epidemic unfolding in three stages or acts. The first is revelation, where communities gradually accept the presence and spread of the disease. The second is managing randomness, where people try to identify a cause and blame others; the third is negotiating public response when, finally, measures are taken to control the epidemic.
Enter COVID-19. The scenario again unfolds like a scripted screenplay, this time with a different virus.
In West Africa, messages displayed across billboards, spray-painted on walls, announced on radio ads and printed across T-shirts implored people to take the virus seriously. “Ebola is real!” the message conveyed. Many people in some parts were already skeptical of the government and foreign agencies after having recently endured a civil war. In some cases, the skepticism and distrust led to violent resistance of outbreak responders entering neighborhoods to help trace and detect the disease.
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Many outside of West Africa who had watched the Ebola outbreak unfold criticized communities that were the hardest hit for not complying with social distancing and resisting other public health measures that discouraged people from participating in age-old traditional and cultural practices, such as funerals and religious celebrations. Some of the same reactions have taken hold in the U.S., as Americans grapple with the coronavirus affecting their community structure and way of life.
Like Ebola, some Americans still do not believe in the existence or severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Disinformation campaigns chalk it up to a variation of the flu. In some parts of the country, places of worship keep operating and group gatherings continue, defying public health directives to stay home.
“Although lessons were learned during the Ebola outbreak, the culture of outbreak response has not changed and some of the same challenges apply.”
The major challenges recounted to us during the Ebola outbreak had little to do with the virus itself. Instead, the virus was a lethal backdrop to the actions and, at times, inactions of individuals, groups, agencies and organizations during the intense environment of outbreak response. Although lessons were learned during the Ebola outbreak, the culture of response has not changed and some of the same challenges apply.
Months passed between information and action with Ebola, in part because information was concealed and controlled. Fear of the social and economic consequences also paralyzed necessary action. The virus raged and ravaged until countries and agencies could no longer turn away. Even as response ramped up, collaborative efforts were stifled by pointing fingers for the dangerous delay.
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Placing blame on people and agencies during the COVID-19 response is not only adding to the chaos and confusion, but stalling the critical mindset and resources needed in this global fight against the only thing that should be fought against: the virus. Inconsistent messages and response measures ― this time in the midst of an election year ― have again turned outbreak response into a political tug-of-war.
Governments and agencies have time and again chosen to rely on responding after the fact rather than investing in readiness, and that has served as a prime breeding ground for our current outbreak culture. Favoring response can fuel a culture driven by political motivation, life-threatening fear, personal gain and isolation. Behaviors as a consequence of this culture can lead to confusion, collusion and culpability amid an already chaotic environment. Loss of human life has again become the consequence.
Frontline health workers in the Ebola response were exponentially more likely to die from Ebola than any other group. They continued to work despite shortages of protective equipment and inadequate training on ways to prevent getting infected. Also, local health workers who best knew the community they cared for too often did not have a seat at the table where policy decisions were made. These are just some factors that have replayed in some variation in the larger response to COVID-19.
The parallel experiences drawn from past outbreaks, and now COVID-19, serve as another reminder to me that we are one global community. The health of one person in the world can quickly matter to the health of every person anywhere in the world. Viruses do not recognize national borders, nor do they recognize political, social, ethnic or religious differences. If we are to effectively combat outbreaks, we must shift our culture to operate the same way.
“Viruses do not recognize national borders, nor do they recognize political, social, ethnic or religious differences. If we are to effectively combat outbreaks, we must shift our culture to operate the same way.”
Advertisement
It is possible to alter the culture of outbreak response, but it is not something that can be done during the pandemic. The quiet space between epidemics offers the best chance to build up a state of perpetual preparedness. Investing in readiness involves creating a military-style governance structure dedicated to global health security. Such a global, centralized system would share information across agencies and regions, would help build capacity when there is no outbreak but also ensure accountability in the midst of a response.
When we look back at this pandemic, we will no doubt find that ― just as with Ebola ― having invested in preparedness would have been far less costly in time, money and lives than our response.
Ebola responders likened the outbreak environment to that of a war, and it’s a sentiment being echoed in some of the hospitals hardest hit by COVID-19. Far more people around the world have died from infectious diseases than in war, yet more is invested in military response than in outbreak preparedness. Improving the capacity of health systems has done more to create a stable socioeconomic and political environment than any exercise of military power. If infectious disease outbreaks are regarded with the same level of concern as warfare, the world would invest in and achieve the level of readiness needed to respond with precision and speed.
The Ebola outbreak is in some ways a looking glass into the future of life with ― and possibly after ― COVID-19. The fallout from Ebola was significant. Entire social and health care systems collapsed in the hardest-hit countries in West Africa and the rebuilding of community and health systems continues to this day. Many who lived through the Ebola epidemic in the hardest-hit areas witnessed the societal breakdown and emotional trauma that accompanied the outbreak. An upsurge in the incidence of mental health disorders occurred, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse. Now, as an invisible contagion continues to spread quick and wide, major psychosocial consequences to the halting “normal life” likely will result.
Every outbreak I have reported on has served as a traumatic reminder to me of human fragility; the horrific manifestation of some of the diseases continue to play out in my mind. This pandemic is also a reminder of how familiar outbreak environments have become. We are gradually, albeit reluctantly, accepting its presence and negotiating a difficult response.
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When the pandemic subsides, it will become yet another opportunity to change outbreak culture before the next one appears. If the past provides any clues, though, an outbreak of pandemic proportion may still not be enough for us to seize it.
Lara Salahi is an award-winning health journalist and co-author of Outbreak Culture: The Ebola Crisis and the Next Epidemic. She is also an assistant professor of journalism at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.
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huffpost--2020-05-01--Yes, We All Have Quarantine Fatigue. No, That Doesn't Mean You Can Go Out.

So what happened ?
How did “ safer at home ” become “ safer at your best friend ’ s home ” or “ safer with a nominal 6-feet-apart from others on a crowded beach ” ?
According to Nikole Benders-Hadi , a psychiatrist and medical director of behavioral health at Doctor on Demand , much of our quarantine fatigue can be chalked up to feeling overconfident about our personal sense of safety .
“ When people disconnect from the news or are distant from the front lines , it can be easy to think it is not a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re starting to see a reduction in numbers of hospitalizations and deaths in some parts of the country , but what is important to understand is that this is because of our distancing.
” Fewer new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed doesn ’ t necessarily mean we should ease up or stop social distancing .
If we genuinely want to “ flatten the curve ” ― a phrase that refers to enacting measures to help prevent a sudden spike in cases that would overwhelm the health care system ― we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a COVID-19 vaccine , that ’ s the only actionable thing we can do to help our health care workers battle the coronavirus .
But a little bit of freedom is a heady thing .
The more exposed we are to market trips or outings to our friends ’ homes without getting sick , the less anxious we feel about the pandemic as a whole and the more likely we are to go out again .
“ If we don ’ t stay home for a few more weeks , we will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay away from the world for a few days than to stay away from the world forever.
” - Jagdish Khubchandani , an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University But remember that the U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world .
The number of known cases in the country has surpassed 1 million , with more than 61,000 deaths so far .
( Some experts say it ’ s off by “ tens of thousands ” because we ’ ll need to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time , but it ’ s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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A strange, unnerving thing started to happen sometime last week: Some of us got a little lazy about the whole social distancing thing to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Hop onto your Instagram and you might even see people boldly posting about their ventures outside their home: a pool party here with a “close circle” of friends, a smallish birthday party there with people from different homes. (“Don’t worry, we’re keeping 6 feet apart!”)
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You see it on a larger scale in the news: In New York last weekend, sunny weather led people to flock to parks. (As of last week, residents of New York City have submitted 14,000 complaints to the police about people violating social distancing rules.)
In Southern California, thousands hit the beaches in Orange County, seeking relief from a heatwave that hit just in time for the weekend. (Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered all Orange County beaches closed this weekend, calling it a “temporary pause.”)
Clearly, “quarantine fatigue” is starting to kick in.
“I think we’re getting to the stage of this where people are desperate to leave their homes, and desperation rarely makes for good decisions,” said Shane G. Owens, a psychologist and the assistant director of campus mental health at New York’s Farmingdale State College.
“You see it on your social media feed. You see it in your neighborhoods with traffic. I live on a main road, and foot, bike, car and especially motorcycle traffic increase incredibly on nice days,” Owens told HuffPost.
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After about six weeks of social distancing in some states, we’re all getting a little stir crazy ― especially those who were wary of the social distancing guidelines from the beginning.
“People were having trouble with physical distancing when the guidelines were strict,” he added. “It’s unlikely that loosening those restrictions in some states will lead to responsible behavior.”
Michael Heiman via Getty Images Crowds filled beaches in Newport Beach, California, last weekend as temperatures rose in Southern California. Many California counties have closed beach access.
A combination of factors ― warm weather, stay-at-home restrictions that have dragged on longer than anticipated and seeing other states move to reopen ― has led to Americans going outside more frequently and traveling longer distances, according to research out of the University of Maryland.
Using cellphone location data, researchers noted the change in behavior in the past two weeks in all but three states.
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And in a Gallup poll conducted the week of April 20, 59% of respondents said they had practiced social distancing in the previous 24 hours. That was down from 65% in the week of April 6.
Interestingly, the research seems to run counter to polls that suggest a majority of Americans — up to 80% — support the restrictions that governors and local officials have put in place to counter the spread of the virus. (Apparently, “support” doesn’t preclude looking for personal loopholes.)
So what happened? How did “safer at home” become “safer at your best friend’s home” or “safer with a nominal 6-feet-apart from others on a crowded beach”? According to Nikole Benders-Hadi, a psychiatrist and medical director of behavioral health at Doctor on Demand, much of our quarantine fatigue can be chalked up to feeling overconfident about our personal sense of safety.
“When people disconnect from the news or are distant from the front lines, it can be easy to think it is not a big deal,” she said. “We’re starting to see a reduction in numbers of hospitalizations and deaths in some parts of the country, but what is important to understand is that this is because of our distancing.”
Fewer new COVID-19 cases being diagnosed doesn’t necessarily mean we should ease up or stop social distancing. If we genuinely want to “flatten the curve” ― a phrase that refers to enacting measures to help prevent a sudden spike in cases that would overwhelm the health care system ― we have to stay home a little longer. Without a COVID-19 vaccine, that’s the only actionable thing we can do to help our health care workers battle the coronavirus.
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But a little bit of freedom is a heady thing. The more exposed we are to market trips or outings to our friends’ homes without getting sick, the less anxious we feel about the pandemic as a whole and the more likely we are to go out again.
“This is a natural process that is the basis for a therapy technique called exposure,” Owens said. “This natural process of becoming accustomed to fear and anxiety is enhanced by doing some things — like running or shopping — without getting sick.”
Each consecutive trip outside that doesn’t make you sick “loosens anxiety’s grip on you, even if some amount of fear is good for you, like it is in the case of COVID-19,” he said.
“If we don’t stay home for a few more weeks, we will have to stay home much longer. Better to stay away from the world for a few days than to stay away from the world forever.” - Jagdish Khubchandani, an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University
The positive feelings that come with getting out of the house ― that small fix of freedom after days of being housebound ― also strengthens our optimism bias, our faulty belief that bad things like the COVID-19 disease won’t happen to us, Owens said.
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Seeing others go out no doubt normalizes the behavior, too. (Celebrities and their “quarantine road trips” with friends, for instance, or people in your own social circle getting together for wine night.)
And obviously, there’s nothing easy about isolation and feeling locked up. It’s unnatural for us to be cooped up in our homes with only the occasional walk as a respite.
“There’s a reason why so many prisoners in American jails have some type of mental health issue,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University. “No one is and can be prepared for such lockdowns.”
Khubchandani feels stir crazy, too.
“Despite my own experience with curfews, riots and floods, it’s hard to have any preparation or immunity against the frustration and fatigue that builds up in such lockdowns,” he said.
But remember that the U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world. The number of known cases in the country has surpassed 1 million, with more than 61,000 deaths so far. (Some experts say it’s off by “tens of thousands” because we’ll need to test more of the dead for the coronavirus.)
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When you go to public places where it’s clearly not possible to keep 6 feet apart, you give the virus one more opportunity to persist in the population.
“If we don’t stay home for a few more weeks, we will have to stay home much longer,” Khubchandani said. “Better to stay away from the world for a few days than to stay away from the world forever.”
So how do we retrain ourselves to see the immediate good that comes from staying put? First, recognize that your uneasiness around this, especially the longer it stretches out, is wholly human and natural.
“We are wired and driven by the need to connect and interact with others,” said Liz Higgins, a family therapist and founder of Millennial Life Counseling in Dallas. “Couple that with our inherent freedoms as Americans and many of us are itching to get back to normal.”
If you need to convince your family and friends to continue to stay home, we wrote a guide earlier in the pandemic about how to make that argument. As people get more lax in social distancing, the advice is no less relevant.
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It also helps to remember that, in spite of how disconnected we all feel, we’ve actually never been more connected. (Not just because you can hop on FaceTime anytime you’d like; the poor people who lived through the devastating 1918 influenza obviously couldn’t do that.)
We’re connected in a much larger way: Your decision to continue to stay home ripples through the community, through the country and the world. Assume you’re an asymptomatic carrier of the virus (which, if you haven’t been tested, you might be): The virus needs a host to keep going. It’s using you as its mode of transportation. When you stay home instead of going to a friend’s “small” get together, you starve it of opportunities to infect other people.
“If you’re feeling fenced it, try to be conscious of how your individual actions and responsibilities can help, and take care of others who are more vulnerable,” Higgins said. “While this situation is far from desirable, we have to remain diligent and push to the end, whenever that is, but we know it will not be forever.”
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A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


huffpost--2020-05-01--NJ To Schools: You Can’t Make Parents Promise Not To Sue Before Offering Special Education

HuffPost US Families in New Jersey were asked to sign forms waiving their legal rights .
After HuffPost reported that some school districts in New Jersey had been forcing students with disabilities to sign waivers promising not to sue before providing them with services , the state has issued a memo saying such practices are illegal , violating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state Department of Education regulations .
“ A key right guaranteed by both the IDEA and the state ’ s regulations is the right to disagree with a school district ’ s determination or action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a disability , ” notes the memo , issued Thursday .
HuffPost previously reported that some schools were making families sign forms relinquishing their ability to hold schools legally accountable in order to receive counseling and speech services for their child .
The form said that parents were not allowed to be present for , listen to or record virtual counseling or speech sessions , and that such recordings could violate state wiretapping law .
It provided the district with indemnity even if its services resulted in property damage , injury or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue with the form and made their displeasure known to the state , writing a letter taking umbrage with the legal premise .
After HuffPost ’ s initial report , the pushback ballooned .
An op-ed in NJ Advance Media called the forms “ outrageous and at odds with the law.
” The form was devised by a firm called Machado Law , which reports to represent around 30 school districts in the state .
Advocates said they had not heard of any students without disabilities being made to sign such a waiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing such a waiver might relate to a student ’ s ability to obtain compensatory services when school resumes .
Under IDEA , students should be offered make-up supports , or compensatory services , in circumstances where their individualized education program ( IEP ) has not been fulfilled .
An IEP is a legal document that details the education services with which a disabled student should be afforded .
Attorneys feared that if students signed away their rights now , when schools are closed , they may also not have recourse to obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renay Zamloot , a professional education advocate for students with disabilities in New Jersey , said she started hearing about these forms from families about three weeks ago .
Some families , she said , refused to sign the document , and in turn , stopped receiving special education services for their children .
Zamloot advised families to revise the forms using a Sharpie marker , signing the document only once they felt comfortable with the changes .
In her experiences so far , districts have been accepting the revised versions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immense challenges school districts are currently facing amid widespread school closures during the coronavirus pandemic .
Educating children under distance learning presents hefty obstacles , especially when a child ’ s schooling is guided by meticulous and legally binding IEPs .
Some students with disabilities use a one-on-one aid in the classroom , or receive hands-on services like physical or occupational therapy .
Not providing these services could represent a violation of a child ’ s IEP , though it is notably difficult to do so remotely .
As noted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter previously sent to the state , “ this is an unprecedented time , ” which involves never before raised questions of privacy and liability .
However , at the federal level , the U.S. Department of Education has emphasized that despite these issues , IDEA should be fully applied .
Some education groups like the School Superintendents Association have been pushing for the department to issue waivers relieving districts of some of the law ’ s most stringent aspects .
But earlier this week , Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos disappointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such flexibilities .
“ While the Department has provided extensive flexibility to help schools transition , there is no reason for Congress to waive any provision designed to keep students learning , ” DeVos said in a statement .
“ With ingenuity , innovation , and grit , I know this nation ’ s educators and schools can continue to faithfully educate every one of its students.
” Zamloot has observed some districts dealing with these obstacles better than others .
Some students are merely being emailed packets to complete and send back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and teletherapy sessions .
Some students are even attending online class , with their one-on-one aid virtually present .
“ We see a lot of variation within the same district .
There are different schools doing different things .
Within the same schools even different teachers are doing different things , ” said Zamloot .
“ Some districts are doing a better job .
Many are not .
”

Families in New Jersey were asked to sign forms waiving their legal rights. HuffPost US
After HuffPost reported that some school districts in New Jersey had been forcing students with disabilities to sign waivers promising not to sue before providing them with services, the state has issued a memo saying such practices are illegal, violating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state Department of Education regulations.
“A key right guaranteed by both the IDEA and the state’s regulations is the right to disagree with a school district’s determination or action concerning the educational program of a student with a disability,” notes the memo, issued Thursday.
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HuffPost previously reported that some schools were making families sign forms relinquishing their ability to hold schools legally accountable in order to receive counseling and speech services for their child. The form said that parents were not allowed to be present for, listen to or record virtual counseling or speech sessions, and that such recordings could violate state wiretapping law. It provided the district with indemnity even if its services resulted in property damage, injury or death.
Special education advocates immediately took issue with the form and made their displeasure known to the state, writing a letter taking umbrage with the legal premise. After HuffPost’s initial report, the pushback ballooned. An op-ed in NJ Advance Media called the forms “outrageous and at odds with the law.”
The form was devised by a firm called Machado Law, which reports to represent around 30 school districts in the state. Advocates said they had not heard of any students without disabilities being made to sign such a waiver.
“No parents should be asked to give up any rights or claims they may have in exchange for receiving constitutionally required educational services,” Elizabeth Athos, senior attorney with the Education Law Center, previously told HuffPost.
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Advocates also raised concerns with how signing such a waiver might relate to a student’s ability to obtain compensatory services when school resumes. Under IDEA, students should be offered make-up supports, or compensatory services, in circumstances where their individualized education program (IEP) has not been fulfilled. An IEP is a legal document that details the education services with which a disabled student should be afforded.
Attorneys feared that if students signed away their rights now, when schools are closed, they may also not have recourse to obtain more compensatory services when school resumes.
However, the state guidance clarifies that “Neither the IDEA nor the state’s special education regulations require or allow for the waiver of present or future claims, including claims to compensatory services.”
Renay Zamloot, a professional education advocate for students with disabilities in New Jersey, said she started hearing about these forms from families about three weeks ago. Some families, she said, refused to sign the document, and in turn, stopped receiving special education services for their children.
Zamloot advised families to revise the forms using a Sharpie marker, signing the document only once they felt comfortable with the changes. In her experiences so far, districts have been accepting the revised versions.
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“This is completely unacceptable. Districts are required to provide services listed in an IEP,” said Zamloot.
Shea Murray, who has a son with multiple disabilities in high school at Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, received the form several weeks ago.
“We weren’t even told it was coming,” she said.
Per Zamloot’s advice, Murray wrote back saying she did not consent to the form’s contents. She was relieved when the district continued providing her son with services anyway.
The forms, to some extent, exemplify the immense challenges school districts are currently facing amid widespread school closures during the coronavirus pandemic. Educating children under distance learning presents hefty obstacles, especially when a child’s schooling is guided by meticulous and legally binding IEPs. Some students with disabilities use a one-on-one aid in the classroom, or receive hands-on services like physical or occupational therapy. Not providing these services could represent a violation of a child’s IEP, though it is notably difficult to do so remotely.
As noted by the law firm that composed these forms in a letter previously sent to the state, “this is an unprecedented time,” which involves never before raised questions of privacy and liability.
Advertisement
However, at the federal level, the U.S. Department of Education has emphasized that despite these issues, IDEA should be fully applied. Some education groups like the School Superintendents Association have been pushing for the department to issue waivers relieving districts of some of the law’s most stringent aspects. But earlier this week, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos disappointed such groups when she declined to seek such flexibilities.
“While the Department has provided extensive flexibility to help schools transition, there is no reason for Congress to waive any provision designed to keep students learning,” DeVos said in a statement. “With ingenuity, innovation, and grit, I know this nation’s educators and schools can continue to faithfully educate every one of its students.”
Zamloot has observed some districts dealing with these obstacles better than others. Some students are merely being emailed packets to complete and send back. Others are participating in online consultations and teletherapy sessions. Some students are even attending online class, with their one-on-one aid virtually present.
“We see a lot of variation within the same district. There are different schools doing different things. Within the same schools even different teachers are doing different things,” said Zamloot. “Some districts are doing a better job. Many are not.”


huffpost--2020-04-07--Royal Family Sends Well-Wishes To Boris Johnson After PM's Hospitalization

The royal family extended well-wishes and hope for a “ full and speedy recovery ” after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the intensive care unit at St Thomas ’ Hospital Monday for coronavirus symptoms .
“ Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family , ” Buckingham Palace said Tuesday .
Symonds is the prime minister ’ s pregnant fiancée , who says she ’ s also been battling coronavirus symptoms .
“ Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished the Prime Minister a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted a message regarding the prime minister ’ s recovery , signing off as simply “ W. ” “ Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family , who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus , ” the Duke of Cambridge said .
“ We wish him a speedy recovery at this difficult time.
” Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family .
Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery .
pic.twitter.com/Mo1SgAd9wh — The Royal Family ( @ RoyalFamily ) April 7 , 2020 Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family , who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus .
We wish him a speedy recovery at this difficult time .
W — Kensington Palace ( @ KensingtonRoyal ) April 7 , 2020 Prince Charles and Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall passed along their message to the prime minister privately on Tuesday , according to People .
The prime minister tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 days later , he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday for tests .
After his condition worsened , Johnson was transferred to the ICU on Monday .
Johnson ’ s spokesperson gave an update on his condition Tuesday and said that the prime minster is “ stable ” and “ remains in good spirits.
” “ The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits .
He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other treatment , ” the spokesperson said .
“ He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support.
” Prior to Johnson ’ s battle with COVID-19 , the prime minister and Queen Elizabeth II began carrying out their weekly audience by telephone .
The royal family has had their own brush with the coronavirus pandemic , as Charles revealed in March that he ’ d tested positive for coronavirus and was experiencing “ mild symptoms.
” The Prince of Wales has since recovered and reunited with Camilla , following their own separate self-isolations .
He released a statement after overcoming the virus .

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The royal family extended well-wishes and hope for a “full and speedy recovery” after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital Monday for coronavirus symptoms.
“Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family,” Buckingham Palace said Tuesday. Symonds is the prime minister’s pregnant fiancée, who says she’s also been battling coronavirus symptoms. “Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery.”
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Prince William also tweeted a message regarding the prime minister’s recovery, signing off as simply “W.”
“Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family, who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus,” the Duke of Cambridge said. “We wish him a speedy recovery at this difficult time.”
Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family. Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/Mo1SgAd9wh — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 7, 2020
Our thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family, who like so many in the UK and around the world are affected by coronavirus. We wish him a speedy recovery at this difficult time. W — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 7, 2020
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Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall passed along their message to the prime minister privately on Tuesday, according to People.
The prime minister tested positive for coronavirus in March. Some 10 days later, he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday for tests. After his condition worsened, Johnson was transferred to the ICU on Monday.
Johnson’s spokesperson gave an update on his condition Tuesday and said that the prime minster is “stable” and “remains in good spirits.”
“The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits. He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other treatment,” the spokesperson said. “He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.” Prior to Johnson’s battle with COVID-19, the prime minister and Queen Elizabeth II began carrying out their weekly audience by telephone.
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The royal family has had their own brush with the coronavirus pandemic, as Charles revealed in March that he’d tested positive for coronavirus and was experiencing “mild symptoms.”
The Prince of Wales has since recovered and reunited with Camilla, following their own separate self-isolations. He released a statement after overcoming the virus.