huffpost--2020-02-28--Will Coronavirus Slow Down In The Warmer Months Like Flu Season?

It ’ s well known that the flu ebbs and flows with the weather each year .
During the colder months , the virus strikes hard , infecting millions nationwide — but when spring rolls around , the illness begins to lose strength and flu activity subsides until the next cold season .
That ’ s because respiratory viruses like the flu are more powerful in cool , dry air .
The colder temps allow them to multiply easier and spread faster .
With spring right around the corner , many are wondering if — like the flu — coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Around the world , infectious disease experts are hoping this will be the case , though it ’ s still too soon to know exactly how the novel coronavirus ( known as COVID-19 ) will respond to the new season .
Remember , we ’ ve never seen this virus before , and researchers are scrambling to figure out how this disease survives and spreads .
Here ’ s what we know so far : These coronaviruses aren ’ t the same , but they do share a handful of similarities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 79 % match to SARS-CoV and a 50 % match to MERS , so we can potentially learn a thing or two from how those outbreaks played out .
Looking back at SARS , one study identified an 18-fold increase of infections in colder temps compared to warmer days .
Another report looked at how the virus behaved in different environments and found that its viability rapidly declined at higher temperatures and humidity levels .
The researchers found the SARS virus became increasingly inactivated as temperatures and humidity rose .
Similarly to SARS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from animals to humans — also seemed to be stronger in cold , dry weather .
Researchers in one study stated , “ coronaviruses have been shown to exhibit strong seasonal variation in natural hosts.
” They found that that colder , drier conditions increased the risk of MERS transmission from camels to humans .
“ Viruses can be unpredictable , so it is very important to be cautiously optimistic about this , ” said Dr. Ellen Foxman , a Yale Medicine clinical pathologist and researcher in the school ’ s Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a rapidly evolving situation , Foxman added , and infectious disease experts will need to continually reevaluate their plans as they learn more .
Why does cold air have that effect ?
So , the flu , SARS and MERS all fare better in chillier climates .
But what about cold weather makes them rev up ?
It boils down to a few factors , health experts say .
First , certain viruses have an easier time surviving and reproducing in colder temperatures .
Many respiratory viruses hang out in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there ’ s growing evidence that when these areas are cooler ( from inhaling cooler air ) , the body ’ s natural antiviral defenses suffer , Foxman said .
She added that sunlight can inactivate certain viruses .
In addition , people tend to huddle indoors together when it ’ s cold outside .
Doing so increases the risk of being exposed to other people ’ s illnesses , either through their respiratory droplets circulating through the air or via contaminated surfaces .
Lastly , our immune systems suffer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes a drop in people ’ s Vitamin D levels , which has a major role in managing our immune responses , or ability to fight infections .
Some believe that cool air causes our blood vessels to constrict , which may make it harder for white blood cells to move about our bodies and fight germs .
Practicing healthy habits is the best way to fend off anything Again , there ’ s no guarantee since this current virus is novel , but hopefully we ’ ll see COVID-19 start to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If it ’ s like those other coronaviruses , Gerba expects things to settle down around May .
In the meantime , your best bet is to keep your immune system strong .
Get plenty of sleep , stay hydrated , exercise and make sure you ’ re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet .
COVID-19 seems to be more severe in people who have underlying illnesses , so it ’ s crucial to take care of any other health conditions you have .

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It’s well known that the flu ebbs and flows with the weather each year. During the colder months, the virus strikes hard, infecting millions nationwide — but when spring rolls around, the illness begins to lose strength and flu activity subsides until the next cold season.
That’s because respiratory viruses like the flu are more powerful in cool, dry air. The colder temps allow them to multiply easier and spread faster. With spring right around the corner, many are wondering if — like the flu — coronavirus cases may dwindle with the warmer weather.
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Around the world, infectious disease experts are hoping this will be the case, though it’s still too soon to know exactly how the novel coronavirus (known as COVID-19) will respond to the new season. Remember, we’ve never seen this virus before, and researchers are scrambling to figure out how this disease survives and spreads. Here’s what we know so far:
Weather has affected other coronaviruses
Before COVID-19, other coronaviruses triggered an international public health emergency: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012.
These coronaviruses aren’t the same, but they do share a handful of similarities. The makeup of COVID-19 is about a 79% match to SARS-CoV and a 50% match to MERS, so we can potentially learn a thing or two from how those outbreaks played out.
Looking back at SARS, one study identified an 18-fold increase of infections in colder temps compared to warmer days. Another report looked at how the virus behaved in different environments and found that its viability rapidly declined at higher temperatures and humidity levels. The researchers found the SARS virus became increasingly inactivated as temperatures and humidity rose.
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Similarly to SARS, MERS — which was mostly spread from animals to humans — also seemed to be stronger in cold, dry weather. Researchers in one study stated, “coronaviruses have been shown to exhibit strong seasonal variation in natural hosts.” They found that that colder, drier conditions increased the risk of MERS transmission from camels to humans.
Four coronaviruses circulate around the world every year, causing common colds. Studies have shown they’re also more prevalent in the fall and winter compared to the summer months.
Dr. Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Arizona, told HuffPost he expects COVID-19 to pan out similarly to other coronaviruses, given that it’s spreading and “behaving a lot like the common cold coronaviruses.”
So, it’s possible COVID-19 could calm down come late spring ― but it’s not a guarantee.
“Viruses can be unpredictable, so it is very important to be cautiously optimistic about this,” said Dr. Ellen Foxman, a Yale Medicine clinical pathologist and researcher in the school’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Virology Laboratory. This is a rapidly evolving situation, Foxman added, and infectious disease experts will need to continually reevaluate their plans as they learn more.
Ada Yokota via Getty Images Experts aren't sure yet how seasons will affect COVID-19, but they have some clues from previous illnesses.
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Why does cold air have that effect?
So, the flu, SARS and MERS all fare better in chillier climates. But what about cold weather makes them rev up? It boils down to a few factors, health experts say.
First, certain viruses have an easier time surviving and reproducing in colder temperatures. Many respiratory viruses hang out in the nasal passages and airways of the lung, and there’s growing evidence that when these areas are cooler (from inhaling cooler air), the body’s natural antiviral defenses suffer, Foxman said. She added that sunlight can inactivate certain viruses.
Meanwhile, viruses also thrive without humidity. “In the winter, relative humidity goes down because of heating in homes, so the virus survives longer,” Gerba said.
In addition, people tend to huddle indoors together when it’s cold outside. Doing so increases the risk of being exposed to other people’s illnesses, either through their respiratory droplets circulating through the air or via contaminated surfaces.
Lastly, our immune systems suffer in cold weather. The lack of sunshine causes a drop in people’s Vitamin D levels, which has a major role in managing our immune responses, or ability to fight infections. Some believe that cool air causes our blood vessels to constrict, which may make it harder for white blood cells to move about our bodies and fight germs.
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Practicing healthy habits is the best way to fend off anything
Again, there’s no guarantee since this current virus is novel, but hopefully we’ll see COVID-19 start to back off as the weather gets warmer. If it’s like those other coronaviruses, Gerba expects things to settle down around May.
In the meantime, your best bet is to keep your immune system strong. Get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, exercise and make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet. COVID-19 seems to be more severe in people who have underlying illnesses, so it’s crucial to take care of any other health conditions you have.
Foxman also suggested getting your flu shot if you haven’t already, as it’ll prevent you from getting influenza and therefore free up resources in hospitals for people who may get sick from the coronavirus.
But the main thing, Gerba said, is to disinfect and destroy the germs that cause COVID-19 ― or any other illness for that matter. (The flu is still an issue!)
“Use disinfecting wipes, use a hand sanitizer, and when you’re washing your hands at home use liquid soap and a paper towel if you can,” Gerba said. “Those are the things that seem to work.”


huffpost--2020-02-28--America's Broken Social Safety Net Can't Withstand The Coronavirus

The United States is one of the few countries in the world without a nationwide paid sick leave policy .
In addition , millions of Americans don ’ t have health insurance , or have insurance policies designed to keep them away from the doctor ’ s office , with high copayments and deductibles .
Combined , both issues highlight how the coronavirus , or COVID-19 , outbreak could test the United States ’ uniquely weak social safety net .
This isn ’ t a “ coronavirus ” problem .
It ’ s important to note that although the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week about the possibility of an outbreak of this disease , so far there have been very few reported cases inside the U.S .
However , fears over an outbreak have put the spotlight on the public health system — for some Democrats , coronavirus basically makes the case for long sought-after policies like universal health care and paid sick and family leave .
Flu rates are higher without sick leave .
What about coronavirus ?
Aside from not wanting to miss out on pay , workers who call in sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tasked with finding someone else to take their shift , he said .
“ If you take any time for yourself .
If you ’ re late , going to the doctor , you are hurting someone else you are relying on and counting on.
” Ericka Farrell , a mother of three in Maryland , lost her temp job in the early 2000s because she had to take so much time off to care for her young son who had just started daycare and cycled through chicken pox , ringworm and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got it , ” she said .
are uninsured .
Many more have terrible insurance .

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One of the best things you can do to fend off the coronavirus is to stay home when you’re sick.
Problem is, millions of working Americans don’t get paid sick days. A stunning 70% of low-wage workers and one of three workers in the private sector have no access to paid sick time. All told, more than 30 million Americans don’t get paid sick days. Many work in industries where they have regular contact with the public.
The United States is one of the few countries in the world without a nationwide paid sick leave policy. In addition, millions of Americans don’t have health insurance, or have insurance policies designed to keep them away from the doctor’s office, with high copayments and deductibles. Combined, both issues highlight how the coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak could test the United States’ uniquely weak social safety net.
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“Right now we’re looking at a situation where we have a lack of policies that most other countries take for granted that protect their public health,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of MomsRising, a nonprofit that advocates for paid leave.
This isn’t a “coronavirus” problem. It’s important to note that although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans earlier this week about the possibility of an outbreak of this disease, so far there have been very few reported cases inside the U.S. However, fears over an outbreak have put the spotlight on the public health system — for some Democrats, coronavirus basically makes the case for long sought-after policies like universal health care and paid sick and family leave.
“We have long had a slow, silent national emergency when it comes to any virus, flu or coronavirus,” Rowe-Finkbeiner said. “It’s irresponsible not to have everyone have access to paid sick days this year or any year.”
Workers wearing protective gears spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Japan's schools prepared to close for almost a month and entertainers, topped by K-pop superstars BTS, canceled events as a virus epidemic extended its spread through Asia into Europe and on Friday, into sub-Saharan Africa. Ahn Young-joon/AP
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Flu rates are higher without sick leave. What about coronavirus?
In the U.S., just 10 states, 20 cities and three counties have some kind of paid sick leave policy, compared to the rest of the world, where more than 145 countries offer this basic benefit. Research shows that people who live in those places are less likely to get sick.
Lack of paid sick leave is certainly a “risk factor” in terms of the spread of coronavirus, said Nicolas Ziebarth, an associate professor in health economics at Cornell University.
For a paper he published in 2019 in the Journal of Public Economics, Ziebarth looked at Google data on flu rates, and compared cities that have a paid sick leave policy to those that don’t. He found that flu rates are 5% lower in places with paid sick leave.
Now he thinks that number might even be low. For an upcoming paper, Ziebarth used more precise CDC data and has found that rates are actually 11% lower in states with paid sick leave.
It’s hard to overstate what it means to not have access to paid sick leave when you’re already just barely getting by. Sick people who can’t afford to lose a day’s work end up going to work. Workers medicate with over-the-counter drugs. They get their co-workers sick.
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“It’s not even a ‘choice,’” said Andrew Gnome, who worked in a fast-casual pizza restaurant for nine years, missing only two days of work. “It doesn’t even enter your mind you have a choice.”
Aside from not wanting to miss out on pay, workers who call in sick to these kinds of jobs are typically tasked with finding someone else to take their shift, he said. “If you take any time for yourself. If you’re late, going to the doctor, you are hurting someone else you are relying on and counting on.”
And few workers are going to the doctor.
“Nobody in the restaurant industry goes to the doctor when they’re sick,” Gnome, who now works at a job with benefits in Colorado, posted on Twitter Thursday. “I have watched people PRIDE themselves on working through illness and injury.”
A large monitor displaying a map of Asia and a tally of total coronavirus cases, deaths, and recovered, is visible behind Vice President Mike Pence, center, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, as they tour the Secretary's Operations Center following a coronavirus task force meeting at the Department of Health and Human Services Feb. 27 in Washington. Andrew Harnik/AP
Working from home isn’t an option.
With the coronavirus threat bearing down, many companies are telling employees to work from home. But for low-wage hourly workers, this just isn’t an option. Many work in industries with a lot of contact with the community ― people who serve food, care for children or clean offices and homes.
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Ziebarth said he’s hopeful that employers will recognize the risks of having workers come in sick and actually encourage workers to stay home. “That would just be reasonable,” he said.
It’s not just sick leave. The U.S. lacks any kind of comprehensive paid family leave policy, which would enable workers to take time off to care for a close family member’s health issues.
Ericka Farrell, a mother of three in Maryland, lost her temp job in the early 2000s because she had to take so much time off to care for her young son who had just started daycare and cycled through chicken pox, ringworm and more. “You name it, he got it,” she said.
She doesn’t regret staying home. “I had to take care of him to prevent more kids from getting sick,” Farrell, who is part of MomsRising, now advocates for paid leave herself.
Millions are uninsured. Many more have terrible insurance.
Even if you can take time off when you’re sick, you might not be able to afford a trip to the doctor.
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Slightly more than 10% of Americans, or about 30 million people, don’t have health insurance ― typically because either their employer doesn’t offer any, or if they do, it’s too expensive.
Uninsured Americans are far less likely to go to the doctor. Since many cases of coronavirus are fairly mild, it’s not hard to see how an infected person could self-medicate through an illness while infecting others.
Even Americans with insurance face obstacles to getting care, because it’s still so costly thanks to high copayments.
One woman on Twitter told HuffPost she pays $160 every time she sees her primary care physician.
And then there are the deductibles, i.e., the amount of money you have to spend out-of-pocket before your insurer starts footing the bill. This can mean thousands of dollars. Deductibles have been going up for decades.
And since it’s the beginning of the year, most people haven’t come near clearing those deductibles.
“If we as a society are going to face a spreading infectious disease, the worst time of the year is the beginning of the year,” said John Graves, an associate professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
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President Donald Trump, with members of the president's coronavirus task force, speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP
Graves said the U.S. health care system is simply not designed to deal with a potential pandemic. First of all, the U.S. relies on employment-based insurance system. If an outbreak leads to an economic downturn and people are thrown out of work, they’re also going to lose health care coverage.
Second, health insurance is specifically designed to encourage people not to see the doctor through so-called “cost-sharing.” The reason copyaments and deductibles exist is to discourage people from visiting the doctor or going to the hospital for every “cough and sniffle,” Graves said.
But in the case of coronavirus, every cough and sniffle matters, he said.
Compounding the issue: In 2018, the Trump administration made it easier for people to buy insurance plans with less generous coverage. These plans also don’t always cover expenses stemming from preexisting conditions.
The idea was to provide a cheaper alternative for people buying plans on their own and frustrated with the cost of plans available through the Affordable Care Act. But these new plans, which many experts consider junk policies, can have even higher out-of-pocket costs.
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Something like that appears to have happened recently to Osmel Martinez Azcue, whose story appeared in the Miami Herald.
Last month, Azcue returned home to Miami after a work trip to China. He felt like he was getting the flu. Aware of the threat that could pose, he went to a local hospital to be tested.
Turns out he just had the flu. For simply getting the flu test, he got a hospital bill for $3,270. The hospital told the Herald more bills could be on the way.
Azcue apparently had health insurance through one of the new limited Trump plans.


huffpost--2020-02-28--Stock Market Plunge Delivers Worst Week For Wall Street Since 2008

Stocks sank again after another wild day , extending a rout that left Wall Street with its worst week since October 2008 .
The market clawed back much of its intraday losses in the last 15 minutes of trading .
Bond prices soared as investors sought safety , pushing yields to record lows .
The stock swoon is being driven by fear that the coronavirus outbreak will derail the global economy .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 357 points , or 1.4 % , to 25,409 .
The S & P 500 lost 24 points , or 0.8 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has lost 13 % since hitting a record high 10 days ago .
The Nasdaq rose 1 point to 8,567 .
The virus outbreak has been shutting down industrial centers , emptying shops and severely crimping travel all over the world .
More companies are warning investors that their finances will take a hit because of disruptions to supply chains and sales .
Governments are taking increasingly drastic measures as they scramble to contain the virus .
The rout has knocked every major index into what market watchers call a “ correction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more from a peak .
The last time that occurred was in late 2018 , as a tariff war with China was escalating .
Market watchers have said for months that stocks were heavily overpriced and long overdue for another pullback .
Bond prices soared again as investors sought safety and became more pessimistic about the economy ’ s prospects .
That pushed yields to more record lows .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply , to 1.14 % from 1.30 % late Thursday .
That ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That yield is a benchmark for home mortgages and many other kinds of loans .
“ All this says to us is that there are still a lot of worries in the market , ” said Gene Goldman , chief investment officer at Cetera Financial Group .
“ We need the Fed to come out and say basically guys , we got your back.
” Traders have been growing more certain that the Federal Reserve will be forced to cut interest rates to protect the economy , and soon .
Goldman said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts to a tightening of rates compared with other nations and their actions to offset the impact of the coronavirus .
Investors now widely expect the Fed to cut interest rates by a half-point at its meeting that winds up March 18 .
According to data from CME , the expectations for a half-point cut jumped from 47 % just before the Fed ’ s statement was released to 100 % shortly thereafter .
The weeklong market sell-off follows months of uncertainty about the spread of the virus , which hit China in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that nation by January .
China is still the hardest hit country and has most of the 83,000 cases worldwide and related deaths .
Airlines have suffered some of the worst hits as flight routes are cancelled , along with travel plans .
Big names like Apple and Budweiser brewer AB InBev are part of a growing list of companies expecting financial pain from the virus .
Dell and athletic-wear company Columbia Sportswear are the latest companies expecting an impact to their bottom lines .
Cruise operators have also been hard hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as shipboard infections rose .
But companies were having a far better day Friday , with some on Wall Street believing that the sell-off was overdone .
Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises rose 2.8 % , while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings gained 5.1 % .
Carnival ’ s shares climbed 3.3 % .
The late-2018 stock market plunge , for instance , derailed holiday sales that year .
Now , analysts are worried that the latest stock swoon could cause consumer spending — which makes up some 70 % of the economy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. expansion going — to contract again .
Craig Johnson , president of Customer Growth Partners , a consumer consultancy , says he had expected annual retail sales to be up 4.1 % , but he now says it could increase just 2.2 % if the impact of the new virus in China persists beyond April .
Many companies face the prospect of crimped financial results with their stocks already trading at high levels relative to their earnings .
Before the virus worries exploded , investors had been pushing stocks higher on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resume for companies after declining for most of 2019 .
If profit growth doesn ’ t ramp up this year , that makes a highly priced stock market even more vulnerable .

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Stocks sank again after another wild day, extending a rout that left Wall Street with its worst week since October 2008. The market clawed back much of its intraday losses in the last 15 minutes of trading. Bond prices soared as investors sought safety, pushing yields to record lows. The stock swoon is being driven by fear that the coronavirus outbreak will derail the global economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 357 points, or 1.4%, to 25,409. The S&P 500 lost 24 points, or 0.8%, to 2,954. The benchmark index has lost 13% since hitting a record high 10 days ago. The Nasdaq rose 1 point to 8,567.
U.S. stocks sank again on Wall Street Friday, pushing the S&P 500 index down another 2.8% and putting the market on track for its worst week since October 2008.
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The virus outbreak has been shutting down industrial centers, emptying shops and severely crimping travel all over the world. More companies are warning investors that their finances will take a hit because of disruptions to supply chains and sales. Governments are taking increasingly drastic measures as they scramble to contain the virus.
The market’s losses moderated somewhat after the Federal Reserve released a statement saying it stood ready to help the economy if needed. Investors increasingly expect the Fed to cut rates at its next policy meeting in mid-March.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 869 points, or 3.4%, to 24,897 as of 3:36 p.m. Eastern time. It was down as many as 1,085 points in early trading.
The S&P 500 is now 14.5% below the record high it reached just 10 days ago. Overseas markets also fell. China’s benchmark index fell 3.7% and Germany’s DAX fell 3.9%.
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The rout has knocked every major index into what market watchers call a “correction,” or a fall of 10% or more from a peak. The last time that occurred was in late 2018, as a tariff war with China was escalating. Market watchers have said for months that stocks were heavily overpriced and long overdue for another pullback.
Financial, health care and technology stocks were among the biggest losers in Friday’s broad market slide. Energy, the worst performing sector this year, held up best.
Bond prices soared again as investors sought safety and became more pessimistic about the economy’s prospects. That pushed yields to more record lows. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply, to 1.14% from 1.30% late Thursday. That’s a record low, according to TradeWeb. That yield is a benchmark for home mortgages and many other kinds of loans.
Crude oil prices sank 4.9% over worries that global travel and shipping will be severely crimped and hurt demand for energy. The price of benchmark U.S. crude has now fallen 15% this week.
“All this says to us is that there are still a lot of worries in the market,” said Gene Goldman, chief investment officer at Cetera Financial Group. “We need the Fed to come out and say basically guys, we got your back.”
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Traders have been growing more certain that the Federal Reserve will be forced to cut interest rates to protect the economy, and soon. Goldman said the Fed’s current lack of action amounts to a tightening of rates compared with other nations and their actions to offset the impact of the coronavirus.
Investors now widely expect the Fed to cut interest rates by a half-point at its meeting that winds up March 18. According to data from CME, the expectations for a half-point cut jumped from 47% just before the Fed’s statement was released to 100% shortly thereafter.
The latest losses have wiped out the S&P 500′s gains going back to early October. The benchmark index is still up 4% over the past 12 months, not including dividends.
The weeklong market sell-off follows months of uncertainty about the spread of the virus, which hit China in December and shut down large swaths of that nation by January. China is still the hardest hit country and has most of the 83,000 cases worldwide and related deaths.
Uncertainty turned into fear as the virus started jumping to places outside of the epicenter and dashed hopes for containment.
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“Fear is a stronger emotion than hope,” said Ann Miletti, head of active equity at Wells Fargo Asset Management. “This is what we’re seeing today and this week and over the past seven days.
Airlines have suffered some of the worst hits as flight routes are cancelled, along with travel plans. Big names like Apple and Budweiser brewer AB InBev are part of a growing list of companies expecting financial pain from the virus. Dell and athletic-wear company Columbia Sportswear are the latest companies expecting an impact to their bottom lines.
Cruise operators have also been hard hit, with shares sinking 30% or more as shipboard infections rose. But companies were having a far better day Friday, with some on Wall Street believing that the sell-off was overdone. Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises rose 2.8%, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings gained 5.1%. Carnival’s shares climbed 3.3%.
A big concern investors have is that the stock market rout could have a psychological effect on consumers, making them reluctant to spend money and go to crowded places like stores, restaurants and movie theaters.
The late-2018 stock market plunge, for instance, derailed holiday sales that year. Now, analysts are worried that the latest stock swoon could cause consumer spending — which makes up some 70% of the economy and has played a huge role in keeping the U.S. expansion going — to contract again.
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Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a consumer consultancy, says he had expected annual retail sales to be up 4.1%, but he now says it could increase just 2.2% if the impact of the new virus in China persists beyond April.
‘’This is a moving target right now,”’ he said. ‘’There is a lot of uncertainty.’’
Nitin Jain, managing director of the retail practice at AlixPartners, said that while sales of everyday items like canned goods and medical supplies could increase in the short term, sales of luxury goods could tail off as high-end shoppers become nervous.
Many companies face the prospect of crimped financial results with their stocks already trading at high levels relative to their earnings. Before the virus worries exploded, investors had been pushing stocks higher on expectations that strong profit growth was set to resume for companies after declining for most of 2019. If profit growth doesn’t ramp up this year, that makes a highly priced stock market even more vulnerable.
Nearly 60 nations representing every continent, except Antarctica, have confirmed cases. The virus outbreak has prompted a wide range of reactions from nations hoping to contain its spread and economic impact.
The Geneva auto show was cancelled as Swiss authorities banned large events of more than 1,000 people. Parts of Italy’s northern industrial and financial center remain under quarantine. Japan is preparing to close schools nationwide. The U.S. is preparing for the virus after a case unrelated to travel was confirmed in California.
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huffpost--2020-02-28--Stocks, Dow Sink As Coronavirus Fears Continue Driving Economic Uncertainty

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Stocks are opening sharply lower on Wall Street , putting the market on track for its worst week since October 2008 during the global financial crisis .
U.S. indexes fell 1.8 % following steep losses in Europe and Asia .
The rout is driven by fear that the virus that emerged in China will derail the global economy .
Investors continue to buy up low-risk assets like bonds , sending yields to record lows .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 463 points , or 1.8 % , to 25,311 .
The S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.8 % , to 2,922 .
The Nasdaq fell 143 points , or 1.7 % , to 8,423 .
Global stock markets plunged further Friday on spreading fears over the impact of the new coronavirus , with some indexes set to close out their worst week since the depths of the financial crisis in 2008 .
Germany ’ s DAX skidded as much as 5 % before stabilizing , Tokyo and Shanghai closed 3.7 % lower .
Wall Street looked set for more losses a day after enduring its biggest one-day drop in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 were down 0.4 % .
Investors had been growing confident the disease that emerged in China in December might be under control .
But outbreaks in Italy , South Korea , Japan and Iran have fueled fears the virus is turning into a global threat that might derail trade and industry .
Markets in China and Hong Kong had been doing relatively well despite virus fears .
Mainland markets were flooded with credit by authorities to shore up prices after trading resumed following an extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentiment also has been buoyed by promises of lower interest rates , tax breaks and other aid to help revive manufacturing and other industries .
Some analysts have said that was overdue in a record-setting bull market , though Mizuho Bank noted hitting that status in just six days was “ the fastest correction since the Great Depression ” in the 1930s .
Investors came into 2020 feeling confident the Federal Reserve would keep interest rates at low levels and the U.S.-China trade war posed less of a threat to company profits after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
The Dow shed 1,190.95 points on Thursday , its largest one-day point drop in history , bringing its loss for the week to 3,225.77 points , or 11.1 % .
To put that in perspective , the Dow ’ s 508-point loss on Oct. 19 , 1987 , was equal to 22.6 % .
“ It is a race to the bottom for U.S. indices , ” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a report .
“ It may still be too early to call a bottom given the uncertainty around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. bond prices soared Thursday as investors fled to safe investments .
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note , or the difference between the market price and what an investor will be paid if the bond is held to maturity , fell to a record low of 1.16 % .
Most access to the city of Wuhan , a manufacturing hub of 11 million people at the center of the outbreak , was suspended Jan. 23 .
The Lunar New Year holiday was extended to keep factories and offices closed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
China has begun trying to reopen factories and other businesses in areas with low risk after shutting down much of its economy to stem the spread of the infection .
Travel controls remain in effect in many areas and elsewhere governments are tightening anti-disease controls as new cases mount .
Japan is preparing to close schools nationwide and officials on the northern island of Hokkaido , where there are more than 60 confirmed cases of the virus , declared a state of emergency and asked residents to stay home over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned foreign pilgrims from entering the kingdom to visit Islam ’ s holiest sites .
Italy has become the center of the outbreak in Europe .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening sharply lower on Wall Street, putting the market on track for its worst week since October 2008 during the global financial crisis. U.S. indexes fell 1.8% following steep losses in Europe and Asia. The rout is driven by fear that the virus that emerged in China will derail the global economy. Investors continue to buy up low-risk assets like bonds, sending yields to record lows. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 463 points, or 1.8%, to 25,311. The S&P 500 lost 54 points, or 1.8%, to 2,922. The Nasdaq fell 143 points, or 1.7%, to 8,423.
Global stock markets plunged further Friday on spreading fears over the impact of the new coronavirus, with some indexes set to close out their worst week since the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.
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Germany’s DAX skidded as much as 5% before stabilizing, Tokyo and Shanghai closed 3.7% lower. Wall Street looked set for more losses a day after enduring its biggest one-day drop in nine years. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were down 0.4%.
Investors had been growing confident the disease that emerged in China in December might be under control. But outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Iran have fueled fears the virus is turning into a global threat that might derail trade and industry.
Anxiety intensified Thursday when the United States reported its first virus case in someone who hadn’t traveled abroad or been in contact with anyone who had.
Virus fears “have become full-blown across the globe as cases outside China climb,” Chang Wei Liang and Eugene Leow of DBS said in a report.
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In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 sank 2.9% to 6,599 and Frankfurt’s DAX tumbled 3.3% to 11,955. France’s CAC 40 lost 2.7% to 5,346. The Stoxx Europe 600 index is heading for its sharpest weekly drop since October 2008.
Markets in China and Hong Kong had been doing relatively well despite virus fears. Mainland markets were flooded with credit by authorities to shore up prices after trading resumed following an extended Lunar New Year holiday. Chinese investor sentiment also has been buoyed by promises of lower interest rates, tax breaks and other aid to help revive manufacturing and other industries.
But now, major companies are issuing profit warnings, saying factory shutdowns in China are disrupting supply chains. They say travel bans and other anti-disease measures are hurting sales in China, an increasingly vital consumer market.
In Asian trading on Friday, the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo tumbled 3.7% to 21,142.96 and the Shanghai Composite Index also fell 3.7%, to 2,880.30. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 2.5% to 26,129.93.
The Kospi in Seoul fell 3.3% to 1,987.01 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 sank 3.2% to 6,441.2. India’s Sensex skidded 3.6% to 38,331.87. New Zealand and Southeast Asian markets also retreated.
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On Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 4.4% to 2,978.76. The index is down 12% from its all-time high a week ago, putting the market into what traders call a correction.
Some analysts have said that was overdue in a record-setting bull market, though Mizuho Bank noted hitting that status in just six days was “the fastest correction since the Great Depression” in the 1930s.
Investors came into 2020 feeling confident the Federal Reserve would keep interest rates at low levels and the U.S.-China trade war posed less of a threat to company profits after the two sides signed a truce in January.
The market’s sharp drop this week partly reflects increasing fears among many economists that the U.S. and global economies could take a bigger hit from the coronavirus than previously thought, weakening consumer confidence and depressing spending.
The Dow shed 1,190.95 points on Thursday, its largest one-day point drop in history, bringing its loss for the week to 3,225.77 points, or 11.1%. To put that in perspective, the Dow’s 508-point loss on Oct. 19, 1987, was equal to 22.6%.
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“It is a race to the bottom for U.S. indices,” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a report. “It may still be too early to call a bottom given the uncertainty around the matter of the coronavirus impact.”
U.S. bond prices soared Thursday as investors fled to safe investments. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, or the difference between the market price and what an investor will be paid if the bond is held to maturity, fell to a record low of 1.16%.
A shrinking yield caused by investors shifting money into the relative safety of bonds and pushing up their market price is a sign of weakening confidence in the economy.
Most access to the city of Wuhan, a manufacturing hub of 11 million people at the center of the outbreak, was suspended Jan. 23. The Lunar New Year holiday was extended to keep factories and offices closed. The government told the public to stay home.
China has begun trying to reopen factories and other businesses in areas with low risk after shutting down much of its economy to stem the spread of the infection. Travel controls remain in effect in many areas and elsewhere governments are tightening anti-disease controls as new cases mount.
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Japan is preparing to close schools nationwide and officials on the northern island of Hokkaido, where there are more than 60 confirmed cases of the virus, declared a state of emergency and asked residents to stay home over the weekend if possible. Saudi Arabia has banned foreign pilgrims from entering the kingdom to visit Islam’s holiest sites. Italy has become the center of the outbreak in Europe.
“The more countries that are faced with fighting a pandemic, the wider the potential for economic disruption and potential for increased recessionary risks,” said Tai Hui of J.P. Morgan Asset Management in a report.
In energy markets Friday, benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.35 to $45.74 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost $1.64 on Thursday. Brent crude oil, used to price international oils, sank $1.11 to $50.62 per barrel in London. It declined $1.25 the previous session.


huffpost--2020-02-28--California Monitoring 8,400 People For Coronavirus, But Needs More Test Kits

California has only 200 test kits , but has appealed for testing protocols to be expanded to include Americans who may catch the virus as it spreads through U.S. communities , Newsom told a news briefing in Sacramento , the state capital .
Newsom said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has assured the state that testing protocols will be advanced and access to test kits will expand “ exponentially ” in the coming days .
California on Wednesday reported a coronavirus case of unknown origin , making it potentially the first incident of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is not surprising that we have seen these mini outbreaks occur around the world , ” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner , an epidemiology professor at the University of California , Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health .
“ We know the virus is easily spread.
” The female patient , who lives in northern California ’ s Solano County , was not initially tested for the new coronavirus because she did not meet criteria laid out by the CDC , according to a statement by UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento @ @ @ @ @ @ @

California has only 200 test kits, but has appealed for testing protocols to be expanded to include Americans who may catch the virus as it spreads through U.S. communities, Newsom told a news briefing in Sacramento, the state capital.
Newsom said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assured the state that testing protocols will be advanced and access to test kits will expand “exponentially” in the coming days.
California on Wednesday reported a coronavirus case of unknown origin, making it potentially the first incident of the virus spreading within U.S. communities.
“It is not surprising that we have seen these mini outbreaks occur around the world,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an epidemiology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. “We know the virus is easily spread.”
The female patient, who lives in northern California’s Solano County, was not initially tested for the new coronavirus because she did not meet criteria laid out by the CDC, according to a statement by UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she is being treated.


huffpost--2020-02-28--Investment Advisors Worry U.S. Response To Coronavirus Is Too Little Too Late

NEW YORK , Feb 27 ( Reuters ) - Investment-advisors are increasingly worried that U.S. authorities are not doing enough to prevent a widespread outbreak of coronavirus in the country , potentially adding further downside to already-battered markets .
Their criticisms include the number of people so far tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , which some say is too small , the possible difficulties of imposing lockdowns on U.S. cities and concerns that the White House could bungle containment efforts .
The worries have magnified the uncertainty that has accompanied the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as investors scramble to adjust their portfolios to price in the virus ’ potential for damage to the global economy and assess its further impact on asset prices .
The CDC states on its website that “ as of Feb. 24 , CDC teams are working with the Department of Homeland Security at 11 airports where all flights from China are being directed to screen travelers returning to the United States , and to refer them to U.S. health departments for oversight of self-monitoring.
” His list includes doubts over China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan ’ s handling of a cruise ship quarantine at one of its ports , and the comparatively small number of people that U.S. authorities have so far tested .
Worries over the growing number of cases outside China sent the S & P 500 into intraday correction territory on Thursday morning .
Stocks took an earlier hit on Wednesday after health officials in Nassau County , New York , said they were monitoring 83 people who visited China and may have come in contact with the coronavirus .
Governor Andrew Cuomo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far .
Bianco said he fears many investors are still complacent about how quickly the number of cases could multiply in the United States , as it has in countries such as Iran , Italy and South Korea .
“ I would rather risk a lost opportunity by being out of the market or underweight and finding out that this is not a big deal , than being fully invested and worrying that this will get worse , ” Bianco said .
Others are concerned over the consequences if the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the one imposed by Chinese authorities on Hubei Province , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak .
Wuhan , Hubei ’ s capital , imposed strict controls on movement of residents , then eased them , then later announced that the relaxation had been revoked .
Such measures could be more difficult to enforce in the United States .
“ Those of us sitting here in Hong Kong looking at financialmarkets think there is a tremendous amount of risk in the system , ” said Simon Powell , equity strategist at Jefferies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried that there could be spread of the virus from people from countries outside China which were not subject to travel restrictions coming into the United States .
He is particularly concerned about the outbreak in Iran .
Iran said on Thursday that its coronavirus death toll had risen to 26 , by far the highest number outside China .
The death rate among confirmed cases of the virus has been running ataround 10 % in Iran compared to around 3 % elsewhere .
Powell also thinks that a Trump government is unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a recent research note that “ our base case hypothesis is that a Trump government is unlikely to choose reduced economic activity , and supplychain disruption , so spread of the virus , if it were to emergein the US , would be more likely .
”

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NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Investment-advisors are increasingly worried that U.S. authorities are not doing enough to prevent a widespread outbreak of coronavirus in the country, potentially adding further downside to already-battered markets.
Their criticisms include the number of people so far tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which some say is too small, the possible difficulties of imposing lockdowns on U.S. cities and concerns that the White House could bungle containment efforts.
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The worries have magnified the uncertainty that has accompanied the coronavirus outbreak over the last several weeks, as investors scramble to adjust their portfolios to price in the virus’ potential for damage to the global economy and assess its further impact on asset prices.
The CDC states on its website that “as of Feb. 24, CDC teams are working with the Department of Homeland Security at 11 airports where all flights from China are being directed to screen travelers returning to the United States, and to refer them to U.S. health departments for oversight of self-monitoring.”
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said as of Thursday morning the CDC had tested 3,625 specimens for the fast-moving virus.
For some investors and analysts, those assurances ring hollow.
“Much of what we’ve seen about this virus has shaken confidence in governments,” said James Bianco, head of Chicago-based advisory firm Bianco Research.
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His list includes doubts over China’s accuracy in counting cases, criticism over Japan’s handling of a cruise ship quarantine at one of its ports, and the comparatively small number of people that U.S. authorities have so far tested.
Worries over the growing number of cases outside China sent the S&P 500 into intraday correction territory on Thursday morning. Stocks took an earlier hit on Wednesday after health officials in Nassau County, New York, said they were monitoring 83 people who visited China and may have come in contact with the coronavirus. Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state has had no confirmed cases so far.
On Wednesday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump told Americans that the risk from coronavirus remained “very low, “and appointed Vice President Mike Pence to run the U.S. response to the looming global health crisis.
Bianco said he fears many investors are still complacent about how quickly the number of cases could multiply in the United States, as it has in countries such as Iran, Italy and South Korea.
He is advising his clients to tread lightly until the fullextent of the outbreak is known.
“I would rather risk a lost opportunity by being out of the market or underweight and finding out that this is not a big deal, than being fully invested and worrying that this will get worse,” Bianco said.
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‘TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RISK’
Others are concerned over the consequences if the United States were forced to implement a lockdown similar to the one imposed by Chinese authorities on Hubei Province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Wuhan, Hubei’s capital, imposed strict controls on movement of residents, then eased them, then later announced that the relaxation had been revoked. Such measures could be more difficult to enforce in the United States.
“Those of us sitting here in Hong Kong looking at financialmarkets think there is a tremendous amount of risk in the system,” said Simon Powell, equity strategist at Jefferies in Hong Kong.
Powell is particularly worried that there could be spread of the virus from people from countries outside China which were not subject to travel restrictions coming into the United States. He is particularly concerned about the outbreak in Iran.
Iran said on Thursday that its coronavirus death toll had risen to 26, by far the highest number outside China. The death rate among confirmed cases of the virus has been running ataround 10% in Iran compared to around 3% elsewhere.
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Powell also thinks that a Trump government is unlikely to choose reduced economic activity, writing in a recent research note that “our base case hypothesis is that a Trump government is unlikely to choose reduced economic activity, and supplychain disruption, so spread of the virus, if it were to emergein the US, would be more likely.”
Others have pointed to what they believe are shortcomings in the CDC’s approach.
“The initial response from the U.S. has been targeted to mount a response to confirmed high-risk or infected cases, not directed to a more generalized public health containment,” said Wouter Jongbloed, head of policy and risk analysis at New York-based Exante Data.
With coronavirus having spread well outside China, CDCtesting was “likely insufficiently effective in preventing apotential outbreak in the U.S.,” Jongbloed said.


huffpost--2020-05-29--Trump: U.S. Is Terminating Relationship With World Health Organization

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. will be terminating its relationship with the @ @ @ @ @ it had failed to adequately respond to the coronavirus because China has “ total control @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Chinese officials “ ignored ” their reporting obligations to the WHO and @ @ @ @ @ the world when the virus was first discovered .
He noted that the U.S. contributes @ @ @ @ @ the world body while China provides about $ 40 million .
The U.S. is the @ @ @ @ @ to the WHO and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organization .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ “ redirecting ” the money to “ other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health @ @ @ @ @ specifics .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. will be terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization, saying it had failed to adequately respond to the coronavirus because China has “total control” over the global organization.
He said Chinese officials “ignored” their reporting obligations to the WHO and pressured the WHO to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered.
He noted that the U.S. contributes about $450 million to the world body while China provides about $40 million.
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huffpost--2020-05-29--3 Ways To Spot An Unemployment Benefits Scam

When you are filing for unemployment benefits , the state ’ s unemployment insurance agency will ask you to share personal information related to your unemployment and your recent earnings .
“ They will ask you for your social security number , your name , your address for the last 18 months , your employer ’ s name and address for the last 18 months , and all of your earnings records from the last 18 months , ” said Michele Evermore , a senior policy analyst for the National Employment Law Project who specializes in unemployment insurance .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state agencies may also reach out to verify your identity , Evermore said .
“ You need to respond to that quickly and if possible , electronically , because it ’ s slower to process that verification if you send it in on paper , ” she said .
But you should not be asked to share or verify this sensitive information over text or email ― it would happen through the state ’ s official portal for unemployment insurance .
“ It depends on the state , but they are not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state UI website , or to mail your information to the state UI agency , ” Evermore said .
“ We WILL NOT ask you for personal information or for you to verify your eligibility for unemployment benefits by email or text message , ” declares the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development , for example .
To deal with long queues , some state unemployment insurance agencies will call applicants back by phone , but “ it ’ s doubtful the agency would call you out of the blue .
You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line for a callback , ” Evermore noted .
When in doubt about the authenticity of a communication , look up your state ’ s official phone numbers and website for unemployment benefits and compare them to what you have received .
If you do think you have spotted an unemployment scam or know someone who has been scammed , you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General online or by calling the hotline below :

When you are filing for unemployment benefits, the state’s unemployment insurance agency will ask you to share personal information related to your unemployment and your recent earnings.
“They will ask you for your social security number, your name, your address for the last 18 months, your employer’s name and address for the last 18 months, and all of your earnings records from the last 18 months,” said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst for the National Employment Law Project who specializes in unemployment insurance.
Because of the recent nationwide scams, some state agencies may also reach out to verify your identity, Evermore said. “You need to respond to that quickly and if possible, electronically, because it’s slower to process that verification if you send it in on paper,” she said.
But you should not be asked to share or verify this sensitive information over text or email ― it would happen through the state’s official portal for unemployment insurance. “It depends on the state, but they are not going to direct you to anything other than the state UI website, or to mail your information to the state UI agency,” Evermore said.
“We WILL NOT ask you for personal information or for you to verify your eligibility for unemployment benefits by email or text message,” declares the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, for example.
To deal with long queues, some state unemployment insurance agencies will call applicants back by phone, but “it’s doubtful the agency would call you out of the blue. You’d know you’ve gotten in line for a callback,” Evermore noted.
When in doubt about the authenticity of a communication, look up your state’s official phone numbers and website for unemployment benefits and compare them to what you have received.
If you do think you have spotted an unemployment scam or know someone who has been scammed, you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General online or by calling the hotline below:


huffpost--2020-05-28--Guards In Texas Jail Fail To Notice Inmate Giving Birth In Cell

DALLAS ( AP ) — A woman managed to go into labor and give birth alone in a Texas jail cell without any corrections officers noticing until after she had delivered the child , a sheriff ’ s official said Thursday .
The woman had the baby in a Fort Worth jail cell on May 17 , according to Tarrant County Sheriff ’ s Office spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Gabbert .
The woman “ did not immediately disclose the birth , but the baby was soon discovered by a corrections officer ” and both were taken to a hospital , Gabbert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the health of the mother and child , or other details .
Jail staff knew the woman was pregnant and had been checking on her regularly , Gabbert said , without specifying the frequency of those checks or whether they knew her due date .
She declined to identify the mother and would not answer several questions about the birth including how the woman could have gone into labor and delivered a child without it coming to the guards ’ attention .
Jail staff don ’ t know how long the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not notifying corrections staff of the impending birth , ” Gabbert said .
The sheriff ’ s internal affairs department is investigating the birth but there is no indication of wrongdoing by jail staff , Gabbert said .
The state body that oversees Texas jails is also looking into it for possible regulatory violations .
The mother has been held in jail without bond since January on charges of assaulting a family member and injuring a child , elderly or disabled person , Gabbert said .
The delivery was first reported by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been fighting an outbreak of the new coronavirus among inmates and staff .
Fort Worth police have erred against arresting those accused of some minor crimes to avoid spreading the virus to new inmates .
The child was born a few days before state inspectors informed Tarrant County Jail staff that they were not meeting minimum standards for checking on some inmates , according to Brandon Wood , executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards .
Wood said the jail was sent a notice of non-compliance on May 21 after inspectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least one face-to-face check required every 30 minutes for some inmates .
He said the jail submitted a plan to correct the issue and was re-certified six days later .
Wood and Gabbert said the jail ’ s temporary loss of state certification was not related to the birth , but did not immediately elaborate .

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DALLAS (AP) — A woman managed to go into labor and give birth alone in a Texas jail cell without any corrections officers noticing until after she had delivered the child, a sheriff’s official said Thursday.
The woman had the baby in a Fort Worth jail cell on May 17, according to Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Gabbert.
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The woman “did not immediately disclose the birth, but the baby was soon discovered by a corrections officer” and both were taken to a hospital, Gabbert said. She could not immediately provide information about the health of the mother and child, or other details.
Jail staff knew the woman was pregnant and had been checking on her regularly, Gabbert said, without specifying the frequency of those checks or whether they knew her due date.
She declined to identify the mother and would not answer several questions about the birth including how the woman could have gone into labor and delivered a child without it coming to the guards’ attention. Jail staff don’t know how long the labor lasted “due to the mother not notifying corrections staff of the impending birth,” Gabbert said.
The sheriff’s internal affairs department is investigating the birth but there is no indication of wrongdoing by jail staff, Gabbert said. The state body that oversees Texas jails is also looking into it for possible regulatory violations.
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The mother has been held in jail without bond since January on charges of assaulting a family member and injuring a child, elderly or disabled person, Gabbert said. The delivery was first reported by the Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
The jail has been fighting an outbreak of the new coronavirus among inmates and staff. Fort Worth police have erred against arresting those accused of some minor crimes to avoid spreading the virus to new inmates.
The child was born a few days before state inspectors informed Tarrant County Jail staff that they were not meeting minimum standards for checking on some inmates, according to Brandon Wood, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Wood said the jail was sent a notice of non-compliance on May 21 after inspectors found staff had failed to promptly do at least one face-to-face check required every 30 minutes for some inmates. He said the jail submitted a plan to correct the issue and was re-certified six days later.


huffpost--2020-05-29--These Are The Best And Worst Cities For A Staycation

With traditional travel largely off the table due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Americans are getting creative with how they spend their vacation days .
For many people , that means keeping it local with “ staycations.
” A new report from the personal finance website WalletHub ranks the best and worst cities for staycations in the United State based on metrics such as parks per capita , average home square footage and “ idealness ” of summer weather .
The best U.S. city for “ a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation ” is — drum roll , please — Plano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Pearl City , Hawaii , according to WalletHub ’ s findings .
The rankings compared 182 cities ― the 150 most populated U.S. cities , as well as two or more of the most populated cities in each state ― across 15 metrics falling under two general categories : 1 ) recreation and 2 ) rest and relaxation .
On the recreation front , New York City dominated in terms of parks per capita , while Hialeah , Florida , had the fewest .
San Francisco had the most bike rental facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranked last on the former and El Paso , Texas , for the latter ) .
When it came to rest and relaxation , Plano had the highest average home square footage and Yonkers had the lowest .
Irvine , California , led in the category of highest share of homes with swimming pools , while Cheyenne , Wyoming , took the bottom spot .
Other interesting findings include the fact that Fort Smith , Arkansas , offers the lowest average price of pizza at $ 8.00 , which is 1.9 times lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the city with the highest price at $ 15.25 .
Gulfport , Mississippi , ranked No .
1 for lowest average beer and wine price , followed by Durham , North Carolina , and Indianapolis , Indiana .
Below are the 10 best and worst U.S. cities for staycations .
Visit WalletHub for the full rankings and more information about the methodology behind this report .

Lightvision, LLC via Getty Images Boise, Idaho, is the second-best city for a staycation, WalletHub's report found.
With traditional travel largely off the table due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are getting creative with how they spend their vacation days. For many people, that means keeping it local with “staycations.”
A new report from the personal finance website WalletHub ranks the best and worst cities for staycations in the United State based on metrics such as parks per capita, average home square footage and “idealness” of summer weather.
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The best U.S. city for “a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation” is — drum roll, please — Plano, Texas, and the lowest-ranked city is Pearl City, Hawaii, according to WalletHub’s findings.
The rankings compared 182 cities ― the 150 most populated U.S. cities, as well as two or more of the most populated cities in each state ― across 15 metrics falling under two general categories: 1) recreation and 2) rest and relaxation.
On the recreation front, New York City dominated in terms of parks per capita, while Hialeah, Florida, had the fewest. San Francisco had the most bike rental facilities and walking trails per capita (Detroit ranked last on the former and El Paso, Texas, for the latter).
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When it came to rest and relaxation, Plano had the highest average home square footage and Yonkers had the lowest. Irvine, California, led in the category of highest share of homes with swimming pools, while Cheyenne, Wyoming, took the bottom spot.
Other interesting findings include the fact that Fort Smith, Arkansas, offers the lowest average price of pizza at $8.00, which is 1.9 times lower than the cost in Stockton, California, the city with the highest price at $15.25. Gulfport, Mississippi, ranked No. 1 for lowest average beer and wine price, followed by Durham, North Carolina, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Below are the 10 best and worst U.S. cities for staycations. Visit WalletHub for the full rankings and more information about the methodology behind this report.
Best Cities For Staycations
1. Plano, Texas
2. Boise, Idaho
3. Tampa, Florida
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5. Lincoln, Nebraska
6. Fort Smith, Arkansas
7. Scottsdale, Arizona
8. Grand Prairie, Texas
9. Austin, Texas
10. Orlando, Florida
Worst Cities For Staycations
182. Pearl City, Hawaii
181. Chula Vista, California
180. Warwick, Rhode Island
179. Providence, Rhode Island
178. Oakland, California
177. Oxnard, California
176. Fremont, California
175. Stockton, California
174. Oceanside, California


huffpost--2020-05-29--22 Teddy Bears On A Roller Coaster Are Having The Time Of Their Fluffy Lives

These bears are having a blast .
The Dutch theme park Walibi Holland put 22 oversized teddy bears onto a @ @ @ @ @ ride ― and it almost looks like they ’ re coming to life out of @ @ @ @ @ video , published on Walibi Holland ’ s YouTube channel Wednesday , the bears are @ @ @ @ @ .
True to its name , Untamed has five inversions and a 116-foot drop with @ @ @ @ @ , according to Coaster Grotto , an online database that tracks roller coasters and theme @ @ @ @ @ Walibi Holland reopened this week after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ bears on the ride while it was still closed .
And they look like they @ @ @ @ @ of it :

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These bears are having a blast.
The Dutch theme park Walibi Holland put 22 oversized teddy bears onto a roller coaster and filmed the ride ― and it almost looks like they’re coming to life out of sheer happiness.
In the video, published on Walibi Holland’s YouTube channel Wednesday, the bears are riding a coaster called Untamed. True to its name, Untamed has five inversions and a 116-foot drop with maximum speeds of 57 mph, according to Coaster Grotto, an online database that tracks roller coasters and theme parks around the world.
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Walibi Holland reopened this week after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the park filmed the bears on the ride while it was still closed.


huffpost--2020-05-29--'Rich Mitch' Bashed In New Republican Lincoln Project Ad As Kentucky Suffers

“ When he fixed the impeachment trial by blocking evidence of Trump ’ s high crimes and misdemeanors , McConnell violated and abased the solemn oaths he took as a United States Senator , ” Conway , who ’ s married to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , said in a statement .
“ Add in the fact that , as our ad shows , he ’ s managed to do much better for himself than for the people of Kentucky , and it becomes a no-brainer : McConnell has to go.
” McConnell ’ s campaign dismissed the ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No scam PAC of grifters has ever been less relevant and no group of D.C. consultants will be forgotten faster than these thieves who bet everything on three days of dishonest ads in Kentucky , ” the campaign said in a statement .
The ad was trending on Twitter just hours after its release .
The Lincoln Project focus on video ads has resulted in major circulation on social media .
Its recent “ Mourning In America ” and “ Trump Will Lie ” ( people will die ) videos about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so incensed by the “ Mourning ” video that he tweeted about it , calling the Lincoln Project founders “ losers.
” That , in turn , brightened the spotlight on the ad .
McConnell , 78 , remains favored to win reelection , though he may face a competitive race from the likely Democratic Senate nominee , former Marine combat pilot Amy McGrath , 44 .
The primary to pick McConnell ’ s Democratic challenger is scheduled for June 23 .
Check out the Lincoln Project ad up top .

“When he fixed the impeachment trial by blocking evidence of Trump’s high crimes and misdemeanors, McConnell violated and abased the solemn oaths he took as a United States Senator,” Conway, who’s married to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, said in a statement. “Add in the fact that, as our ad shows, he’s managed to do much better for himself than for the people of Kentucky, and it becomes a no-brainer: McConnell has to go.”
McConnell’s campaign dismissed the ad and the Lincoln Project as ineffective.


huffpost--2020-05-29--What Social Distancing Is Like For Only Children

Since mid-March , Sara Foos , 38 , has been at home with her husband and their 6-year-old daughter , Leah .
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day , the parents take turns overseeing Leah ’ s remote kindergarten schoolwork and her biweekly class Zoom calls , and playing with her outside so she can get her “ wiggles ” out .
“ My husband and I try to make ourselves available to her , but more often than not , we both have appointments at the same time , ” said Foos .
“ That leaves her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know she gets bored and lonely.
” “ She just wants to go outside and play and use that very active imagination of hers , ” Foos said .
“ And it gets old to her , doing that all alone.
” Parenting during the pandemic has been a universal challenge .
More than 50 million American kids were abruptly yanked from school , and parents haven ’ t had a moment to themselves since .
Similarly , most kids haven ’ t seen a fellow non-adult in two-plus months — and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have .
We ’ re all going a little nuts .
For parents of only children , quarantine or social distancing ( or whatever your preferred terminology is for being cooped up together for months on end ) has come with a unique set of challenges and benefits .
Less school work to organize and fewer mouths to constantly stuff with snacks ... check !
Constant requests from a bored and lonely kiddo to pleeeease join their two-player game ... also check !
For the growing number of parents with just one child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard and complicated , and sometimes wonderful , with no clear end in sight .
For Nicole Bomasuto , 45 , who has a 7-year-old son and emphasized that she is a single mom by choice , one of the primary ( and most obvious ) advantages of having just one kid at home is that she doesn ’ t need to manage more than one schedule on top of her own .
“ I only have one — one kid , one school schedule , one kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for , ” said Bomasuto .
“ Being an only child means Sam already knew how to entertain himself and was used to being without other kids at home.
” She and her husband have even been able to eke out some time for themselves when they ’ re both home .
With only one kid , they ’ re able to “ tag in ” ( and out ) when they need .
But parents say their only children are also dealing with a level of isolation and disconnection that feels different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who have siblings at home .
“ My daughter is incredibly lonely .
She misses her teachers and her friends , which I ’ m sure most school-aged kids do , but being an only child adds another layer of difficulty , ” said Goncalves , whose daughter has not seen another child — except for her 1-year-old neighbor , whom she waves to through the window — until last week .
“ She was the happiest I ’ ve seen her in months , getting to play with the boys and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We ’ re going to continue to plan one-on-one playdates with her friends as the summer goes on.
” A parenting challenge for those with only kids at home — again , as for all parents — will be deciding what level of social interaction they ’ re comfortable with their kids having this summer , particularly in the absence of concrete , uniform guidelines from the government and public health groups .
On the one hand , there is the risk associated with COVID-19 .
But many kids are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they ’ re lonely .
Yet as the pandemic wears on , many parents are also discovering that their kids are more resilient than they realized .
Research does suggest that only children may be particularly flexible and tend to have especially strong bonds with their parents .
So yes , they ’ re missing being with other kids .
But ― like other children ― they can get through it .
Foos worried that her daughter , Leah , would be distraught when they had to cancel her 6th birthday party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a virtual party with her grandparents .
But despite the fact that she hasn ’ t really seen another child recently , Leah took it in stride .

fizkes via Getty Images Quarantining is different for families with one child at home than it is for families with multiple kids.
Since mid-March, Sara Foos, 38, has been at home with her husband and their 6-year-old daughter, Leah. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, the parents take turns overseeing Leah’s remote kindergarten schoolwork and her biweekly class Zoom calls, and playing with her outside so she can get her “wiggles” out.
Often, though, Leah is on her own.
“My husband and I try to make ourselves available to her, but more often than not, we both have appointments at the same time,” said Foos. “That leaves her to fend for herself, and I know she gets bored and lonely.”
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Leah has said several times that she wants a sister or brother, unaware that her parents lost a baby in the fall of 2018.
“She just wants to go outside and play and use that very active imagination of hers,” Foos said. “And it gets old to her, doing that all alone.”
Parenting during the pandemic has been a universal challenge. More than 50 million American kids were abruptly yanked from school, and parents haven’t had a moment to themselves since. Similarly, most kids haven’t seen a fellow non-adult in two-plus months — and they’re clinging to anyone they do have. We’re all going a little nuts.
For parents of only children, quarantine or social distancing (or whatever your preferred terminology is for being cooped up together for months on end) has come with a unique set of challenges and benefits.
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Less school work to organize and fewer mouths to constantly stuff with snacks ... check! Constant requests from a bored and lonely kiddo to pleeeease join their two-player game ... also check! For the growing number of parents with just one child at home — as for all parents— the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard and complicated, and sometimes wonderful, with no clear end in sight.
“My daughter is incredibly lonely. She misses her teachers and her friends, which I’m sure most school-aged kids do, but being an only child adds another layer of difficulty.” - Katie Goncalves, 32
For Nicole Bomasuto, 45, who has a 7-year-old son and emphasized that she is a single mom by choice, one of the primary (and most obvious) advantages of having just one kid at home is that she doesn’t need to manage more than one schedule on top of her own.
“I only have one — one kid, one school schedule, one kid’s emotion to manage and care for,” said Bomasuto. “Being an only child means Sam already knew how to entertain himself and was used to being without other kids at home.”
“Having only one schedule to deal with is such a blessing,” echoed Katie Goncalves, a 32-year-old mom of a 4-year-old girl. “I can’t imagine having to juggle more than one kid’s school, entertainment, naps, and physical needs right now.”
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She and her husband have even been able to eke out some time for themselves when they’re both home. With only one kid, they’re able to “tag in” (and out) when they need.
But parents say their only children are also dealing with a level of isolation and disconnection that feels different — and perhaps more intense — than those who have siblings at home.
“My daughter is incredibly lonely. She misses her teachers and her friends, which I’m sure most school-aged kids do, but being an only child adds another layer of difficulty,” said Goncalves, whose daughter has not seen another child — except for her 1-year-old neighbor, whom she waves to through the window — until last week.
At that point, their home state of Michigan gave the green light for residents to gather in groups of 10 or less, so Goncalves and her husband invited another family over for a bit.
“She was the happiest I’ve seen her in months, getting to play with the boys and talk with other kids,” she said. “We’re going to continue to plan one-on-one playdates with her friends as the summer goes on.”
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A parenting challenge for those with only kids at home — again, as for all parents — will be deciding what level of social interaction they’re comfortable with their kids having this summer, particularly in the absence of concrete, uniform guidelines from the government and public health groups. On the one hand, there is the risk associated with COVID-19. But many kids are hurting emotionally. They’re clingy and they’re lonely.
Yet as the pandemic wears on, many parents are also discovering that their kids are more resilient than they realized. Research does suggest that only children may be particularly flexible and tend to have especially strong bonds with their parents. So yes, they’re missing being with other kids. But ― like other children ― they can get through it.
Foos worried that her daughter, Leah, would be distraught when they had to cancel her 6th birthday party at a local trampoline park and instead had a virtual party with her grandparents. But despite the fact that she hasn’t really seen another child recently, Leah took it in stride.


huffpost--2020-05-29--Fox News' Neil Cavuto Reminds Viewers Why Twitter Needs To Fact-Check Trump

Neil Cavuto on Thursday reeled over President Donald Trump ’ s attempt to crack down on Twitter because it offered a fact-check on his tweets .
The Fox News host said Trump ’ s claims could be characterized as an “ outright lie ” and deserved to be checked .
Earlier , Trump signed an executive order designed to lessen liability protections for social media sites .
It was an apparent punishment for Twitter after it flagged his tweets that said mail-in voting would be “ substantially fraudulent.
” Twitter also provided a collection of reports debunking his assertions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ free speech ” and , at Thursday ’ s signing , threatened to shut down Twitter if his lawyers could find a way .
Cavuto expressed concern that , “ whatever your opinions on the left or right , ” it was significant that the president saw fit to try to regulate or even shut down Twitter for correcting his misinformation .
“ He was being policed on that because he was wrong .
He was being policed on that because he said millions of ‘ illegals ’ were getting ballots when that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cavuto said .
“ So this isn ’ t a left-right issue .
That was not the case .
That was a wrong fact , that was a misstatement .
Some have said it was an outright lie.
” Cavuto also broke down Trump ’ s “ outrageous comments ” suggesting MSNBC host Joe Scarborough had killed somebody , referring to a vile conspiracy theory Trump has embraced in an effort to debase his outspoken media critic .
“ That was something too that had to be fact-checked .
It wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was something that was incumbent upon anyone to check comments that were deemed outrageous , ” he said .
Cavuto risks escalating tensions with the president , who last week had several outbursts over a smattering of unfavorable coverage from the network that typically has his back .
Last Monday , after Cavuto called out Trump ’ s dangerous claim he ’ s taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventative treatment for COVID-19 , Trump raged at Fox News until the weekend , blasting Cavuto and others as “ garbage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going downhill and failing to help his reelection bid .

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Neil Cavuto on Thursday reeled over President Donald Trump’s attempt to crack down on Twitter because it offered a fact-check on his tweets. The Fox News host said Trump’s claims could be characterized as an “outright lie” and deserved to be checked.
Earlier, Trump signed an executive order designed to lessen liability protections for social media sites. It was an apparent punishment for Twitter after it flagged his tweets that said mail-in voting would be “substantially fraudulent.” Twitter also provided a collection of reports debunking his assertions.
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Trump decried the move as “stifling free speech” and, at Thursday’s signing, threatened to shut down Twitter if his lawyers could find a way.
Cavuto expressed concern that, “whatever your opinions on the left or right,” it was significant that the president saw fit to try to regulate or even shut down Twitter for correcting his misinformation.
“He was being policed on that because he was wrong. He was being policed on that because he said millions of ‘illegals’ were getting ballots when that simply was not the case,” Cavuto said. “So this isn’t a left-right issue. That was not the case. That was a wrong fact, that was a misstatement. Some have said it was an outright lie.”
Cavuto also broke down Trump’s “outrageous comments” suggesting MSNBC host Joe Scarborough had killed somebody, referring to a vile conspiracy theory Trump has embraced in an effort to debase his outspoken media critic.
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“That was something too that had to be fact-checked. It wasn’t just a left or right thing here. That was something that was incumbent upon anyone to check comments that were deemed outrageous,” he said.
Cavuto risks escalating tensions with the president, who last week had several outbursts over a smattering of unfavorable coverage from the network that typically has his back. Last Monday, after Cavuto called out Trump’s dangerous claim he’s taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventative treatment for COVID-19, Trump raged at Fox News until the weekend, blasting Cavuto and others as “garbage,” and accusing the network of going downhill and failing to help his reelection bid.