huffpost--2020-06-01--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission .
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below .
( To see the latest updates , you may need to refresh the page .
All times are Eastern .
For earlier updates on the pandemic , go here . )
Trump Threatens To Move Republican Convention If He Can ’ t Have Rally Despite Coronavirus Concerns — 6/3/20 , 11:11 a.m .
ET President Donald Trump may move a planned speech for the 2020 Republican National Convention in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus rules implemented by the state would mean Trump wouldn ’ t get to host a large rally .
“ The night the president accepts the nomination will not happen in Charlotte , ” an RNC official told CNN Wednesday .
The possible change-up has to do with Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s refusal to pre-authorize a gathering of more than 19,000 people .
Trump said last week that he was “ forced ” to find a new state to give his speech , one that presumably would allow him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadly pandemic .
Experts Worry Protests Against Police Could Lead To More Cases Of Coronavirus — 6/3/20 , 11:00 a.m .
ET Health experts are cautioning that protests against police brutality sweeping the United States could lead to more cases of coronavirus .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s a question of whether there will be spikes in cases in 10 to 14 days , ” Mark Shrime , a public health researcher at Harvard University , told The Atlantic .
At least 75 cities have seen protests demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who was killed by Minneapolis police .
One officer is in custody and has been charged with third-degree murder .
“ All things considered , there ’ s little doubt that these protests will translate into increased risk of transmission for COVID-19 , ” Maimuna Majumder , a computational epidemiologist at Boston Children ’ s Hospital and Harvard Medical School , also told The Atlantic .
Number Of U.S. Cases Approaching 2 Million — 6/3/20 , 10:45 a.m .
ET More than 1.8 million people have now been infected with the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from Johns Hopkins University .
The nation ’ s death toll also continues to tick upward , now at more than 105,000 deaths .
The U.S. has the highest number of cases worldwide , in part because of states reopening prematurely and a White House administration that has continued to downplay the threat .
Hurricane Season Brings New Challenges , Guidelines Due To Pandemic — 6/1/20 , 11:16 a.m .
ET People are being asked to prepare for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season , which started Monday , in new ways because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stocking up on essential supplies ― now including face masks , hand sanitizer and soap ― authorities ask that people make a plan and register for weather and safety alerts .
Learn more here about what to expect over these next six months , including where people should go if forced to evacuate while sick .
Rival Soccer Fans Come Together In Anti-Bolsonaro Protest — 6/1/20 , 4:55 a.m .
ET Fans of some of Brazil ’ s biggest soccer teams took to the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday , taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jair Bolsonaro in months .
Several hundred members from the Corinthians , Palmeiras and Santos fan groups shouted “ democracy ” and “ dictatorship , never again.
” Similar protests involving fans of the Flamengo team also took place in Rio de Janeiro , HuffPost Brazil reported ( in Portuguese ) .
Brazil has reported nearly half a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 28,000 deaths — figures widely considered understatements due to a lack of adequate testing .
However , the military police said they fired tear gas in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after pro-Bolsonaro supporters , carrying what a police spokesman described as a neo-Nazi flag , approached the pro-democracy group .
Supporters of the president have gathered weekly to back Bolsonaro and his calls for easing restrictions on movement , gatherings and work .
U.S .
Protests Raise Fears Over New Coronavirus Outbreaks — 5/31/20 , 2:45 p.m .
ET Local and state officials are warning of potential coronavirus outbreaks as thousands of people across the U.S. gather to protests police violence and racial inequality after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting last night , you probably need to go get a COVID test this week , ” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms warned over the weekend .
“ There is still a pandemic in America that ’ s killing Black and brown people at higher numbers.
” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey earlier in the week called on protesters to wear masks and socially distance as much as possible during demonstrations .
“ We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other , ” he said .
As of Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 104,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Black people are disproportionally impacted by the virus , accounting for 52 % of diagnoses and 58 % of coronavirus deaths nationally , according to a study released earlier this month .
Read more from The Associated Press .
True Coronavirus Death Toll In U.S. Likely Passed 100,000 Weeks Ago : Report — 5/30/20 , 2:28 p.m .
ET Reported coronavirus deaths hit a dark milestone this week as Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Washington Post analysis of nationwide mortality data indicates that the U.S. likely hit that milestone three weeks ago .
A team at the Yale School of Public Health compared the total number of deaths from all causes to the projected number of deaths for the same time period .
Based on historical data , we have a pretty good understanding of how many deaths the U.S. can expect to see on a weekly basis .
Between March 1 and May 9 , there were around 101,600 excess deaths — that is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That leaves about 26,000 more deaths than have been officially attributed to COVID-19 on the patients ’ death certificates , the paper said , citing federal data .
How COVID-19 directly impacted the deaths of the additional 26,000 — if it did at all — is not clear .
Fear of contracting the virus may have stopped some people from seeking medical attention in a timely fashion .
There may also have been higher rates of deaths from causes such as suicide or domestic violence .
Public health experts largely believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official reports .
Due to spotty testing early on in the crisis and confusion on exactly when the virus came over here , though , it ’ s hard to come up with precise figures .
That ’ s why experts are turning to the metric of excess deaths to help illustrate the virus ’ s real impact — and the Yale researchers ’ findings support the theory that the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is worse than official statistics describe .
“ It ’ s clear that the burden is quite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Weinberger , the epidemiologist who led the analysis , told The Washington Post .
Tyson Shuts Down Pork Processing Plant In Iowa After Hundreds Fall Ill — 5/29/20 , 2:20 p.m .
ET A Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Storm Lake , Iowa , is temporarily halting operations after 22 % of the plant ’ s 2,500 workers tested positive for COVID-19 .
Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter told the Des Moines Register that 555 of the plant ’ s 2,517 employees tested positive , which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 testing results and team member absences related to quarantine.
“ Tyson said it plans to reopen next week after a “ deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility.
” Mayra Lopez , vice president of the Storm Lake League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa , told the Register that Tyson could have done more to prevent the outbreak .
A meeting with Tyson earlier this month regarding the company ’ s efforts was “ very short , very scripted , and very vague , ” she said , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at least partly to blame .
“ We finally , finally have the testing we ’ ve been waiting for , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think people are getting results quickly enough .
I ’ ve heard Tyson employees waiting as long as a week to hear back if they have a confirmed case .
By the time they get the results , it could be too late and they ’ ve passed it on to someone else.
” Meat processing plants have become COVID-19 hot spots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As of last week , an estimated 17,000 workers in processing plants across the United States have fallen ill and 66 have died .
For more updates on the pandemic , go here .

HuffPost reporters around the world are tracking the pandemic and the measures being taken to flatten the curve of transmission.
Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic below. (To see the latest updates, you may need to refresh the page. All times are Eastern. For earlier updates on the pandemic, go here.)
Trump Threatens To Move Republican Convention If He Can’t Have Rally Despite Coronavirus Concerns — 6/3/20, 11:11 a.m. ET
President Donald Trump may move a planned speech for the 2020 Republican National Convention in North Carolina to a new state because coronavirus rules implemented by the state would mean Trump wouldn’t get to host a large rally.
“The night the president accepts the nomination will not happen in Charlotte,” an RNC official told CNN Wednesday.
The possible change-up has to do with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s refusal to pre-authorize a gathering of more than 19,000 people. Trump said last week that he was “forced” to find a new state to give his speech, one that presumably would allow him to host a large rally despite concerns about the deadly pandemic.
— Sebastian Murdock
Experts Worry Protests Against Police Could Lead To More Cases Of Coronavirus — 6/3/20, 11:00 a.m. ET
Health experts are cautioning that protests against police brutality sweeping the United States could lead to more cases of coronavirus.
“I don’t think there’s a question of whether there will be spikes in cases in 10 to 14 days,” Mark Shrime, a public health researcher at Harvard University, told The Atlantic.
At least 75 cities have seen protests demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police. One officer is in custody and has been charged with third-degree murder.
“All things considered, there’s little doubt that these protests will translate into increased risk of transmission for COVID-19,” Maimuna Majumder, a computational epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, also told The Atlantic.
— Sebastian Murdock
Number Of U.S. Cases Approaching 2 Million — 6/3/20, 10:45 a.m. ET
More than 1.8 million people have now been infected with the coronavirus in the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The nation’s death toll also continues to tick upward, now at more than 105,000 deaths.
The U.S. has the highest number of cases worldwide, in part because of states reopening prematurely and a White House administration that has continued to downplay the threat.
— Sebastian Murdock
Hurricane Season Brings New Challenges, Guidelines Due To Pandemic — 6/1/20, 11:16 a.m. ET
People are being asked to prepare for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which started Monday, in new ways because of the coronavirus outbreak.
In addition to stocking up on essential supplies ― now including face masks, hand sanitizer and soap ― authorities ask that people make a plan and register for weather and safety alerts.
Learn more here about what to expect over these next six months, including where people should go if forced to evacuate while sick.
― Nina Golgowski
Fauci Says Meetings With Trump On Coronavirus Have ‘Dramatically Decreased’ — 6/1/20, 11:05 a.m. ET Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, said the frequency of his meetings with President Donald Trump has “dramatically decreased.” “We used to have task force meetings every single day, including Saturday and Sunday, and about 75% of the time after the task force meeting we’d meet with the president,” Fauci told health-oriented news website Stat in an interview that published Monday. “So I was meeting with him four times a week back a month or so ago.” “But as you probably noticed, that the task force meetings have not occurred as often lately,” he added. “And certainly my meetings with the president have been dramatically decreased.” Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump appointed to lead the coronavirus task force, said last month that the White House may wind down the group in early June. “We’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with [the Federal Emergency Management Agency],” Pence told reporters on May 5. “But it’s — it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country.” The U.S. has by far the highest number of documented COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world. As of Monday, more than 1.7 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease caused by the coronavirus and at least 104,000 have died from it, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. ― Hayley Miller
Rival Soccer Fans Come Together In Anti-Bolsonaro Protest — 6/1/20, 4:55 a.m. ET
Fans of some of Brazil’s biggest soccer teams took to the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday, taking part in the largest march against President Jair Bolsonaro in months.
Several hundred members from the Corinthians, Palmeiras and Santos fan groups shouted “democracy” and “dictatorship, never again.”
Similar protests involving fans of the Flamengo team also took place in Rio de Janeiro, HuffPost Brazil reported (in Portuguese). Brazil has reported nearly half a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 28,000 deaths — figures widely considered understatements due to a lack of adequate testing.
However, the military police said they fired tear gas in an attempt to keep rival protest groups apart after pro-Bolsonaro supporters, carrying what a police spokesman described as a neo-Nazi flag, approached the pro-democracy group.
Supporters of the president have gathered weekly to back Bolsonaro and his calls for easing restrictions on movement, gatherings and work.
— James Martin
U.S. Protests Raise Fears Over New Coronavirus Outbreaks — 5/31/20, 2:45 p.m. ET
Local and state officials are warning of potential coronavirus outbreaks as thousands of people across the U.S. gather to protests police violence and racial inequality after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
“If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms warned over the weekend. “There is still a pandemic in America that’s killing Black and brown people at higher numbers.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey earlier in the week called on protesters to wear masks and socially distance as much as possible during demonstrations. “We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other,” he said.
As of Sunday, there were more than 1.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 104,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Black people are disproportionally impacted by the virus, accounting for 52% of diagnoses and 58% of coronavirus deaths nationally, according to a study released earlier this month.
Read more from The Associated Press.
— Hayley Miller
True Coronavirus Death Toll In U.S. Likely Passed 100,000 Weeks Ago: Report — 5/30/20, 2:28 p.m. ET
Reported coronavirus deaths hit a dark milestone this week as Johns Hopkins University’s tally surpassed 100,000. But a Washington Post analysis of nationwide mortality data indicates that the U.S. likely hit that milestone three weeks ago.
A team at the Yale School of Public Health compared the total number of deaths from all causes to the projected number of deaths for the same time period. Based on historical data, we have a pretty good understanding of how many deaths the U.S. can expect to see on a weekly basis. Between March 1 and May 9, there were around 101,600 excess deaths — that is, more than 100,000 over the number expected. That leaves about 26,000 more deaths than have been officially attributed to COVID-19 on the patients’ death certificates, the paper said, citing federal data.
How COVID-19 directly impacted the deaths of the additional 26,000 — if it did at all — is not clear. Fear of contracting the virus may have stopped some people from seeking medical attention in a timely fashion. There may also have been higher rates of deaths from causes such as suicide or domestic violence.
Public health experts largely believe the true coronavirus death toll is higher than official reports. Due to spotty testing early on in the crisis and confusion on exactly when the virus came over here, though, it’s hard to come up with precise figures. That’s why experts are turning to the metric of excess deaths to help illustrate the virus’s real impact — and the Yale researchers’ findings support the theory that the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is worse than official statistics describe.
“It’s clear that the burden is quite a bit higher than reported totals,” Daniel Weinberger, the epidemiologist who led the analysis, told The Washington Post.
— Sara Boboltz
Tyson Shuts Down Pork Processing Plant In Iowa After Hundreds Fall Ill — 5/29/20, 2:20 p.m. ET
A Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Storm Lake, Iowa, is temporarily halting operations after 22% of the plant’s 2,500 workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter told the Des Moines Register that 555 of the plant’s 2,517 employees tested positive, which the company blamed on “a delay in COVID-19 testing results and team member absences related to quarantine.“
Tyson said it plans to reopen next week after a “deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility.”
Mayra Lopez, vice president of the Storm Lake League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa, told the Register that Tyson could have done more to prevent the outbreak.
A meeting with Tyson earlier this month regarding the company’s efforts was “very short, very scripted, and very vague,” she said, though she agreed a lack of adequate testing was at least partly to blame.
“We finally, finally have the testing we’ve been waiting for,” she said. “I don’t think people are getting results quickly enough. I’ve heard Tyson employees waiting as long as a week to hear back if they have a confirmed case. By the time they get the results, it could be too late and they’ve passed it on to someone else.”
Meat processing plants have become COVID-19 hot spots in rural communities across the country. As of last week, an estimated 17,000 workers in processing plants across the United States have fallen ill and 66 have died.
— Ryan Grenoble
For more updates on the pandemic, go here.


huffpost--2020-06-01--Vegas Is About To Reopen. But When Will The Jobs Come Back?

Even though the Strip will begin a gradual reopening starting on Thursday , workers like Baer face nothing but uncertainty .
While some casinos and restaurants will have customers for the first time in more than two months , hotels will be limiting the number of guests , crowds around craps tables won ’ t be allowed , and normally teeming nightclubs will remain shuttered as a public health precaution .
Baer , a bartender for 30 years , doesn ’ t know yet when he ’ ll be called back .
Thinking ahead to that moment , he wonders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job in a hot facemask all shift long .
He worries about contracting the virus and transmitting it to his wife or son , both of whom have concerning medical histories .
But first and foremost , he worries about not getting that call .
It could be a long time before Vegas returns to something resembling normal .
Its hospitality industry relies heavily on air travel .
And most of the revenue at major resorts does not come from gambling itself ― it comes from hotel stays , meals and entertainment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights to Sin City , those businesses will continue to take a hit .
Union leaders have been pressuring hotels and casinos for more transparency about their reopening plans and the protections they ’ ll have in place for employees .
They have also called on Gov .
Steve Sisolak ( D ) and the Gaming Control Board ― the governing body for the industry in Nevada ― to adopt health guidelines that apply to every property , rather than leave it to individual operators to decide which precautions they ’ ll take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Caesars for five years , has seen videos of crowded bars and customers invading workers ’ personal space during the pandemic .
He wants both his colleagues and his patrons to have to follow strict rules that are clearly posted .
His wife works in a casino kitchen , and he worries for her health , too , along with that of their two children .
“ It ’ s really hard to trust everyone in the workplace , ” he said .
” The employer has to offer really clear transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make that public , so everybody can see it .
We want to trust those guidelines .
I want to see all those things everywhere.
” But , as with Baer , Martinez ’ s first concern is getting back to work .
If only half of his workplace is called back , he isn ’ t confident he would be among them .
He could apply for work at other properties , but he suspects there will be a waiting list just about anywhere .
Jonas , the analyst , assumes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retrenchment as an opportunity to streamline operations and reduce labor costs .
That could mean leaning even more on technology at the expense of workers , like using touchpads for hotel check-ins and drink orders , which were already becoming a common sight on the Strip .
The culinary union has tried to get out ahead of such shifts toward automation .
In its last round of contracts with the major casinos and hotels , the union fought for job-training provisions to help members whose positions might be affected by new technologies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Nevada , Las Vegas , said changes in the pandemic ’ s wake may test the effectiveness of those provisions .

Photography by Joe Buglewicz
Tim Baer has no idea when he’ll return to work ― or whether he can keep his family safe and healthy when he does.
Baer tends bar at Hell’s Kitchen, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s previously busy outpost inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Like much of the gambling mecca’s service workforce, Baer was laid off from his job in mid-March when casinos, restaurants and nightclubs went dark due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Even though the Strip will begin a gradual reopening starting on Thursday, workers like Baer face nothing but uncertainty. While some casinos and restaurants will have customers for the first time in more than two months, hotels will be limiting the number of guests, crowds around craps tables won’t be allowed, and normally teeming nightclubs will remain shuttered as a public health precaution.
Baer, a bartender for 30 years, doesn’t know yet when he’ll be called back. Thinking ahead to that moment, he wonders how he will perform such a fast-paced job in a hot facemask all shift long. He worries about contracting the virus and transmitting it to his wife or son, both of whom have concerning medical histories. But first and foremost, he worries about not getting that call.
“I lost a job I worked years for,” said Baer. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I’m going to be struggling again. What kind of work am I going to do until something opens up?”
Offering an overview, he added, “It’s not looking too bright for a lot of people here in Las Vegas.”
Vegas might be the starkest example of what the hospitality industry faces across the country: a delicate balancing act between bringing back jobs and revenue and keeping workers and customers safe from a virus that’s killed more than 100,000 Americans.
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The city is well known for its reliable hospitality jobs that pay decent wages and provide a pathway to the middle class for many, including immigrant families. The powerful Culinary Union Local 226 and its sister union, Bartenders Local 165, represent workers on the Strip and downtown; together, the unions have 63,000 members.
But how long it will be before a significant number of those jobs return remains a big question mark. In April, the unemployment rate in town soared to 33%, twice as bad as during the Great Recession. A spokesperson for the culinary union said 98% of its members were laid off due to the virus.
It could be a long time before Vegas returns to something resembling normal. Its hospitality industry relies heavily on air travel. And most of the revenue at major resorts does not come from gambling itself ― it comes from hotel stays, meals and entertainment. Until the public is again comfortable booking flights to Sin City, those businesses will continue to take a hit.
“That’s not to say you’re not going to see a strong crowd driving from Southern California,” said Barry Jonas, a gaming industry analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, the corporate and investment banking arm of SunTrust Banks. “But the business centered on getting in an airplane, going out to a group meeting, hosting a convention ― that’s going to be a tough sell.”
Jonas said he does see a certain pent-up demand, with people willing to go out and spend money under new social-distancing measures. “I just don’t know how that translates to a destination-oriented market,” he added.
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Laid-off workers tell HuffPost they’ve waited as long as two months to start receiving unemployment benefits, as Nevada, like many other states, was poorly prepared for a flood of jobless claims. Frustrated residents have spent hours on the phone trying to get claims processed.
“The unemployment was so massive,” said Yolanda Scott, a food server at Treasure Island who was laid off on March 17 but didn’t get her benefits until mid-May. “The lines were just constantly busy. You had to call every day. It was like going to work.”
Many workers may remain on the unemployment rolls for months until tourism picks up.
At a lot of workplaces, union contracts require that callbacks be based upon seniority. Baer has six years at his work level, and he knows other bartenders at Hell’s Kitchen with more time under their belts. But he’s grateful to have a union when his job prospects are so uncertain.
“The union is playing hardball for worker protections,” he said.
Union leaders have been pressuring hotels and casinos for more transparency about their reopening plans and the protections they’ll have in place for employees. They have also called on Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) and the Gaming Control Board ― the governing body for the industry in Nevada ― to adopt health guidelines that apply to every property, rather than leave it to individual operators to decide which precautions they’ll take.
“The idea that each gaming company can come up with their own plans, keep those plans secret, and hope that one bad employer doesn’t harm workers and the entire industry is a potential disaster,” the culinary union said in a statement.
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Nery Martinez, a bartender at Caesars Palace, at his home in Las Vegas last week. The company that owns it is set to open some casinos on Thursday, but Martinez is not among those slated to head back to work. Joe Buglewicz for HuffPost
Nery Martinez, a bartender at Caesars Palace, said he wants to see all workers in the unionized workplace tested for coronavirus before returning to work. His union’s health fund has joined a partnership with the University Medical Center and certain resorts to provide free testing at the city’s convention center as reopenings begin.
But testing is not mandatory, and different operators seem to be taking different approaches. Caesars, for instance, will be performing a health screening to determine which workers should get tested, and taking employees’ temperature before shifts. Martinez said that’s not enough.
“Some people had the virus and they don’t have symptoms,” he said. “For me, the safer way is everyone who works should be tested.”
Martinez, who’s worked at Caesars for five years, has seen videos of crowded bars and customers invading workers’ personal space during the pandemic. He wants both his colleagues and his patrons to have to follow strict rules that are clearly posted. His wife works in a casino kitchen, and he worries for her health, too, along with that of their two children.
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“It’s really hard to trust everyone in the workplace,” he said. ”The employer has to offer really clear transparency on the guidelines. They need to make that public, so everybody can see it. We want to trust those guidelines. I want to see all those things everywhere.”
But, as with Baer, Martinez’s first concern is getting back to work. If only half of his workplace is called back, he isn’t confident he would be among them. He could apply for work at other properties, but he suspects there will be a waiting list just about anywhere.
“If you don’t have the job you had before, it’s going be so hard to find another one,” he said.
Signs now posted in many parts of Las Vegas stress the recommended social distancing to help stem the coronavirus pandemic. Joe Buglewicz for HuffPost
Even if Vegas bounces back, the coronavirus disruption could still bring about long-term changes to the city’s hospitality jobs.
Jonas, the analyst, assumes at least some big employers will use the retrenchment as an opportunity to streamline operations and reduce labor costs. That could mean leaning even more on technology at the expense of workers, like using touchpads for hotel check-ins and drink orders, which were already becoming a common sight on the Strip.
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The culinary union has tried to get out ahead of such shifts toward automation. In its last round of contracts with the major casinos and hotels, the union fought for job-training provisions to help members whose positions might be affected by new technologies. Ruben Garcia, a labor law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said changes in the pandemic’s wake may test the effectiveness of those provisions.
“The rationale [for employers] before was: ‘We need to become more efficient and provide a better guest experience,’” Garcia said. “That will now be supplemented with a public health rationale: ′We need to have fewer people and fewer touchpoints.′ It’s something the union will have to deal with.”
But for now, the concern is having a job to come back to.
Baer said he is eager to be mixing drinks again. Even with the weekly unemployment supplement of $600 from the federal government, his income has fallen below what he would typically earn during a busy week at the bar. That extra federal aid is set to expire at the end of July. At that point, the maximum Nevadans would be able to collect per week would fall back to $469.
Baer said no one wants to go back to work before it feels safe, but some workers will get desperate as time goes on. And the question lingers ― when will anything close to a vibrant Vegas economy return?
“We’ve got some of the best customer service and restaurants in the world,” he said. “Are people even going to come back here? How long will it be?”
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huffpost--2020-03-04--The Most Common Coronavirus Concerns, Answered By Doctors

What are the main symptoms of a COVID-19 infection ?
Is it safe to travel ?
Will the flu shot prevent me from getting the coronavirus ?
Should I still get one ?
How do I protect myself from the disease ?
Does it matter what soap or sanitizer I use ?
As for hand sanitizer , you ’ ll want to use something that has 60 % alcohol or more .
The same goes for DIY sanitizers ( sorry , using Tito ’ s vodka isn ’ t going to cut it ) .
When using the sanitizer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over your palms as well as the backs of your hands and in between your fingers .
Then let it dry completely .
I am feeling sick and scared I have the coronavirus .
What should I do ?
Can you recover from COVID-19 ?
Once you get the illness , are you immune to it ?
How long are you contagious ?
People are thought to be the most contagious when they ’ re the most symptomatic , or when they ’ re at their sickest , according to the CDC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ shed ” high amounts of the virus before they show any symptoms , but that research has not been peer-reviewed .
Some emerging research suggests the virus can live in patients for up to five weeks after contagion , but experts are still trying to get a handle on a definitive answer .

Naeblys via Getty Images Medical workers are getting a lot of questions about the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
There’s a lot of fear surrounding the novel coronavirus. The pathogen, which is spread through respiratory droplets, has infected people across the globe and here in the United States with the disease officially known as COVID-19.
Many doctors have been fielding questions from patients about the virus for weeks, and as more information comes out, the concerns from the general public will likely continue.
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It’s totally normal to feel anxious during a pandemic. However, the No. 1 thing most experts stress right now is that preparation ― not panic ― is key.
That said, information is always useful (and can even abate some fears when there’s a lot of confusion). We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions people have about the coronavirus and the answers. Read on so you can feel better prepared:
What are the main symptoms of a COVID-19 infection?
Dr. Linda Anegawa, an internist with virtual health platform PlushCare, said the main symptoms often appear similar to the flu’s, “such as fever over 100.5, cough, malaise, and occasionally nausea, diarrhea. In more severe cases, shortness of breath, chest pain and pneumonia will be apparent.”
“If you have a cold, you can be reassured that you probably don’t have COVID-19 if you just have upper respiratory symptoms and a fever less than 100, without any shortness of breath or severe coughing,” Anegawa said.
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You’ll also hear doctors and read stories about how most people will experience “mild symptoms.” This essentially means many people infected will have symptoms that resemble that of a cold or flu you’ve had before, with the same level of severity. Some people may not even experience any symptoms at all with COVID-19.
Is it safe to travel?
Dr. Eudene Harry, a board-certified physician in emergency medicine and medical director for the Oasis Wellness & Rejuvenation Center in Orlando, Florida, recommended following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines up until the time of travel.
If you’re healthy and absolutely must travel somewhere, the CDC recommends practicing good hygiene by washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with sick people. You can also wipe down common surfaces like your seat and tray table.
Do disinfectant wipes work?
Speaking of wiping down surfaces, disinfectant wipes do work. Just make sure to used ethanol or bleach-based wipes rather than benzalkonium chloride or hydrogen peroxide disinfectants. Only use one wipe per surface, and give the solution time to sit and work its magic.
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Should I wear a face mask?
People were discouraged from wearing masks unless they were sick at the beginning of the pandemic. That guidance is starting to change in some places. In areas like New York, where there are many cases of coronavirus, it’s now recommended that you wear a mask in public.
The World Health Organization also notes that if you’re healthy, you should wear a mask if you’re taking care of a person suspected of having COVID-19, or if you’re coughing or sneezing. And Neil Fishman, the chief medical officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, told the New York Times that “for individuals working in certain essential industries, where they still have to go out every day, I think wearing a mask makes sense.”
Will the flu shot prevent me from getting the coronavirus? Should I still get one?
No, the flu shot won’t shield you from the coronavirus. Yes, you absolutely should still get one if you haven’t already.
“While the flu shot won’t directly protect you ... contracting the flu can make you more susceptible to contracting other illnesses, including the coronavirus infection,” Harry said.
Not only that, but the flu shot will limit the number of severe flu cases that need to be treated by doctors and emergency medicine workers. That can free them up to help other sick people, including those with the coronavirus.
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The same can be said for the pneumonia vaccine. It’s always a smart idea to get the vaccines recommended by your physician.
How do I protect myself from the disease?
Healthy habits go a long way in reducing your risk for any illness, including COVID-19.
Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. (Sick of singing happy birthday to yourself? This hilarious Twitter thread gives you some better alternatives.) Wipe down surfaces, especially your phone. Wash your hands. Try to limit how often you touch your face, especially in areas like your nose and eyes. Sneeze and cough into your elbow. Oh, did we mention you should wash your hands?
“The same basic preventive measures that you take for any other virus such as cold or flu is also effective in preventing coronavirus disease,” Dean said.
Does it matter what soap or sanitizer I use?
The best way to clean your hands is the old-fashioned way — with soap and water. The type of soap doesn’t matter. Since COVID-19 is a viral illness, antibacterial hand soap is not going to give you an advantage over other types.
As for hand sanitizer, you’ll want to use something that has 60% alcohol or more. The same goes for DIY sanitizers (sorry, using Tito’s vodka isn’t going to cut it). When using the sanitizer, make sure to rub the product all over your palms as well as the backs of your hands and in between your fingers. Then let it dry completely.
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I am feeling sick and scared I have the coronavirus. What should I do?
If you wake up feeling sick one day, it is a good idea to get in touch with your physician ― preferably from home if you can.
“If they are displaying mild symptoms, it may be best to talk to a doctor via telemedicine to avoid exposing other people to the illness you have, whether it is the flu, a common cold or the coronavirus disease,” Dean said.
The biggest red flags that indicate something severe could be happening are shortness of breath, a high fever and a worsening cough. If you’re experiencing this, seek immediate medical attention, Anegawa said. If you have a history of medical conditions that can weaken your immune system’s response, you’ll want to be extra cautious as well.
Can you recover from COVID-19?
Recovery does happen. More than 600,000 people globally have recovered from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Once you get the illness, are you immune to it?
It’s unclear right now whether you can be reinfected once you had coronavirus. Many health experts believe you could develop at least short-term immunity against the virus.
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However, viruses tend to mutate and change quickly over time as they move through populations. This could change it into a version that immune systems don’t recognize, therefore making it a possibility you could get sick if you catch it, Live Science reported.
How long are you contagious?
People are thought to be the most contagious when they’re the most symptomatic, or when they’re at their sickest, according to the CDC. A small study found that people may “shed” high amounts of the virus before they show any symptoms, but that research has not been peer-reviewed. Some emerging research suggests the virus can live in patients for up to five weeks after contagion, but experts are still trying to get a handle on a definitive answer.
“The answer — today — is that people appear to be contagious one to two days prior to getting sick, and for one to two weeks after getting sick,” Dr. Stephen Gluckman, an infectious diseases physician at Penn Medicine and the medical director of Penn Global Medicine, previously told HuffPost. (This time frame generally goes for any contagious illness, not just COVID-19.)
Is there a cure for COVID-19?
There is no cure for COVID-19. Treatment for the virus right now involves addressing the symptoms, including lots of rest and medicine like Tylenol for fever. Some doctors in hospitals are also using anti-viral drugs, Live Science reported. There is no vaccine yet.
Again, most cases of COVID-19 are mild, and experts suggest recovery will be similar to that of the flu (though, as previously mentioned, some evidence shows that you still may be able to spread it for some time after you’re recovered). However, people with conditions that compromise their immune systems, those with respiratory issues, and those over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for more severe complications. That’s why, if you are not one of those individuals and you are infected, it’s vital you stay away from people for their protection.
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And don’t fall for scams claiming to have a cure. Those include supplements or any other healing product that wellness “influencers” or “gurus” post on social media.
“There is currently no cure, and that includes herbs and other things you may have heard about on the internet,” Harry said. “Treatment is supportive until you recover.”
This piece has been updated with new questions and details about COVID-19 since its original publication.
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.


huffpost--2020-03-04--Saudi Arabia Bans Citizens From Mecca Pilgrimage, Iran Cancels Friday Prayers

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) — Fears over the new coronavirus outbreak in the Mideast disrupted the practice of Islam itself in the region on Wednesday , as Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and residents from performing the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities .
The Saudi decision expands a ban last week on foreigners visiting Mecca and Medina , home to the holiest sites in Islam .
Meanwhile , authorities halted Friday prayers across all Iranian provincial capitals amid the country ’ s growing coronavirus outbreak .
Friday is the main congregational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditionally an important event for Iran ’ s clerical rulers .
Tehran and other areas had canceled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak .
Iran earlier announced that the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic , the highest death toll in the world outside of China .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the new figures at a news conference in Tehran , raising Iran ’ s death toll from the new illness to higher than Italy ’ s , where there has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are now over 3,140 cases of the new virus across the Mideast .
Of those outside Iran in the region , most link back to the Islamic Republic .
The virus has sickened top leaders inside Iran ’ s civilian government and Shiite theocracy .
Iran stands alone in how the virus has affected its government , even compared to hard-hit China , the epicenter of the outbreak .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than 90,000 people and caused over 3,100 deaths .
“ The virus has no wings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are the ones who transfer it to each other.
” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meanwhile acknowledged that the virus was in nearly all of Iran ’ s 31 provinces while speaking at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday .
“ This disease is a widespread one , ” he said , according to a transcript .
“ It encompasses almost all of our provinces and is , in a sense , a global disease that many countries in the world have become infected with , and we must work together to tackle this problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims over the coronavirus , disrupting travel for thousands of Muslims already headed to the kingdom and potentially affecting plans later this year for millions more ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan and the annual hajj pilgrimage .

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Fears over the new coronavirus outbreak in the Mideast disrupted the practice of Islam itself in the region on Wednesday, as Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and residents from performing the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities.
The Saudi decision expands a ban last week on foreigners visiting Mecca and Medina, home to the holiest sites in Islam. Meanwhile, authorities halted Friday prayers across all Iranian provincial capitals amid the country’s growing coronavirus outbreak.
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Friday is the main congregational day of prayer in Islam, and traditionally an important event for Iran’s clerical rulers. Tehran and other areas had canceled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak.
Iran earlier announced that the new coronavirus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the Islamic Republic, the highest death toll in the world outside of China.
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the new figures at a news conference in Tehran, raising Iran’s death toll from the new illness to higher than Italy’s, where there has also been a serious spike in infections.
There are now over 3,140 cases of the new virus across the Mideast. Of those outside Iran in the region, most link back to the Islamic Republic.
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The virus has sickened top leaders inside Iran’s civilian government and Shiite theocracy. Iran stands alone in how the virus has affected its government, even compared to hard-hit China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 90,000 people and caused over 3,100 deaths.
Experts worry Iran may be under reporting the number of cases it has.
“The virus has no wings to fly,” Jahanpour said. “We are the ones who transfer it to each other.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meanwhile acknowledged that the virus was in nearly all of Iran’s 31 provinces while speaking at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday.
“This disease is a widespread one,” he said, according to a transcript. “It encompasses almost all of our provinces and is, in a sense, a global disease that many countries in the world have become infected with, and we must work together to tackle this problem as quickly as possible.”
Saudi Arabia last week closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims over the coronavirus, disrupting travel for thousands of Muslims already headed to the kingdom and potentially affecting plans later this year for millions more ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan and the annual hajj pilgrimage.
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huffpost--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Death Rate Still Uncertain As Mild Cases Go Unreported

What Do We Know About The Death Rate ?
By the time people elsewhere in China were getting sick , authorities were better able to test for the virus and uncover people with mild cases .
Consequently , the death rate in the rest of the country was strikingly lower , 0.7 % .
What About The Rest Of The World ?
Why Are Death Rates Higher Earlier In An Outbreak ?
In most places dealing with a sudden jump in illnesses , testing people with the earliest mild symptoms — a fever or cough — is low on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may appear artificially high until authorities get a better handle on how widespread the illness really is .
The U.S. , for example , is still trying to ramp up its capability to test widely , amid criticism that person-to-person spread was going undetected .
Further complicating all this math : Scientists have been taking in-depth looks at patients treated in different hospitals , an important step as authorities learn how to battle it .
One such study in last week ’ s New England Journal of Medicine examined 1,099 patients in 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond Wuhan .
They put the death rate at 1.4 % .
How Does COVID-19 Compare To Other Diseases ?
But again , the number of infections matters .
Millions of people get the flu every year around the world , leading to an annual death toll in the hundreds of thousands .
There ’ s no way to know how many people ultimately will get the new coronavirus .
Who ’ s At Most Risk From COVID-19 ?

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WASHINGTON (AP) — How deadly is the coronavirus that exploded from China? The answer reflects a hard reality about fast-moving outbreaks: As cases pop up in new places, the first to get counted are the sickest.
A straight count of deaths reported worldwide suggests the new virus may be more deadly than the flu, according to the head of the World Health Organization.
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“Globally, about 3.4% of reported COVID-19 cases have died. By comparison, seasonal flu generally kills far fewer than 1% of those infected,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
But the U.N. agency is reporting a number that health authorities know will keep fluctuating — and it’s far too soon to predict whether it ultimately winds up worse than flu or about the same.
“In every outbreak there are at least two competing biases that make the case fatality rate look higher or lower,” said Dr. Marc Lipsitch of Harvard’s School of Public Health.
Some ill people may die while many people with mild or no symptoms are being missed, he explained, “because the testing has been so variable and not adequate in many places.”
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What Do We Know About The Death Rate?
The WHO’s latest estimate that 3.4% of patients have died is in line with what the agency has been reporting for over a week.
When it took a close look at what’s happening in China, WHO concluded 2% to 4% of patients in the city of Wuhan — the outbreak’s epicenter where a flood of early severe cases overwhelmed health centers — had died.
By the time people elsewhere in China were getting sick, authorities were better able to test for the virus and uncover people with mild cases. Consequently, the death rate in the rest of the country was strikingly lower, 0.7%.
That number has fluctuated since but is still pretty close — even though the number of deaths being reported every day in China is dropping as the outbreak stabilizes there.
What About The Rest Of The World?
The outbreak has worsened in Iran, where as of Tuesday 4.4% of the more than 1,500 patients so far known to have COVID-19 have died. That number is helping to drive the global death calculation.
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Outside of Hubei province in China and Iran, the death rate globally as of Tuesday was about 1%.
Why Are Death Rates Higher Earlier In An Outbreak?
In most places dealing with a sudden jump in illnesses, testing people with the earliest mild symptoms — a fever or cough — is low on the priority list. That means death rates may appear artificially high until authorities get a better handle on how widespread the illness really is. The U.S., for example, is still trying to ramp up its capability to test widely, amid criticism that person-to-person spread was going undetected.
Further complicating all this math: Scientists have been taking in-depth looks at patients treated in different hospitals, an important step as authorities learn how to battle it. One such study in last week’s New England Journal of Medicine examined 1,099 patients in 500 hospitals in China, many of them beyond Wuhan. They put the death rate at 1.4%.
In other words, who gets counted — and where — makes a difference.
How Does COVID-19 Compare To Other Diseases?
A cousin of this new virus caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, and about 10% of SARS patients died.
Flu is a different virus family, and some strains are deadlier than others. On average, the death rate from seasonal flu is about 0.1%, said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Even if the right number for the new coronavirus is 0.7%, that’s still worse than the average flu season.
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But again, the number of infections matters. Millions of people get the flu every year around the world, leading to an annual death toll in the hundreds of thousands. There’s no way to know how many people ultimately will get the new coronavirus.
WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan says the new coronavirus isn’t as transmissible as flu, so “it offers us a glimmer ... that this virus can be suppressed and contained.”
What’s the difference? Flu can be spread before symptoms appear, which helps fuel each year’s influenza season. WHO insists asymptomatic spread doesn’t appear to be driving the COVID-19 outbreak.
Who’s At Most Risk From COVID-19?
Last week’s report by National Health Commission of China scientists shows how easy it is for many cases to be missed early on: 44% of patients had fever when they were admitted to the hospital, but 89% ultimately developed it.
In all, 16% developed severe illness after hospital admission; about 5% were treated in an intensive care unit; and 2.3% needed machines to help them breathe.
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Older people, especially those with chronic illnesses such as heart or lung diseases, are more at risk of severe illness, although some younger adults have died.
On average, WHO says people with mild cases recover in about two weeks, while those who are sicker can take anywhere from three to six weeks.
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AP Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione contributed to this report.
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huffpost--2020-03-04--Can Coronavirus Be Transmitted Through Food? Here's What You Should Know.

Can coronavirus be transmitted through food ?
Are there foods in grocery stores we should avoid ?
So yes , there is the possibility of getting sick if someone infected with COVID-19 is standing right beside you and sneezes while you ’ re both searching for a ripe avocado , or if a droplet from an infected person lands on a package of cereal that you touch and then proceed to touch your face before washing your hands .
But we still don ’ t know how much of the virus needs to be present in order for transmission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean you should stop shopping , but you should be cautious and follow simple protective measures like regularly washing your hands , not touching your nose and mouth if your hands aren ’ t clean , staying home if you ’ re sick , covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing , keeping a distance of at least three feet from people who are coughing or sneezing , and seeing a doctor if you have a fever , cough and trouble breathing .
Is it safe to eat in restaurants ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu in 2018-19 , we have a long way to go in managing risks , ” Chapman said .
“ The respiratory virus risk in restaurants is really more about being in the same location as a lot of people , some of who can be depositing the virus on surfaces like tables , doors , menus , and managing that with a hand washing and alcohol-based sanitizer regime is an effective step to reduce risks of both COVID-19 and Influenza.
” The U.S. is one of a select few countries in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid sick leave , leaving many low-wage restaurant workers with little choice but to go to work even when they ’ re sick .
Many are also deterred from seeing the doctor due to being uninsured or having health insurance policies that leave them with expensive bills .
Are there any precautions to take when preparing food at home ?
Do we need to stockpile food to prepare for a possible quarantine ?
“ It ’ s probably good to have a couple of extra weeks of supplies just so that you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequent these places if there happen to be cases that show up , ” Kindrachuk said .
But he pointed out that storing enough supplies to last you months is likely going too far .
If you decide to stock up , make sure to be reasonable with the amount of food you buy , and to use your food supply before it goes bad — food waste is still a problem , even in a time of a disease outbreak .
“ I would hate for people to buy all of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that goes to waste in the refrigerator , ” Dicaprio said .
Here ’ s what else to know .
There are still a lot of unknowns around COVID-19 right now , and the situation can change at any time , but you can find information on COVID-19 , how it spreads and its presence in your area through the World Health Organization , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the National Institutes of Health , and your city and state public health authorities .

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As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread with nearly 100,000 confirmed cases globally and more than 100 confirmed cases in the United States, people are increasingly wondering how COVID-19 might affect our food supply and eating habits.
We’ve reached out to some leading food safety and public health experts for their advice. If you’ve been questioning whether to stay home from restaurants or if any foods are unsafe, here’s what you need to know:
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Can coronavirus be transmitted through food?
Researchers are still learning the specifics of how COVID-19 is transmitted, but we do know that the disease can spread through droplets that are released from the nose or mouth when someone coughs, sneezes or exhales.
Disease transmission becomes possible when someone inhales these droplets or touches their eyes, mouth or nose after coming into contact with surfaces where these droplets land. As of now, there’s no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through food.
“We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging,” a spokesperson from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service told HuffPost and mentioned in a statement.
“As of now, there’s no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through food.”
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Benjamin Chapman, a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University, explained that because the mode of infection is primarily respiratory, the chance of getting COVID-19 from food is extremely low. “In fact, we don’t see evidence of any respiratory viruses being transmitted through food in the past,” he said.
Are there foods in grocery stores we should avoid?
Since there’s no known transmission of COVID-19 through food, you don’t need to worry about avoiding any foods in particular. A bigger concern when shopping is the risk of coronavirus transmission from person to person.
“If you have people that are sick, you have the possibility for somebody to go into an area like that and transmit,” said Jason Kindrachuck, assistant professor in the department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
So yes, there is the possibility of getting sick if someone infected with COVID-19 is standing right beside you and sneezes while you’re both searching for a ripe avocado, or if a droplet from an infected person lands on a package of cereal that you touch and then proceed to touch your face before washing your hands. But we still don’t know how much of the virus needs to be present in order for transmission to occur.
Sergei Gnatiuk via Getty Images “We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging,” a spokesperson from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service told HuffPost.
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This absolutely doesn’t mean you should stop shopping, but you should be cautious and follow simple protective measures like regularly washing your hands, not touching your nose and mouth if your hands aren’t clean, staying home if you’re sick, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, keeping a distance of at least three feet from people who are coughing or sneezing, and seeing a doctor if you have a fever, cough and trouble breathing.
“One piece of advice I’ve been repeating on a regular basis to people who are concerned is, ‘What are you doing right now to manage your risk from regular flu?’” said Don Schaffner, extension specialist in food science and distinguished professor at Rutgers University. Many of the current recommendations for avoiding transmission of COVID-19 are similar.
Is it safe to eat in restaurants?
In most cases, there’s no reason to avoid visiting a restaurant due to fears of COVID-19 transmission. “It is just the same as it was before we knew about coronavirus,” Schaffner said. “In other words, nothing is absolutely safe.”
Schaffner pointed out that even If the coronavirus is present in your food, it will be destroyed with proper cooking. But as with going to the supermarket, you’ll want to be diligent about taking precautions similar to those recommended to prevent the spread of seasonal flu.
“With an estimated 34,000-plus deaths from flu in 2018-19, we have a long way to go in managing risks,” Chapman said. “The respiratory virus risk in restaurants is really more about being in the same location as a lot of people, some of who can be depositing the virus on surfaces like tables, doors, menus, and managing that with a hand washing and alcohol-based sanitizer regime is an effective step to reduce risks of both COVID-19 and Influenza.”
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“One piece of advice I’ve been repeating on a regular basis to people who are concerned is, ‘What are you doing right now to manage your risk from regular flu?’” - Don Schaffner, Rutgers University
Keep in mind that someone who is sick probably isn’t going to be heading out to a restaurant, Kindrachuk said, “so your likelihood of going in and getting sick or getting infected is really, really minimal.”
This is different from going to some sort of large public gathering with tens of thousands of people when there’s a cluster of cases in an area, he pointed out. In that case, the potential for transmission would be higher due to the large number of people.
Most of us know by now that public health advice strongly encourages staying home when sick. But for some restaurant workers, this isn’t an option because of America’s lack of important social services, as Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) pointed out in a recent tweet.
I used to work in the food industry.
I can’t tell you how many times the people who handle your food - who are already overworked & underpaid - show up sick to work because our country refuses to guarantee healthcare or paid sick leave.
We need #MedicareForAll. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 25, 2020
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The U.S. is one of a select few countries in the world without a national policy that ensures paid sick leave, leaving many low-wage restaurant workers with little choice but to go to work even when they’re sick. Many are also deterred from seeing the doctor due to being uninsured or having health insurance policies that leave them with expensive bills.
The result is that you could be at risk of transmission when you’re dining out. As HuffPost reporter Emily Peck noted in a recent piece on this topic, this isn’t a coronavirus problem; it’s a policy problem.
Are there any precautions to take when preparing food at home?
The biggest tips to keep in mind when cooking at home are to wash your hands as much as possible and don’t prepare food for others if you’re showing symptoms, unless it’s absolutely necessary to do so.
When handling or preparing food, the government recommends following standard food safety practices, like washing hands and surfaces often, separating raw meat from other foods, refrigerating food, and cooking food to the appropriate temperature.
Do we need to stockpile food to prepare for a possible quarantine?
Food and hand sanitizer have been flying off supermarket shelves as many people grow concerned that the coronavirus outbreak will make it harder to access food in the future. But is this necessary?
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Our experts agreed that if possible, it’s not a bad idea to have some non-perishable food on hand in case a situation arises that prevents you from food shopping.
Don Farrall via Getty Images There's no need to stock your pantry with more than a couple extra weeks' worth of food.
“It’s probably good to have a couple of extra weeks of supplies just so that you don’t have to actually go and frequent these places if there happen to be cases that show up,” Kindrachuk said. But he pointed out that storing enough supplies to last you months is likely going too far.
The recommendation to keep a reserve of food at home is largely based on avoiding crowds and potential disruptions to the food supply due to possible workforce shortages. “It doesn’t have anything to do with a fear of the food supply becoming contaminated,” said Erin DiCaprio, assistant specialist in cooperative extension in community food safety at UC Davis.
If you decide to stock up, make sure to be reasonable with the amount of food you buy, and to use your food supply before it goes bad — food waste is still a problem, even in a time of a disease outbreak. “I would hate for people to buy all of this extra food and then have it be something that goes to waste in the refrigerator,” Dicaprio said.
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While you’re resisting the temptation to empty store shelves, remember to exercise this restraint with masks, too. If you’re not coughing or sneezing or caring for someone who is, you probably don’t need to wear one.
“It’s imperative for us to understand that we need our first-line responders, especially those in hospital and clinical settings, to have access to those,” Kindrachuck said. “People need to have some restraint as well and understand that those supplies are going to be needed by the medical community.”
Here’s what else to know.


huffpost--2020-03-04--Catholic Churches Are Emptying Holy Water Fonts Over Coronavirus Concerns

American Catholics may notice one consequence of the coronavirus outbreak as soon as they step into their local parishes for Mass this weekend : holy water fonts without a drop of water inside .
The emptying of the fonts , which Catholics use to bless themselves as they enter church , is just one of various measures that bishops in Miami , Seattle , Chicago and many other cities are putting in place to combat the spread of the respiratory disease officially known as COVID-19 , which is caused by coronavirus .
Some bishops are also banning the distribution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many are also reminding priests and deacons that they can make modifications to how the the host — or sacramental bread — is offered to congregants .
“ Given the frequency of direct contact with saliva in the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue , every consideration should be given by each individual to receive Holy Communion reverently in open hands for the time being , ” the Archdiocese of Chicago stated in guidelines issued Tuesday .
Bishops are encouraging Catholics to refrain from physical contact while reciting the Lord ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a time during the service when parishioners usually greet each other with a handshake , hug or a kiss on the cheek .
“ The church practice states that the priest or deacon should ask the faithful to exchange the sign of peace ‘ if appropriate , ’ ” spokesperson John Quaglione told HuffPost .
“ At this time , in light of the coronavirus , it has been deemed in fact , not an appropriate time to do so.
” As is common during flu season , priests and lay ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before and after Mass , and have hand sanitizer available for those distributing Communion .
The preventative measures come as the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 11 on Wednesday , after the death of an elderly person in California .
Ten people have died from the virus in Washington state , and researchers suspect the virus has been circulating undetected in the Seattle area for weeks , The Associated Press reported .
At least 31 cases have emerged in that region .
Seattle ’ s Archbishop Paul D. Etienne has urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are feeling sick .
The archdiocese has postponed its annual Inclusion Ministry Mass for people with disabilities until “ virus concerns have subsided.
” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo confirmed four new coronavirus cases on Wednesday , bringing the state ’ s total to six .
Health officials have asked about 1,000 people who may have had contact with sick individuals to self-quarantine , The New York Times reported .
Joseph Zwilling , a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York , told HuffPost that the archdiocese reminds parishes every flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the spread of illnesses .
This January , their annual notice emphasized that the emergence of COVID-19 was a reason to be “ extra vigilant , ” he said .
Catholic schools in New York have also implemented a new policy requiring students , teachers and other school personnel who have travelled abroad to obtain a doctor ’ s medical clearance note before being allowed to return to school .
Italy has become the center of Europe ’ s coronavirus outbreak and Catholic bishops there have responded by cancelling Mass and encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Vatican has temporarily closed the Italian catacombs .
The changes to Catholic worship practices are overlapping with the observance of Lent , a 40-day period of reflection and renewal before Easter .
Near the end of Lent , many Roman Catholics mark Jesus ’ death on Good Friday by kneeling and kissing the cross .

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American Catholics may notice one consequence of the coronavirus outbreak as soon as they step into their local parishes for Mass this weekend: holy water fonts without a drop of water inside.
The emptying of the fonts, which Catholics use to bless themselves as they enter church, is just one of various measures that bishops in Miami, Seattle, Chicago and many other cities are putting in place to combat the spread of the respiratory disease officially known as COVID-19, which is caused by coronavirus.
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Some bishops are also banning the distribution of consecrated wine through a common cup. Many are also reminding priests and deacons that they can make modifications to how the the host — or sacramental bread — is offered to congregants.
“Given the frequency of direct contact with saliva in the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue, every consideration should be given by each individual to receive Holy Communion reverently in open hands for the time being,” the Archdiocese of Chicago stated in guidelines issued Tuesday.
Some U.S. Catholic bishops, including Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, have instructed parishes to remove holy water from fonts. BSIP via Getty Images
Bishops are encouraging Catholics to refrain from physical contact while reciting the Lord’s Prayer and during the Sign of Peace, a time during the service when parishioners usually greet each other with a handshake, hug or a kiss on the cheek.
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The Diocese of Brooklyn has decided to skip the Sign of Peace altogether during Masses.
“The church practice states that the priest or deacon should ask the faithful to exchange the sign of peace ‘if appropriate,’” spokesperson John Quaglione told HuffPost. “At this time, in light of the coronavirus, it has been deemed in fact, not an appropriate time to do so.”
As is common during flu season, priests and lay ministers are being encouraged to wash their hands before and after Mass, and have hand sanitizer available for those distributing Communion.
The preventative measures come as the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 11 on Wednesday, after the death of an elderly person in California. Ten people have died from the virus in Washington state, and researchers suspect the virus has been circulating undetected in the Seattle area for weeks, The Associated Press reported. At least 31 cases have emerged in that region.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 13 states have reported cases of the virus as of Wednesday.
Seattle’s Archbishop Paul D. Etienne has urged Catholics to stay home from Mass if they are feeling sick. The archdiocese has postponed its annual Inclusion Ministry Mass for people with disabilities until “virus concerns have subsided.”
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed four new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to six. Health officials have asked about 1,000 people who may have had contact with sick individuals to self-quarantine, The New York Times reported.
Joseph Zwilling, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York, told HuffPost that the archdiocese reminds parishes every flu season of steps they can take to prevent the spread of illnesses. This January, their annual notice emphasized that the emergence of COVID-19 was a reason to be “extra vigilant,” he said.
Catholic schools in New York have also implemented a new policy requiring students, teachers and other school personnel who have travelled abroad to obtain a doctor’s medical clearance note before being allowed to return to school.
Pilgrims arrive in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican wearing masks to protect themselves from COVID-19 on March 1. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Italy has become the center of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak and Catholic bishops there have responded by cancelling Mass and encouraging the faithful to watch services from home. The Vatican has temporarily closed the Italian catacombs.
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The changes to Catholic worship practices are overlapping with the observance of Lent, a 40-day period of reflection and renewal before Easter. Near the end of Lent, many Roman Catholics mark Jesus’ death on Good Friday by kneeling and kissing the cross.


huffpost--2020-06-15--China's New Virus Outbreak Underscores Continued Threat

BEIJING ( AP ) — China ’ s capital was bracing Monday for a resurgence of the coronavirus after more than 100 new cases were reported in recent days in a city that hadn ’ t seen a case of local transmission in more than a month .
The United States , meanwhile , continued to struggle with an outbreak that appeared ready to stretch on for months or even years , and the governor of hard-hit New York state threatened to reinstate business closings .
China , where the virus first appeared late last year , reported 49 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them in Beijing .
All have been traced to a wholesale market that supplies much of the city ’ s meat and vegetables .
Chinese health authorities said the strain of virus was similar to that seen in Europe , but there was no immediate evidence of a connection .
In response , Beijing has suspended the restart of some classes and reversed the relaxation of some social isolation measures .
Neighborhoods close to the market have been put on lockdown and more than 76,000 people tested .
China ’ s authoritarian communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking of residents ’ movements through the use of social media .
Entry to office buildings and grocery stores requires proof on a smart phone that the person has not traveled to areas where the virus is still active .
India ’ s Health Ministry reported a jump of more than 11,000 new infections nationwide for a third consecutive day Monday .
The country ’ s home minister offered 500 train carriages for use as makeshift coronavirus hospital wards as New Delhi struggles to contain a spike in cases .
The Indian capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients in public and private hospitals , but a state government panel of experts has said it will need at least 15,000 beds by the end of June .
In the U.S. cases in nearly half of states are rising .
The U.S. already has recorded more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and upward of 115,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Manhattan and Long Island ’ s tony Hamptons were singled out as problem areas by Cuomo , who cited 25,000 complaints statewide of reopening violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lax face-covering enforcement endanger the state ’ s fragile progress in the fight against the coronavirus , Cuomo said , adding that many complaints involve bars and restaurants .
New York officials are trying to avoid the fate of states seeing a surge in new cases after reopening .
New York ’ s coronavirus-related hospitalizations are declining and the state recorded 23 deaths Saturday , the lowest one-day coronavirus death toll since the early days of the crisis .
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed America ’ s lack of centralized authority for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , while saying Russia was “ working quite steadily and getting out of this situation ... with minimal losses.
” South Korea is also among countries seeking to prevent a resurgence of the outbreak , reporting 37 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 25 of the cases came from the Seoul area , where health authorities are scrambling to trace infections linked to entertainment and leisure activities , church gatherings , warehouse workers and door-to-door sellers .
In Peru , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have died in the pandemic that is burning across Peru and South America as a whole .
Archbishop Carlos Castillo on Sunday used his broadcast homily to criticize a health system he said “ is based on egotism and on business and not on mercy and solidarity with the people.
” COVID-19 has taken at least 6,400 lives in the nation of some 32 million people — a toll second only to that of Brazil within South America .
In France , restaurants in the Paris region will be allowed to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in opening indoor seating starting Monday .
From June 22 , all nursery schools , primary schools and junior high schools will be open and mandatory for all students .

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BEIJING (AP) — China’s capital was bracing Monday for a resurgence of the coronavirus after more than 100 new cases were reported in recent days in a city that hadn’t seen a case of local transmission in more than a month.
The United States, meanwhile, continued to struggle with an outbreak that appeared ready to stretch on for months or even years, and the governor of hard-hit New York state threatened to reinstate business closings.
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China, where the virus first appeared late last year, reported 49 new coronavirus cases on Monday, 36 of them in Beijing. All have been traced to a wholesale market that supplies much of the city’s meat and vegetables.
Beijing has closed the Xinfadi market, ordered testing of all its workers and is requiring anyone who traveled there to self-isolate for two weeks.
Chinese health authorities said the strain of virus was similar to that seen in Europe, but there was no immediate evidence of a connection.
In response, Beijing has suspended the restart of some classes and reversed the relaxation of some social isolation measures. Neighborhoods close to the market have been put on lockdown and more than 76,000 people tested.
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China’s authoritarian communist political system and tight social controls enable tracking of residents’ movements through the use of social media. Entry to office buildings and grocery stores requires proof on a smart phone that the person has not traveled to areas where the virus is still active.
India’s Health Ministry reported a jump of more than 11,000 new infections nationwide for a third consecutive day Monday. The country’s home minister offered 500 train carriages for use as makeshift coronavirus hospital wards as New Delhi struggles to contain a spike in cases.
The Indian capital has about 9,000 beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients in public and private hospitals, but a state government panel of experts has said it will need at least 15,000 beds by the end of June.
In the U.S. cases in nearly half of states are rising. The U.S. already has recorded more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and upward of 115,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Upset by “rampant” violations of New York’s pandemic-fighting restrictions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to reinstate closings in areas where local governments fail to enforce the rules.
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Manhattan and Long Island’s tony Hamptons were singled out as problem areas by Cuomo, who cited 25,000 complaints statewide of reopening violations. The large gatherings, social-distancing violations and lax face-covering enforcement endanger the state’s fragile progress in the fight against the coronavirus, Cuomo said, adding that many complaints involve bars and restaurants.
“We are not kidding around with this. You’re talking about jeopardizing people’s lives,” Cuomo said Sunday at his daily briefing.
New York officials are trying to avoid the fate of states seeing a surge in new cases after reopening. New York’s coronavirus-related hospitalizations are declining and the state recorded 23 deaths Saturday, the lowest one-day coronavirus death toll since the early days of the crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed America’s lack of centralized authority for its inability to stem the spread of the virus, while saying Russia was “working quite steadily and getting out of this situation ... with minimal losses.”
In the U.S., “this is not happening,” Putin said, noting the central and regional governments work more closely in Russia.
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Russia, nevertheless, has recorded more than half a million infections and nearly 7,000 virus deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University count.
South Korea is also among countries seeking to prevent a resurgence of the outbreak, reporting 37 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 25 of the cases came from the Seoul area, where health authorities are scrambling to trace infections linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings, warehouse workers and door-to-door sellers.
In Peru, a Catholic Mass was held for the thousands who have died in the pandemic that is burning across Peru and South America as a whole.
Archbishop Carlos Castillo on Sunday used his broadcast homily to criticize a health system he said “is based on egotism and on business and not on mercy and solidarity with the people.”
COVID-19 has taken at least 6,400 lives in the nation of some 32 million people — a toll second only to that of Brazil within South America.
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In France, restaurants in the Paris region will be allowed to join those in the rest of the country in opening indoor seating starting Monday. From June 22, all nursery schools, primary schools and junior high schools will be open and mandatory for all students.
France is reopening its borders with other European countries and will start allowing visitors from other continents on July 1st.
In Africa, where the virus continues to spread, Ghana’s Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has contracted COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Ghana has one of highest number of confirmed cases in Africa because of its robust testing, with more than 11,400 cases. Health authorities have reported 51 deaths.
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Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak