huffpost--2020-03-26--New York Struggles With Coronavirus, U.S. Deaths Top 1,000

The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced .
The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history .
Spain ’ s death toll has risen past 3,400 , eclipsing that of China where the virus was first detected in December , after a one-day spike of 700 fatalities .
Spain ’ s count is now second only to that of Italy , with over 7,500 deaths .
Lidia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 1,000-bed Hospital de la Paz , said more workers were desperately needed .
“ We are collapsing , ” Perera said .
Such measures are becoming increasingly common in the U.S. , where New York is the current epicenter of the domestic outbreak , accounting for more than 30,000 cases and close to 300 deaths , most of them in New York City .
Yet , he ’ s also grumbled that “ our country wasn ’ t built to be shut down ” and vowed not to allow “ the cure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently concerned that the outbreak ’ s devastating effects on financial markets and employment will harm his chances for re-election later this year .
“ The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success , ” Trump tweeted Wednesday .
“ We ’ re going to need to make sure the money gets out quickly into peoples ’ pockets and to keep a close watch on how corporations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to make sure it goes to help workers , not rich CEOs or shareholders , ” the former vice president said .
Once again , there were no new cases reported in Wuhan , the central Chinese provincial capital where the coronavirus emerged in December .
After a monthslong lockdown , Wuhan residents are allowed out of the city , but can not leave the surrounding province of Hubei until April 8 .
China has recorded more than 81,000 cases and 3,287 deaths , but has seen its figures fall radically in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s second largest economy .
More than 74,000 people have been released from hospital , while just under 4,000 remain in care .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have topped 1,000, in another grim milestone for a global outbreak that is taking lives and wreaking havoc on economies and established routines of ordinary life.
In a recognition of the scale of the threat, the U.S. Senate late Wednesday passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems.
Advertisement
The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced. The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history.
Worldwide, the death toll climbed past 21,000, according to a running count kept by Johns Hopkins University. The number of dead in the U.S. rose to 1,041 as of late Wednesday, with nearly 70,000 infections.
Spain’s death toll has risen past 3,400, eclipsing that of China where the virus was first detected in December, after a one-day spike of 700 fatalities. Spain’s count is now second only to that of Italy, with over 7,500 deaths. Lidia Perera, a nurse at Madrid’s 1,000-bed Hospital de la Paz, said more workers were desperately needed. “We are collapsing,” Perera said.
The Spanish parliament voted to allow the government extend strict stay-at-home rules and business closings until April 11.
Advertisement
Such measures are becoming increasingly common in the U.S., where New York is the current epicenter of the domestic outbreak, accounting for more than 30,000 cases and close to 300 deaths, most of them in New York City.
Public health officials in the city hunted down beds and medical equipment and put out a call for more doctors and nurses for fear the number of sick will explode in a matter of weeks, overwhelming hospitals as has happened in Italy and Spain.
A makeshift morgue was set up outside Bellevue Hospital, and the city’s police, their ranks dwindling as more fall ill, were told to patrol nearly empty streets to enforce social distancing. Another was erected outside a hospital in Elmhurst, Queens:
.@nytimes has video from a hospital in Elmhurst, Queens. It is horrifying.
“We had to get a refrigerated truck to store the bodies of patients who are dying.”
“Five ventilators...there’s a mythical 100 ventilators out there that we haven’t seen.” https://t.co/zARPofu6pS pic.twitter.com/JxKl46H5RC — Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) March 26, 2020
In Washington, President Donald Trump has called for Americans to dedicate themselves for 15 days to social distancing, including staying home from work and closing bars and restaurants to help try to stall the spread of the disease.
Advertisement
Yet, he’s also grumbled that “our country wasn’t built to be shut down” and vowed not to allow “the cure be worse than the problem” — apparently concerned that the outbreak’s devastating effects on financial markets and employment will harm his chances for re-election later this year.
“The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
Democrats say that Trump was prioritizing the economy over the health and safety of Americans.
“I’d like to say, let’s get back to work next Friday,” said Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. ”That’d be wonderful. But it can’t be arbitrary.”
Biden said the congressional aid package addressing the outbreak “goes a long way,” but that “meticulous oversight” is required.
“We’re going to need to make sure the money gets out quickly into peoples’ pockets and to keep a close watch on how corporations are using the taxpayers funds that they receive, to make sure it goes to help workers, not rich CEOs or shareholders,” the former vice president said.
Advertisement
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has also called to reopen schools and businesses, dismissing his argument that the “cure” of widespread shutdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus is worse than the disease.
Bolsonaro contends that a clampdown already ordered by many governors will deeply wound the beleaguered economy and spark social unrest. In a nationally televised address Tuesday night, he urged governors to limit isolation only to high-risk people and lift the strict anti-virus measures they have imposed in their regions.
The country’s governors protested on Wednesday that his instructions run counter to health experts’ recommendations and endanger Latin America’s largest population. They said they would continue with their strict measures in place. The rebellion even included traditional allies of Brazil’s far-right president.
Meanwhile, the governor of a state in central Mexico said the poor are “immune” to the coronavirus pandemic, even as the federal government suspended all non-essential government activities in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
Puebla Gov. Miguel Barbosa’s comment Wednesday was apparently partly a response to statistics showing that the wealthy who travel much more have made up a significant percentage of Mexicans infected to date, including some prominent businessmen. The country has seen six deaths so far.
Advertisement
“The majority are wealthy people. If you are rich, you are at risk. If you are poor, no,” Barbosa said. “We poor people, we are immune.”
Barbosa also appeared to be playing on an old stereotype held by some Mexicans that poor sanitation standards may have strengthened their immune systems by exposing them to bacteria or other bugs.
In other developments around the globe:
___ South Korea has reported 104 new cases and five more deaths, bringing its totals to 9,241 infections and 131 deaths.
From Friday, the country will enforce 14-day quarantines on South Korean nationals and foreigners with long-term stay visas arriving from the United States. Similar measures have already been applied to passengers arriving from Europe. South Koreans can be sued and foreigners expelled for failing to heed the order.
Advertisement
___ China’s National Health Commission on Thursday reported 67 new COVID-19 cases, all of which it says were imported infections in recent arrivals from abroad.
Once again, there were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the central Chinese provincial capital where the coronavirus emerged in December. After a monthslong lockdown, Wuhan residents are allowed out of the city, but cannot leave the surrounding province of Hubei until April 8.
China has recorded more than 81,000 cases and 3,287 deaths, but has seen its figures fall radically in recent weeks, prompting efforts to restart the world’s second largest economy. More than 74,000 people have been released from hospital, while just under 4,000 remain in care.
___ Citing the coronavirus, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday postponed a nationwide vote on proposed constitutional amendments that include a change potentially allowing him to stay in office until 2036. The country reported its first two deaths from the virus on Wednesday.
___ Prince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, tested positive for the virus but was showing only mild symptoms and was isolating himself at a royal estate in Scotland, his office said.
Advertisement
___ The French Riviera city of Cannes opened the site of its world-famous film festival to the homeless.
__ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said more than 400,000 people responded within a day to the government’s call for volunteers to help the country’s most vulnerable people.
— The Pentagon halted for 60 days the movement of U.S. troops and Defense Department civilians overseas, a measure expected to affect about 90,000 troops scheduled to deploy or return from abroad.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
___


huffpost--2020-03-26--Is It Possible That You Had The Coronavirus Earlier This Year?

“ This is phenomenally important for a disease like COVID-19 , in which there is no natural immunity in the @ @ @ @ @ vaccine exists , ” Kirsten Hokeness , chair of the department of science and technology @ @ @ @ @ Bryant University and an expert in immunology , virology , microbiology , and human health @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost .
“ This means that the only way for the virus to leave the @ @ @ @ @ , is to either infect everyone or [ for us to ] limit the ability @ @ @ @ @ from person to person , ” Hokeness said .
And if you ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s especially important to isolate yourself .
It ’ s believed that @ @ @ @ @ after you stopped feeling sick .
The more we all behave like we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ regardless of whether we ’ re currently experiencing symptoms , feel nothing or think we @ @ @ @ @ ― the more impact we can have on slowing the spread .

nadia_bormotova via Getty Images Wondering if that bad cold or respiratory illness you had earlier this year was really COVID-19? Maybe, but here’s why it doesn’t matter now.
Now that we’re all hyper-focused on the coronavirus, you might be thinking back on the last time you were sick before the pandemic. More specifically, you may be reflecting on that cold or respiratory illness you experienced near the beginning of 2020 or the end of 2019.
Is there a chance that was actually COVID-19?
The main symptoms of COVID-19 include a cough, shortness of breath and a fever. Additionally, you might have digestive problems ― like nausea or diarrhea ― a headache and a sore throat. You may also experience a loss of smell or taste. You don’t need to exhibit all of these symptoms, though, to have COVID-19.
Advertisement
These symptoms can be mistaken for a bad cold or the flu, especially if you have a “mild” case of COVID-19. It’s also very possible to have the virus and not even notice, as some cases can be asymptomatic or negligible.
There’s evidence the coronavirus started spreading in America earlier than people were really tracking it. Some experts suspect that the first U.S. cases began in January 2020, while others speculate that people may have experienced it even earlier than that.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in August estimates “many more thousands of people were infected than were reported” by March 12, 2020. The study authors concluded that there were likely fewer than 10% of infections detected between February and early March, suggesting that it was too late to contain COVID-19 by the time a national emergency was aired.
Lee Riley, chair of the division of infectious disease and vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health, told Medium that it’s safe to assume a virus had probably been spreading in your community for about two weeks before there’s a confirmed death.
Advertisement
Of course, you may be able to tell if you had the virus before through an antibody test. Many urgent care centers, testing sites and doctors’ offices can take patients’ blood and send it to a lab to analyze for a previous COVID-19 infection. However, these tests are still extremely flawed.
For example, it takes your body anywhere from one to three weeks to develop antibodies from an infection, according to health experts. So theoretically, you could get tested for antibodies and they may not show up on your results yet.
You could also have antibodies appear on a test only to see them “disappear” a few months later. This doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have antibodies against the virus, just that your antibody levels may have dropped, which is normal.
“Once they do appear, antibodies tend to wane after three months,” Steven Schnur, a cardiologist and internist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, told HuffPost in August.
Some people have also reported contracting the coronavirus again after they’ve been sick one time as evidence that antibodies don’t last. But experts say this probably isn’t because a person has been reinfected ― it’s more likely that they never recovered from the original illness in the first place.
Advertisement
Regardless of your antibody status or whether you’ve been sick this year, you should continue to act like you are susceptible or could be a carrier who may pass it to someone else. Because COVID-19 is so new to the medical world, scientists still need to learn way more information about the antibodies.
And if you’ve had the symptoms of COVID-19 recently, it’s especially important to isolate yourself. Experts believe that you’re still contagious even after you stopped feeling sick.
All of this is why experts stress that you should continue to follow the proper safety measures to protect yourself and others from disease transmission.
“For someone to think that they can walk around without proper precautions because they have antibodies is inaccurate,” Schnur told HuffPost. “Whether or not you think you have antibody levels, you still need to social distance and wear a mask.”
The more we all behave like we’re carriers of the virus ― regardless of whether we’re experiencing symptoms, feel nothing, have antibodies or just think we had it in the past ― the more impact we can have on slowing the spread. This story has been updated from its original publication to reflect new information about COVID-19. Experts are still learning about the coronavirus, so guidance could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


huffpost--2020-03-26--Senate Passes Coronavirus Stimulus Package With Unanimous Vote

The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced .
“ The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis , “ said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. “ Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick .
Our workers are without work .
Our businesses can not do business .
Our factories lie idle .
The gears of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that ’ s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat , said : “ We ’ ve anticipated three months .
Hopefully , we won ’ t need this for three months.
” The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded changes , saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of returning return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they ’ re laid off than if they ’ re working .
They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision .
Other objections floated in from New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic .
Cuomo , whose state has seen more deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ I ’ m telling you , these numbers don ’ t work.
” Six days of arduous talks produced the bill , creating tensions among Congress ’ top leaders , who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation .
But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities .
“ This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country and we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters afterward .
“ We ’ ve pivoted from impeachment to 100 to nothing on this rescue package ... this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.
” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus .
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months , rather than the three months first proposed .
Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment , plus a $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Uber drivers covered for the first time .
But Cuomo said the Senate package would send less than $ 4 billion to New York , far short of his estimate that the crisis will cost his state up to $ 15 billion over the next year .
More than 280 New Yorkers have died from the virus , a death toll more than double that of any other state .
Pelosi was a force behind $ 400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail and other steps that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics called political opportunism .
The package also contains $ 15.5 billion more for a surge in demand for food stamps as part of a massive $ 330 billion title for agency operations .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate late Wednesday passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.
Advertisement
The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared somber and exhausted as he announced the vote — and he released senators from Washington until April 20, though he promised to recall them if needed.
“Pray for one another, for all of our families, and for our country,” said McConnell, R-Ky.
“The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis,“said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick. Our workers are without work. Our businesses cannot do business. Our factories lie idle. The gears of the American economy have ground to a halt.”
The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that’s killed more than 21,000 people worldwide. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat, said: “We’ve anticipated three months. Hopefully, we won’t need this for three months.”
Underscoring the effort’s sheer magnitude, the bill finances a response with a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion-plus annual federal budget. The $2.2 trillion estimate is the White House’s best guess.
Advertisement
Insistently optimistic, President Donald Trump said of the greatest public-health emergency in anyone’s lifetime, “I don’t think its going to end up being such a rough patch” and anticipated the economy soaring “like a rocket ship” when it’s over.
“The government has temporarily shut down the economy because of this disease, and the government must help those who are hurt by it,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states who economies are dominated by low-wage jobs demanded changes, saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of returning return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they’re laid off than if they’re working. They settled for a failed vote to modify the provision.
Other objections floated in from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has become a prominent Democrat on the national scene as the country battles the pandemic. Cuomo, whose state has seen more deaths from the pandemic than any other, said, “I’m telling you, these numbers don’t work.”
Advertisement
Ardent liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were restless as well, but top Washington Democrats assured them that a additional coronavirus legislation will follow this spring and signaled that delaying the pending measure would be foolish.
The sprawling measure is the third coronavirus response bill produced by Congress and by far the largest. It builds on efforts focused on vaccines and emergency response, sick and family medical leave for workers, and food aid.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swung behind the bipartisan agreement, saying it “takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people.”
Senate passage delivered the legislation to the Democratic-controlled House, which is expected to pass it Friday. House members are scattered around the country. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the measure would pass by voice vote without lawmakers having to return to Washington.
The package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.
Advertisement
It includes a controversial, heavily negotiated $500 billion program for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including airlines. Hospitals would get significant help as well.
Six days of arduous talks produced the bill, creating tensions among Congress’ top leaders, who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation. But failure was not an option — nor was starting over — which permitted both sides to include their priorities.
“This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and the country and we’re going to win this battle,” McConnell told reporters afterward. “We’ve pivoted from impeachment to 100 to nothing on this rescue package ... this is about as flawless as you could possibly be.” The vote actually was 96-0 because several members missed the vote out of concerns they have been exposed to the virus.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has tested positive for it, while GOP Whip John Thune returned to South Dakota on Wednesday after feeling ill.
The bill would provide one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child.
Advertisement
A huge cash infusion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients grew during the talks to an estimated $130 billion. Another $45 billion would fund additional relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for local response efforts and community services.
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months, rather than the three months first proposed. Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment, plus a $600 per week add-on, with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time.
Businesses controlled by members of Congress and top administration officials — including Trump and his immediate family members — would be ineligible for the bill’s business assistance.
Schumer boasted of negotiating wins for transit systems, hospitals and cash-hungry state governments that were cemented after Democrats blocked the measure in votes held Sunday and Monday.
But Cuomo said the Senate package would send less than $4 billion to New York, far short of his estimate that the crisis will cost his state up to $15 billion over the next year. More than 280 New Yorkers have died from the virus, a death toll more than double that of any other state.
Advertisement
Still, Pelosi said the need for more money for New York is “no reason to stop the step we are taking.”
Pelosi was a force behind $400 million in grants to states to expand voting by mail and other steps that Democrats billed as making voting safer but Republican critics called political opportunism. The package also contains $15.5 billion more for a surge in demand for food stamps as part of a massive $330 billion title for agency operations.
State and local authorities would receive up to $150 billion in grants to fight the virus, care for their residents and provide basic services.
Republicans won inclusion of an “employee retention” tax credit that’s estimated to provide $50 billion to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50% of workers’ paycheck up to $10,000. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax.
Advertisement
A companion appropriations package ballooned as well, growing from a $46 billion White House proposal to $330 billion, which dwarfs earlier disasters — including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy combined.
Europe is enacting its own economic recovery packages, with huge amounts of credit guarantees, government spending and other support.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has agreed to commit over 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) in fiscal stimulus and support — roughly 30% of that nation’s entire annual output. France, Spain and Italy have launched similar programs.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
In the United States, more than 69,000 people have been sickened and more than 1,000 have died.
___
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Alan Fram, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-03-26--This Is What Job Hunting During The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Like

Deciding to move for a job now means weighing the risk of catching an infectious disease in your new hometown , or unknowingly carrying it with you .
For those who lost jobs before the spread of COVID-19 , job hunting now means competing with millions of other Americans who just lost their jobs , too .
For professionals in industries that have been decimated by the coronavirus , the search may mean switching out of your industry forever .
“ The new interest has felt like it slowed down to a halt , ” said Kelly Zerbe , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job hunting since February .
“ One company I was scheduled to have an on-site [ interview ] for had to halt hiring completely because they were a startup in the restaurant industry , which has obviously been impacted greatly.
” Obtaining professional licensing to work has become an impossible hurdle .
Hannah Reckman , a third-year master ’ s student in speech language pathology at Ohio University , was four months away from graduating when the coronavirus pandemic impacted her career .
Now , her graduation has been postponed indefinitely and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the speech language pathologist license she needs to work .
The local elementary school where she was completing her off-campus internship shut down indefinitely .
“ I am also now stuck in my tiny one-bedroom apartment , [ having ] lost my externship , and will no longer be receiving the clinical hours necessary to graduate and earn my license , ” she said .
Opportunities to earn the necessary clinical hours for the license in hospitals have also dried up , she said .
Payton Arnold , a nurse based in Las @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s applied for 50 jobs since she graduated in early March .
“ Most positions are ones that require ‘ solid clinical experience , ’ meaning about a year or more .
Obviously new grads do not have that , so lots of us are hoping to get into new grad programs , ” the 23-year old said .
The job market just got shockingly flooded .
“ Standard joblessness anxieties aside ― what happens if I can ’ t pay my rent , my student loans , etc .
― these uncertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on earth is hiring a hotel sales manager right now ?
” she said .
“ There are fewer positions available in my industry , with more unemployed or underemployed candidates to fight over them .
There will be a sharp increase in demand for unemployment benefits .
If I do get sick , I won ’ t have health insurance to cover professional care.
“ Despite these worries , Laskorunsky , 26 , considers herself luckier than most .
“ I have at least three months of savings before my finances start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore in a lower risk bracket for the virus , and I can use my free time to help my elderly neighbors get groceries and medication , ” she said .
( The CDC now warns that younger adults are susceptible to serious coronavirus symptoms , with adults ages 20-54 accounting for 38 % of known hospitalizations . )
“ Since the whole nation is or ought to be spending more time at home , there will be a decline in [ fear of missing out ] -inducing social media posts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unemployed loser ?
Got ta look on the bright side of things.
” Laskorunsky said tourism and hospitality is her passion , but she is prepared to pivot her skills to a new industry .
“ The tank in demand for travel may alter my career path , ” she said .
“ Experience in sales and marketing can be applicable for many companies , so I must begin to broaden my search.
” Sometimes available jobs are in a coronavirus hot zone .
When Benjamin Koga-Winn found out in January that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology company at the end of March , he was open to moving from his home in Vancouver , Washington , to the Seattle area , where there were more career opportunities for his AR/VR headset programming skills .
Then Seattle became one of the nation ’ s first epicenters for the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I will have to move for my next position if it is in Seattle .
Unfortunately , this is going to be very challenging to do given the pandemic , ” he said .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might fall through as companies realize the challenges with relocation during this time .
We will have to see.
” Koga-Winn is most worried about last-minute hiring freezes .
“ If I ’ m left out to dry by hiring freezes after all these rounds of interviews , then I will have to start living off savings ― not the worst thing in the world , but as the sole provider for a family , that well isn ’ t bottomless , ” he said .
“ Likewise , should I be given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jump immediately into looking for a home and relocation .
Will that even be possible in this climate ?
” “ This virus is changing the course of our future indefinitely.
” For hospitality administration operations manager Angela Bukowski , the job offer she and her husband Dustin Mooney , an engineer , received at the beginning of March was going to be their family ’ s fresh start .
Mooney and Bukowski , who are based in Oregon , both accepted offers to work at an inn in Washington state .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beautiful setting ” is how Bukowski described the job .
Then the coronavirus cases in America accelerated .
“ Now we have no idea what to do .
Do we continue with our plan ?
Do we stay where we are ?
This virus is changing the course of our future indefinitely , ” she told HuffPost last week .
“ The struggle is real .
Like , really real .
We haven ’ t given up hope that our fresh start may still come through , but unfortunately , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ultimately , moving for the job in a pandemic became a moot point when the inn temporarily closed operations and told the couple that their jobs are waiting for them when they reopen .
Bukowkski said she was relieved to hear that she didn ’ t need to tell her new employers she and her husband needed to “ wait this out.
” Until then , she and her family are staying with her mom “ to save money and to look out for her and my stepdad until the dust settles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m thankful for that .
All of that being said , I am fearful of what the hospitality industry will look like on the other side of this pandemic .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Looking for a job is already hard enough. But during a coronavirus pandemic, the job search comes with new challenges.
Deciding to move for a job now means weighing the risk of catching an infectious disease in your new hometown, or unknowingly carrying it with you. For those who lost jobs before the spread of COVID-19, job hunting now means competing with millions of other Americans who just lost their jobs, too. For professionals in industries that have been decimated by the coronavirus, the search may mean switching out of your industry forever.
Advertisement
“The new interest has felt like it slowed down to a halt,” said Kelly Zerbe, a San Francisco-based freelance designer who has been job hunting since February. “One company I was scheduled to have an on-site [interview] for had to halt hiring completely because they were a startup in the restaurant industry, which has obviously been impacted greatly.”
And all the while, bills pile up.
Professionals told HuffPost how their job hunts have changed because of the coronavirus. These are their stories:
“The seven-year long college education we have all sunk every cent we have into means nothing if it is not completed.” - Ohio University student Hannah Reckman
Obtaining professional licensing to work has become an impossible hurdle.
Hannah Reckman, a third-year master’s student in speech language pathology at Ohio University, was four months away from graduating when the coronavirus pandemic impacted her career. Now, her graduation has been postponed indefinitely and she is worried about her eligibility to receive the speech language pathologist license she needs to work. The local elementary school where she was completing her off-campus internship shut down indefinitely.
Advertisement
“I am also now stuck in my tiny one-bedroom apartment, [having] lost my externship, and will no longer be receiving the clinical hours necessary to graduate and earn my license,” she said. Opportunities to earn the necessary clinical hours for the license in hospitals have also dried up, she said.
“We are scared,” the 24-year-old said of her school cohort. “The seven-year-long college education we have all sunk every cent we have into means nothing if it is not completed.”
Payton Arnold, a nurse based in Las Vegas, Nevada, said she’s applied for 50 jobs since she graduated in early March. “Most positions are ones that require ‘solid clinical experience,’ meaning about a year or more. Obviously new grads do not have that, so lots of us are hoping to get into new grad programs,” the 23-year old said.
Getting her nursing license is necessary for these kind of jobs, but Arnold is in limbo. She was supposed to take her National Council Licensure Examination at the end of March, but the computer-based testing company Pearson VUE, which facilitates these exams, temporarily closed their test centers in the United States, causing Arnold to reschedule.
“This keeps us from getting our license to be able to start working in hospitals or other clinics, as it’s typically a requirement to be hired,” Arnold said.
Advertisement
Isabella Carapella/HuffPost; Photos: Getty Images Job searches and interviews have changed because of the coronavirus.
The job market just got shockingly flooded.
When sales and marketing specialist Christina Laskorunsky found out she was getting laid off from her job working for a California hotel group about a month ago, it wasn’t because of the coronavirus. But the pandemic is still affecting her job search.
“Standard joblessness anxieties aside ― what happens if I can’t pay my rent, my student loans, etc. ― these uncertain times are compounding my fears. Who on earth is hiring a hotel sales manager right now?” she said. “There are fewer positions available in my industry, with more unemployed or underemployed candidates to fight over them. There will be a sharp increase in demand for unemployment benefits. If I do get sick, I won’t have health insurance to cover professional care.“
Laskorunsky said the monthly cost of COBRA, which continues health benefits after involuntary job loss, means such insurance is not an option for her.
Despite these worries, Laskorunsky, 26, considers herself luckier than most. “I have at least three months of savings before my finances start to get dicey. I am young and therefore in a lower risk bracket for the virus, and I can use my free time to help my elderly neighbors get groceries and medication,” she said. (The CDC now warns that younger adults are susceptible to serious coronavirus symptoms, with adults ages 20-54 accounting for 38% of known hospitalizations.) “Since the whole nation is or ought to be spending more time at home, there will be a decline in [fear of missing out]-inducing social media posts that would otherwise make me feel like ... an unemployed loser? Gotta look on the bright side of things.”
Advertisement
Laskorunsky said tourism and hospitality is her passion, but she is prepared to pivot her skills to a new industry. “The tank in demand for travel may alter my career path,” she said. “Experience in sales and marketing can be applicable for many companies, so I must begin to broaden my search.”
Laskorunsky said she’s preparing to apply for unemployment insurance after her last day at her job this Friday.
“If I’m left out to dry by hiring freezes after all these rounds of interviews, then I will have to start living off savings ― not the worst thing in the world, but as the sole provider for a family, that well isn’t bottomless.” - Job-seeker Benjamin Koga-Winn
Sometimes available jobs are in a coronavirus hot zone.
When Benjamin Koga-Winn found out in January that he would be laid off from his technology company at the end of March, he was open to moving from his home in Vancouver, Washington, to the Seattle area, where there were more career opportunities for his AR/VR headset programming skills. Then Seattle became one of the nation’s first epicenters for the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, he has done rounds of interviews. A job interview for which he was supposed to fly into Seattle went remote, and he did the five-hour interview from a relative’s office space. A different promising remote consulting position fell through. He had another five-hour interview scheduled on Thursday.
Advertisement
“I will have to move for my next position if it is in Seattle. Unfortunately, this is going to be very challenging to do given the pandemic,” he said. “I’m almost assuming that some of these might fall through as companies realize the challenges with relocation during this time. We will have to see.”
Koga-Winn is most worried about last-minute hiring freezes. “If I’m left out to dry by hiring freezes after all these rounds of interviews, then I will have to start living off savings ― not the worst thing in the world, but as the sole provider for a family, that well isn’t bottomless,” he said. “Likewise, should I be given an offer, I will have to jump immediately into looking for a home and relocation. Will that even be possible in this climate?”
He is prepared to file for unemployment after his job ends.
“I am fearful of what the hospitality industry will look like on the other side of this pandemic.” - Hospitality administration operations manager Angela Bukowski
“This virus is changing the course of our future indefinitely.”
For hospitality administration operations manager Angela Bukowski, the job offer she and her husband Dustin Mooney, an engineer, received at the beginning of March was going to be their family’s fresh start. Mooney and Bukowski, who are based in Oregon, both accepted offers to work at an inn in Washington state. “Exciting business model, excellent pay and a beautiful setting” is how Bukowski described the job. Then the coronavirus cases in America accelerated.
Bukowski noted that moving to a new area at the end of the school year with three children is already no joke.
Advertisement
“Now we have no idea what to do. Do we continue with our plan? Do we stay where we are? This virus is changing the course of our future indefinitely,” she told HuffPost last week. “The struggle is real. Like, really real. We haven’t given up hope that our fresh start may still come through, but unfortunately, it may look completely different than we had imagined.“
Ultimately, moving for the job in a pandemic became a moot point when the inn temporarily closed operations and told the couple that their jobs are waiting for them when they reopen. Bukowkski said she was relieved to hear that she didn’t need to tell her new employers she and her husband needed to “wait this out.” Until then, she and her family are staying with her mom “to save money and to look out for her and my stepdad until the dust settles,” she said. “I’m thankful for that. All of that being said, I am fearful of what the hospitality industry will look like on the other side of this pandemic.”
“No matter what, our world has changed, and although I trust that we will persevere, there is still so much uncertainty about what that will look like,” Bukowski said.
She said her family still intend to move once the inn reopens ― whenever that might be.


huffpost--2020-03-26--How To Deal If Everyone's Coronavirus Anxiety Is Piling Onto Yours

A few weeks into the coronavirus pandemic , the rules for social distancing have been pretty clearly established : stay inside as much as you can , and if you must venture out for essential services , keep a safe distance of six feet between yourself and others .
Physically , we ’ ve never been more separated from each other .
Yet ― thanks to Zoom , smartphones and the internet ― you might even find that you ’ re connecting with people more despite being remote .
But as we support each other by staying in touch virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates and commiserating over our ( often shared ) anxieties , it ’ s not uncommon to get overwhelmed and crave a little emotional distance .
You don ’ t have to sacrifice your conversations to fix this .
If you assess your own coping needs , then you can set boundaries with loved ones , communicate thoughtfully about each others ’ limits , and learn to support each other in a way that ’ s healthy for all .
Here ’ s how : First , figure out what you need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habit to intentionally check on yourself throughout the day .
Ask yourself , “ How am I feeling ?
” If it ’ s not always obvious to you moment to moment , you can look for signs from your body : Is there a tightness in your chest ?
Are you clenching your jaw ?
Do you feel a general heaviness ?
After practicing that self-awareness , the next step is to figure out a few distracting and soothing activities that will provide relief to you when you need it .
Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe it helps to put away your phone a couple of hours before bed and read a book , listen to music or work on a craft project .
Set your own boundaries and communicate them compassionately Once you become more aware of your emotional trajectory , you ’ ll start to notice what triggers your stress .
If you find that a friend , family member or partner constantly venting to you is wreaking havoc on your emotional state , it ’ s OK to tell them you ’ re feeling overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conversation , said Leah Katz , a clinical psychologist based in Portland , Oregon .
You don ’ t have to send your pal an AI-generated form letter to get your point across .
Try something honest but compassionate like , “ When we talk about this multiple times a day I ’ ve noticed it really revs up my anxiety .
Can we set aside some time later , like 30 minutes , and talk about it then ?
I want to hear you but I feel like that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suggest another topic or activity that will make you both feel better If you need a break from talking about coronavirus but don ’ t want to be dismissive of someone you care about who ’ s reaching out to you , try changing the subject or suggesting an activity that could be a nice distraction for both of you .
Or , take a break from the chatter .
“ Support doesn ’ t always have to come in the form of talking , although it often does , ” Schleien said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a way to support each other and be there for each other without always having to talk through it.
” Know you don ’ t always have to be available

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A few weeks into the coronavirus pandemic, the rules for social distancing have been pretty clearly established: stay inside as much as you can, and if you must venture out for essential services, keep a safe distance of six feet between yourself and others.
Physically, we’ve never been more separated from each other. Yet ― thanks to Zoom, smartphones and the internet ― you might even find that you’re connecting with people more despite being remote. But as we support each other by staying in touch virtually, sharing links to the latest coronavirus updates and commiserating over our (often shared) anxieties, it’s not uncommon to get overwhelmed and crave a little emotional distance.
Advertisement
“This increased social connection is amazing because it’s validating and distracting and often uplifting,” said Jenna L. Schleien, a psychologist practicing in Brooklyn. “However, spending a huge part of each day listening to others’ fear and anxiety can take a toll on our mental health.”
You don’t have to sacrifice your conversations to fix this. If you assess your own coping needs, then you can set boundaries with loved ones, communicate thoughtfully about each others’ limits, and learn to support each other in a way that’s healthy for all. Here’s how:
First, figure out what you need to stay sane
Each day, there’s a lot to take in. Staying informed, healthy and productive amid a global crisis isn’t sustainable without coping techniques. It might sound trite, but before you can help someone else, you really do have to make sure you’re taking care of yourself first.
Schleien suggested making it a habit to intentionally check on yourself throughout the day. Ask yourself, “How am I feeling?” If it’s not always obvious to you moment to moment, you can look for signs from your body: Is there a tightness in your chest? Are you clenching your jaw? Do you feel a general heaviness?
Advertisement
After practicing that self-awareness, the next step is to figure out a few distracting and soothing activities that will provide relief to you when you need it. Maybe a daily run keeps you level-headed. Maybe it helps to put away your phone a couple of hours before bed and read a book, listen to music or work on a craft project.
Morsa Images via Getty Images
Set your own boundaries and communicate them compassionately
Once you become more aware of your emotional trajectory, you’ll start to notice what triggers your stress. If you find that a friend, family member or partner constantly venting to you is wreaking havoc on your emotional state, it’s OK to tell them you’re feeling overwhelmed. You can also set limits on the conversation, said Leah Katz, a clinical psychologist based in Portland, Oregon.
You don’t have to send your pal an AI-generated form letter to get your point across. Try something honest but compassionate like, “When we talk about this multiple times a day I’ve noticed it really revs up my anxiety. Can we set aside some time later, like 30 minutes, and talk about it then? I want to hear you but I feel like that’s what I can handle right now.”
“If the wish for boundaries is expressed clearly and with kindness, it’s usually appreciated and respected,” Schleien said.
Advertisement
You could also ask them directly how you can help them, Katz said. Try saying, “How can I be here for you?”
By asking a more practical question, “instead of going into problem-solving mode, or playing the role of the therapist,” you can shift the dynamic from them venting to taking a more proactive approach to managing their anxiety.
Katz said that when she personally asked a family member how she could support them, they responded by asking if she could FaceTime with them a few times a week.
“I think the question was really appreciated, and I got some direct feedback,” Katz said.
Suggest another topic or activity that will make you both feel better
If you need a break from talking about coronavirus but don’t want to be dismissive of someone you care about who’s reaching out to you, try changing the subject or suggesting an activity that could be a nice distraction for both of you.
You could say, “I hear that you’re anxious. I’m having a really hard time too. Is it OK if we try talking about something else for a little while?” Katz suggested.
Advertisement
Or, take a break from the chatter. “Support doesn’t always have to come in the form of talking, although it often does,” Schleien said. “Engaging in self-care together can be a way to support each other and be there for each other without always having to talk through it.”
Even if you’re not in the same room with each other, you could play an online game, watch a movie together through Netflix Party, or put on face masks and have a dance party over Zoom.
Know you don’t always have to be available
If you figure out that getting away from your screens for a few hours every day really restores your sense of calm, it’s OK to put the group chat on mute and tune out for a bit.
Say you’re mid-text with a friend who’s distressed, but you need some solo time. Instead of ghosting the conversation, you could tell them, “Hey, I’m going to go for a walk for a couple of hours, can I check on you in a bit and see how you’re doing?”
“Validate what they’re needing and you’re needing, and you balance those both in an equation to find out what’s going to be best in the moment,” Schleien said. That’s the way we get through this together.


huffpost--2020-03-26--U.S. Unemployment Claims Soar To Record 3.3 Million As Layoffs Jump

The pace of layoffs is sure to accelerate as the U.S. economy sinks into a recession .
Revenue has collapsed at restaurants , hotels , movie theaters , gyms , and airlines .
Auto sales are plummeting , and car makers have close factories .
Most such employers face loan payments and other fixed costs , so they ’ re cutting jobs to save money .
The economic deterioration has been swift .
As recently as February , the unemployment rate was at a 50-year low of 3.5 % .
And the economy was growing steadily if modestly .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some economists think the economy will shrink at its steepest annual pace ever — a contraction that could reach 30 % .
Many people who have lost jobs in recent days have been unable to file for unemployment aid because state websites and phone systems have been overwhelmed by a crush of applicants and have frozen up .
That logjam suggests that Thursday ’ s report on filings for unemployment benefits actually understates the magnitude of job cuts last week .
With layoffs surging , a significant expansion of unemployment benefits for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the coronavirus outbreak was included in an economic relief bill nearing final approval in Congress .
One provision in the bill would provide an extra $ 600 a week on top of the unemployment aid that states provide .
Another would extend 13 additional weeks of benefits beyond the six months of jobless aid that most states offer .
Jessy Morancy of Hollywood , Florida , was laid off Friday from her job as a wheelchair attendant and customer service agent at Fort Lauderdale Airport .
Morancy , 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to file for unemployment benefits but encountered just a recorded message telling her to call back later .
She was also concerned that even a full unemployment benefit of $ 275 a week would be less than half of what she earned at her job and insufficient to provide for her children , ages 10 and 7 .
She said she has heard that airline employees might continue to receive salaries if Congress provides financial assistance to the airlines .
Yet even so , it ’ s not clear that employees like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , in her case — would be eligible .
Even for those able to file a claim , the benefits will take time to kick in .
It typically takes two to three weeks before applicants receive any money .
State agencies must first contact their former employers to verify their work and earnings history .
Only then can the employee ’ s weekly unemployment benefits be calculated .
Worsening the problem , most state agencies that handle unemployment claims are operating at historically low funding levels and staffing that are intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just weeks ago , the job market was in the strongest shape it had been in decades .
Kim Boldrini-Sen , 41 , has also struggled to even file her claim .
She has tried in two states : In Connecticut , where she works as an acupuncturist in a private practice , and in New York , where she lives and has her own acupuncture business .
In Connecticut , she thought her application had been submitted .
But when she returned last week to re-file as applicants are required to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no record of her initial filing .
After taking an hour to re-file , she received a pop-up notice that she was ineligible to do so online .
In New York , the state ’ s website repeatedly crashed when she was halfway through filling out her request .
When she finally managed to press submit , she received a pop-up saying she had to file over the phone .
That hasn ’ t worked well , either .
Ellen Zentner , an economist at Morgan Stanley , said in a note to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost through May ― twice the entire 8.7 million jobs that were lost in the Great Recession .
She expects the unemployment rate to average 12.8 % in the April-June quarter , which would be the highest level since the 1930s .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982 — amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus.
The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is doing to the economy. Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs.
Advertisement
The pace of layoffs is sure to accelerate as the U.S. economy sinks into a recession. Revenue has collapsed at restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, gyms, and airlines. Auto sales are plummeting, and car makers have close factories. Most such employers face loan payments and other fixed costs, so they’re cutting jobs to save money.
Yahoo Finance
As job losses mount, some economists say the nation’s unemployment rate could approach 13% by May. By comparison, the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%.
The economic deterioration has been swift. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was at a 50-year low of 3.5%. And the economy was growing steadily if modestly. Yet by the April-June quarter of the year, some economists think the economy will shrink at its steepest annual pace ever — a contraction that could reach 30%.
Advertisement
Many people who have lost jobs in recent days have been unable to file for unemployment aid because state websites and phone systems have been overwhelmed by a crush of applicants and have frozen up. That logjam suggests that Thursday’s report on filings for unemployment benefits actually understates the magnitude of job cuts last week.
With layoffs surging, a significant expansion of unemployment benefits for the millions who will lose jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak was included in an economic relief bill nearing final approval in Congress. One provision in the bill would provide an extra $600 a week on top of the unemployment aid that states provide. Another would extend 13 additional weeks of benefits beyond the six months of jobless aid that most states offer.
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS - MARCH 24: The parking lot is nearly deserted at Forest Plaza on March 24, 2020 in Rockford, Illinois. Scott Olson via Getty Images
Separate legislation passed last week provides up to $1 billion to states to enhance their ability to process claims. But that money will take time to be disbursed.
Jessy Morancy of Hollywood, Florida, was laid off Friday from her job as a wheelchair attendant and customer service agent at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Morancy, 29, called the state unemployment office Monday to try to file for unemployment benefits but encountered just a recorded message telling her to call back later.
Advertisement
She was also concerned that even a full unemployment benefit of $275 a week would be less than half of what she earned at her job and insufficient to provide for her children, ages 10 and 7.
“I’m still in a state of shock,” Morancy said.
She said she has heard that airline employees might continue to receive salaries if Congress provides financial assistance to the airlines. Yet even so, it’s not clear that employees like her who work for contractors — Eulen America, in her case — would be eligible.
“If these companies are going to get a bailout, why not include us?” Morancy said.
Even for those able to file a claim, the benefits will take time to kick in. It typically takes two to three weeks before applicants receive any money. State agencies must first contact their former employers to verify their work and earnings history. Only then can the employee’s weekly unemployment benefits be calculated.
A person sweeps outside the entrance of the New York State Department of Labor offices, which closed to the public due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., March 20, 2020. Andrew Kelly / Reuters
Worsening the problem, most state agencies that handle unemployment claims are operating at historically low funding levels and staffing that are intended to handle a trickle of claims. Just weeks ago, the job market was in the strongest shape it had been in decades.
Advertisement
Kim Boldrini-Sen, 41, has also struggled to even file her claim. She has tried in two states: In Connecticut, where she works as an acupuncturist in a private practice, and in New York, where she lives and has her own acupuncture business.
In Connecticut, she thought her application had been submitted. But when she returned last week to re-file as applicants are required to do each week, she found there was no record of her initial filing. After taking an hour to re-file, she received a pop-up notice that she was ineligible to do so online.
In New York, the state’s website repeatedly crashed when she was halfway through filling out her request. When she finally managed to press submit, she received a pop-up saying she had to file over the phone. That hasn’t worked well, either.
“I’ve called at all hours of the day, she said. “That’s been my life for a week, and I still can’t get through to anyone.”
On Monday, the New York State Department of Labor tweeted, “If you have been unable to get through our phone and/or online system this week, please keep trying.”
Advertisement
“We are working as hard as we can to ensure that all benefits are paid and appreciate your patience,” the agency said on Twitter.
Ellen Zentner, an economist at Morgan Stanley, said in a note to clients that 17 million jobs could be lost through May ― twice the entire 8.7 million jobs that were lost in the Great Recession. She expects the unemployment rate to average 12.8% in the April-June quarter, which would be the highest level since the 1930s.
Still, Zentner also expects the economy to start recovering by the second half of the year. It will take time for things to return to something close to normal, she projects: The unemployment rate could still top 5% at the end of next year.


huffpost--2020-03-26--20-Minute Or Less Activities For Kids During Self-Isolation

And as many Americans are now firmly in week two of self-isolation , many parents are turning to quick , attention-grabbing activities with their kids to help pass the time .
Maybe it ’ s a compact at-home “ indoor playground ” ; maybe it ’ s a good , ole-fashioned card game ( looking at you , Go Fish ) ; maybe it ’ s a scavenger hunt .
“ I created a neighborhood walk bingo board and an “ out for a drive ” bingo board .
They were a big hit with my 2- and 4-year-old .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make and can be adapted to where you live .
Some items on the driving one included a dump truck , fire truck , mail truck , etc .
We drove around for about 40 minutes eagerly looking for them all !
” ― Elise Daigle “ My kids wanted to help me while I was planting seeds .
So I gave them each a bucket of dirt and some “ seeds ” and let them dig and plant in their own buckets .
It would be ideal to do this outside if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was cold & rainy here in Maryland so I just let them make a mess on a tarp-covered table.
” ― Emily Shea “ I ’ m an artist , so luckily we have a lot of paint and art supplies on hand .
We painted signs of encouragement for our neighborhood and posted them at our tree facing the road .
We have done some drawing and making our own board games .
Art is therapy !
” ― Brooke Elkins “ We make our own play dough : 2 c flour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cream of tartar ; 2 tbsp oil ; 2 c water ; and food coloring of your choice .
Blend dry ingredients , heat oil and water on medium heat and blend in dry ingredients until the dough forms .
Then add food coloring .
The process of making it is quick and cheap ― and it keeps the kiddos busy much , much longer.
” ― Samara Mackereth , head of video , HuffPost U.K. “ Fun art ; shared drawings ; zentangles can be done by several people taking turns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ treasure hunt to collect six of something and then arrange them on table or floor in a circular pattern ; finger paint in pudding or applesauce ― works even for olders who are open .
String yarn all through the hall and living room and see who can go through the maze without touching the yarn.
” ― Jayne Heetderks “ My kids are 4 and 5 , and we enjoy kitchen scavenger hunts .
Find something taller than you , then shorter than you .
Then find something red ( and any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a rectangle , etc .
Can be used for every room .
The kids have a blast and I totally count it as ‘ learning time ’ and give myself a pat on the back 😂 ” ― Eileen Conlon Blanco “ I ’ m working from home , which is challenging .
A great idea I had to get silence during a conference call was to give my 6-year-old measuring tape and ask her to measure all her toys and chart it on a sheet of paper .
She was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imaginary roller coaster that the silence continued even after the call !
” ― Kerry Phillips “ My 3-year-old was jumping all over me and I needed a break , so I gave him a hug and asked him for a favor : Can he find me three blue Legos ?
He said OK , then ran off and spent 30 minutes playing by himself !
😱 He eventually brought me the blue Legos , so then I sent him for two yellow ones .
😂😂 It worked the next day too !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is also a mother of two , posted a picture on Instagram of a ‘ mystery jar ’ for her kids to play with .
The kids will pick a piece of paper out of the jar and have to do the activity ; it ’ s anything from ‘ do a puzzle ’ to ‘ do 2 worksheets.
’ I tailored it a bit and added ‘ get a sweet treat , ’ ‘ do jumping jacks.
’ It ’ s an easy thing to get the kids out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ― Kate Auletta , senior editor , HuffPost Parenting & Culture “ Somebody once told me that in any difficult situation with my kid , I should add water .
As funny as it sounds , it has helped me a lot .
So today , when things started to get rough , I asked our son ( 3 ) if he wanted to take a bath .
Lifted his mood instantly and gave me a few moments of calm.
” ― Jana Romeo Try practically anything else “ I swear by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos ; making brownies or cookies ; having a music band out of pots and pans ( while you have your headphones on ) ; virtual Disney rides ; Google Earth ‘ I ’ m feeling lucky ’ and learn about some new place ; longer baths ; we ’ ve been watching ‘ MasterChef Junior ’ and ‘ America ’ s Test Kitchen for kids ’ and then have my older daughter help meal plan ; make them sort socks as a matching game.
” ― Kate Palmer , head of HuffPost @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Parenting little kids, it can be said, is about getting through the day with your wits intact.
And as many Americans are now firmly in week two of self-isolation, many parents are turning to quick, attention-grabbing activities with their kids to help pass the time. Maybe it’s a compact at-home “indoor playground”; maybe it’s a good, ole-fashioned card game (looking at you, Go Fish); maybe it’s a scavenger hunt.
So HuffPost Parents asked not only our community of parents from the newsroom but also our Facebook community for advice and ideas to help the kids (and us) get through it all.
Advertisement
Take it outdoors
“I created a neighborhood walk bingo board and an “out for a drive” bingo board. They were a big hit with my 2- and 4-year-old. Happy to share! Very easy to make and can be adapted to where you live. Some items on the driving one included a dump truck, fire truck, mail truck, etc. We drove around for about 40 minutes eagerly looking for them all!” ― Elise Daigle
“My kids wanted to help me while I was planting seeds. So I gave them each a bucket of dirt and some “seeds” and let them dig and plant in their own buckets. It would be ideal to do this outside if it’s nice, but it was cold & rainy here in Maryland so I just let them make a mess on a tarp-covered table.” ― Emily Shea
“Set up a car wash. Bucket of clean water, bucket of soapy water, unused toothbrushes, and small towels. Then they bring the toy cars through the car wash. Keeps my 4-year-old busy for at least 45 minutes.” ― Robin Withall Chesnut
“Fire drill. Make them leave the house as quickly as possible and stay in the garden while I’m checking everyone is out (having a cuppa in peace).” ― Joanne Mitchell
Advertisement
Get crafty
“I’m an artist, so luckily we have a lot of paint and art supplies on hand. We painted signs of encouragement for our neighborhood and posted them at our tree facing the road. We have done some drawing and making our own board games. Art is therapy!” ― Brooke Elkins
“We make our own play dough: 2 c flour; 1 c salt; 4 tsp cream of tartar; 2 tbsp oil; 2 c water; and food coloring of your choice. Blend dry ingredients, heat oil and water on medium heat and blend in dry ingredients until the dough forms. Then add food coloring. The process of making it is quick and cheap ― and it keeps the kiddos busy much, much longer.” ― Samara Mackereth, head of video, HuffPost U.K.
Try a scavenger hunt
“Fun art; shared drawings; zentangles can be done by several people taking turns. Found object mandalas: start with a treasure hunt to collect six of something and then arrange them on table or floor in a circular pattern; finger paint in pudding or applesauce ― works even for olders who are open. String yarn all through the hall and living room and see who can go through the maze without touching the yarn.” ― Jayne Heetderks
“Try an indoor scavenger hunt. There’s a bunch of great lists on Pinterest! Create a spot where they have to put all the things, make them do one at a time, then make them put it all away.” ― Rebecca Zamon, manager of audience development, HuffPost Canada
“My kids are 4 and 5, and we enjoy kitchen scavenger hunts. Find something taller than you, then shorter than you. Then find something red (and any other color). Find something shaped like a rectangle, etc. Can be used for every room. The kids have a blast and I totally count it as ‘learning time’ and give myself a pat on the back 😂” ― Eileen Conlon Blanco
Advertisement
Go back to basics
“I’m working from home, which is challenging. A great idea I had to get silence during a conference call was to give my 6-year-old measuring tape and ask her to measure all her toys and chart it on a sheet of paper. She was so busy seeing which toy could ride the imaginary roller coaster that the silence continued even after the call!” ― Kerry Phillips
“My 3-year-old was jumping all over me and I needed a break, so I gave him a hug and asked him for a favor: Can he find me three blue Legos? He said OK, then ran off and spent 30 minutes playing by himself! 😱 He eventually brought me the blue Legos, so then I sent him for two yellow ones. 😂😂 It worked the next day too!” ― Carrie Mess
“We each get a cup of juice/water and we count the sips. Mommy gets her special juice. Keeps everyone busy for a good 30 minutes, the rest of the day everyone is busy dashing off to go pee so, ‘bingo!’” ― Awelani Nemukombame NB
“A friend, who is also a mother of two, posted a picture on Instagram of a ‘mystery jar’ for her kids to play with. The kids will pick a piece of paper out of the jar and have to do the activity; it’s anything from ‘do a puzzle’ to ‘do 2 worksheets.’ I tailored it a bit and added ‘get a sweet treat,’ ‘do jumping jacks.’ It’s an easy thing to get the kids out of a funk or split up the moments.” ― Kate Auletta, senior editor, HuffPost Parenting & Culture
“I froze a bunch of small toys in ice cubes and let my kids “excavate” them. They loved it and spent easily a half-hour quietly and happily destroying ice.” ― Rae Elegant
Advertisement
“I let my 6-year-old son play with an entire can of shaving cream in the bathtub and write his letters/numbers/pictures with his finger. Then he took a shower to rinse it all and also bathed himself. Dual-purpose, lol.” ― Kristin Janae
“Simon Says! Simon says do 30 jumping jacks.” ― Jeffie Chenault
“We get our farm animal toys ‘muddy’ (with cocoa powder + water) and then give them a bath in soapy water with an old toothbrush!” ― Anna Joy Tough
“Somebody once told me that in any difficult situation with my kid, I should add water. As funny as it sounds, it has helped me a lot. So today, when things started to get rough, I asked our son (3) if he wanted to take a bath. Lifted his mood instantly and gave me a few moments of calm.” ― Jana Romeo
“We built a fort! Fully equipped with Christmas lights and everything. Joy for days.” ― Emily Trcalek
“Red Solo cups and pingpong balls have kept my kids entertained for hours!” ― Sarah Bizzaro
Catherine Delahaye via Getty Images When all else fails, draw.
Advertisement
Try practically anything else
“A friend of mine made a dice-rolling game, where you roll a 1 and have to do 10 jumping jacks, roll a 2 and you have to do 10 squats, etc. We started doing it too. The kids think it’s hysterical.” ― Kate Auletta
“Our group of moms started a story time FB Live where we read stories. We each take turns reading while others tune in. The real fun is watching the kids be total maniacs while we are trying to read. Lolz.” ― Kristy Laufer Nelson
“I swear by: Cosmic Kids or other Yoga YouTube videos; making brownies or cookies; having a music band out of pots and pans (while you have your headphones on); virtual Disney rides; Google Earth ‘I’m feeling lucky’ and learn about some new place; longer baths; we’ve been watching ‘MasterChef Junior’ and ‘America’s Test Kitchen for kids’ and then have my older daughter help meal plan; make them sort socks as a matching game.” ― Kate Palmer, head of HuffPost Life
“Trying to find STEM activities: toothpick and marshmallow building, float or sink with different items, pattern block pictures and graphing along with arts and crafts, outdoor time when we can, and our daily structured school time. Not always easy but we’re making the best of it and staying positive! Playing music throughout the day helps a lot too.” ― Keri Rinaldi
“I showed my 6-year-old the Cha-Cha Slide and the Macarena from when I was younger and he loves it. We now do it anytime we are feeling antsy to get the wiggles out!” ― Roya Malaekeh
Advertisement
“My 20-minute activities are: Run races (and mix it up: race your kids, time each other, skip vs. run, do the chicken dance while you run, etc.); GoNoodle.com (pick 5-6 and do them with your kids and laugh and kind of get some exercise), and tic-tac-toe (and let them win enough times to make it last 20 minutes).” ― Hillary Frey, executive editor, HuffPost
“Most days I owe my sanity to dance-offs with the kids courtesy of Alexa.” ― Stephanie Wiseman
“20 brick challenge: 20 Lego/Duplo bricks and they have to build as many models as they can.” ― Amy Russell
Quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.


huffpost--2020-03-26--What Outdoor Activities Are Safe To Do During The Coronavirus Pandemic?

With government and public health experts urging more Americans to stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , many are desperate to get outside .
Stay-at-home orders permit people to leave the house for essentials , such as a trip to the doctor , pharmacy or grocery store , or to get some fresh air — as long as they aren ’ t sick with COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms of the disease — and maintain the 6-foot social distancing recommendation .
But when so many people are dealing with cabin fever and with few places to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor recreation areas can easily become inundated .
So what outdoor activities are safe to do right now ?
And how can you do them while taking the proper precautions ?
For one , be sure to follow the latest mandates in your area as they evolve .
Stick to doing outdoor activities alone or with members of your household .
Wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from respiratory droplets , but you do not need to wear a mask ( though some may choose to anyway ) .
And if you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , older or immunocompromised — “ it may be best to limit even these relatively safer activities for the time being , ” Dr. Sachin Nagrani , a family physician in Virginia , told HuffPost After you ’ ve been cooped up awhile , taking a walk outside can do wonders for your physical and mental health .
Opt for less-traveled paths or go during off-hours to minimize contact with others .
“ This activity is the most easily accessible , but it may be difficult to maintain distance in more densely populated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director for Heal .
“ Going early in the morning can reduce the likelihood of passing others during your outing.
” If you ’ re strolling through a park ( that is , if they ’ re still open in your neck of the woods ) , avoid using the public restrooms or other shared facilities if you can .
“ Remember , the virus can survive on surfaces for quite some time , even the benches , ” said Dr. Lynette Charity , an anesthesiologist and speaker .
“ Carry hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once you ’ ve returned home.
” “ And please , no spitting or blowing snot out of your nostrils while engaged in these activities , ” Charity said .
“ You know who you are .
Suppress the urge .
The virus can be in the postnasal drip you expel via your nostrils or by spitting.
” For the time being , stick to less strenuous hikes .
You don ’ t want to twist an ankle or get an injury that ’ s going to land you in the emergency room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Don ’ t go extreme , ” Charity said .
“ This is not the time to go mountain biking or do a 20-mile hike or skateboard down all the railings outside the empty malls or theaters .
”

boonchai wedmakawand via Getty Images Under the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, you can still walk, run, bike and hike outside, as long as you take the proper precautions.
With government and public health experts urging more Americans to stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, many are desperate to get outside.
Stay-at-home orders permit people to leave the house for essentials, such as a trip to the doctor, pharmacy or grocery store, or to get some fresh air — as long as they aren’t sick with COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms of the disease — and maintain the 6-foot social distancing recommendation. But when so many people are dealing with cabin fever and with few places to go, walking paths, hiking trails and outdoor recreation areas can easily become inundated.
Advertisement
In tough times, I know many Angelenos want to do what we always do — find peace & comfort in the natural beauty of our city. But please remember: outdoor activity is only allowed when practicing physical distancing. Crowding hiking trails or beaches will further spread COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/pi6R0FkrSX — Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) March 22, 2020
So what outdoor activities are safe to do right now? And how can you do them while taking the proper precautions?
For one, be sure to follow the latest mandates in your area as they evolve. Stick to doing outdoor activities alone or with members of your household. Wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from respiratory droplets, but you do not need to wear a mask (though some may choose to anyway). And if you’re in a high-risk group — e.g., older or immunocompromised — “it may be best to limit even these relatively safer activities for the time being,” Dr. Sachin Nagrani, a family physician in Virginia, told HuffPost
1. Walking
After you’ve been cooped up awhile, taking a walk outside can do wonders for your physical and mental health. Opt for less-traveled paths or go during off-hours to minimize contact with others.
Advertisement
“This activity is the most easily accessible, but it may be difficult to maintain distance in more densely populated areas,” said Nagrani, medical director for Heal. “Going early in the morning can reduce the likelihood of passing others during your outing.”
If you’re strolling through a park (that is, if they’re still open in your neck of the woods), avoid using the public restrooms or other shared facilities if you can.
“Remember, the virus can survive on surfaces for quite some time, even the benches,” said Dr. Lynette Charity, an anesthesiologist and speaker. “Carry hand sanitizer and wipes. Wash your hands immediately once you’ve returned home.”
2. Running
If you abide by the same guidelines noted above, going for a jog is another option that’s generally safe right now.
“And please, no spitting or blowing snot out of your nostrils while engaged in these activities,” Charity said. “You know who you are. Suppress the urge. The virus can be in the postnasal drip you expel via your nostrils or by spitting.”
Advertisement
3. Hiking
“Many parks remain open and offer space to be outdoors,” Nagrani said. “Plus, being out in nature can provide additional stress relief.”
For the time being, stick to less strenuous hikes. You don’t want to twist an ankle or get an injury that’s going to land you in the emergency room when health care resources are already limited.
4. Biking
As long as you’re steering clear of crowded routes, taking a bike ride is a good way to blow off some steam.
“Carrying a water bottle on the bike will prevent the need to stop somewhere more crowded to hydrate,” Nagrani said.
Cavan Images via Getty Images Here's how to enjoy the outdoors while keeping yourself and those around you healthy.
Advertisement
Similarly, you can rollerblade, skateboard or ride a scooter, but it’s best to set a leisurely pace. Save the fancy tricks and daredevil maneuvers for a later date.
“Don’t go extreme,” Charity said. “This is not the time to go mountain biking or do a 20-mile hike or skateboard down all the railings outside the empty malls or theaters.”
5. Gardening
“With kids home from school, a family outdoor activity such as gardening can be a safe and fun alternative,” Nagrani said.
Stick to weeding, trimming and pruning the plants in your own yard rather than visiting a community garden.
Outdoor Activities To Avoid
Skip group sports, like basketball, volleyball and flag football — even if you’re planning to play with people you know: a group of relatives, friends or neighbors.
Advertisement
“Team sports should be avoided right now because they involve gathering players and also often spectators in one place,” Nagrani said.
While a singles tennis match might be a safer option, it stills poses a threat because both players would be touching the same balls.
And if you have stir-crazy kids, playgrounds may seem like a good choice, but it’s best to avoid them for now. The virus may be living on high-touch surfaces, such as slides and swings.


huffpost--2020-03-26--Amazon Workers Are Scared, Unprotected As Coronavirus Sweeps Through Warehouses

The pressure is on to keep working ― longer hours and at faster speeds .
And while Amazon has unveiled a host of measures meant to cope with the pandemic , there are two policies that truly tell the tale : The company is offering unlimited unpaid leave to anyone who doesn ’ t want to risk coming to work .
Meanwhile , workers who do come in are making $ 2 more per hour and are paid double when working overtime .
What Happens When A Worker Gets Sick Still , employees say Amazon needs to do more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment , but they say Amazon should proactively be checking worker temperatures before letting them start work , and that warehouses should be closed for cleaning after an outbreak .
They also want real paid sick leave .
Worm , who works in Staten Island , says employees are coming from all five boroughs for their warehouse shifts , traveling through a city that is experiencing a heartbreaking number of cases and deaths and potentially further spreading disease .
For the good of the city and the country , he thinks the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works : “ This is New York City .
This is the epicenter .
We are in the epicenter of this virus and they are not taking it seriously .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Earlier this week, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York, were told an employee in the facility tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Then they went back to work.
“After they told us, the building was just running as it has been,” said Terrell Worm, an Amazon worker in Staten Island and member of Make the Road New York, an activist group. “It’s like they didn’t even say anything; it was just business as normal,” he said on a conference call organized by Athena, an anti-Amazon coalition of groups, with reporters Wednesday.
Advertisement
Amazon workers are on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, helping get food and necessities delivered to millions of Americans who are house-bound. Company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, the richest man on earth, has said he’ll do everything he can to keep his employees safe.
But workers don’t feel that way. “To watch Amazon executives say they are protecting workers is infuriating,” one New England driver told HuffPost, asking for anonymity to protect their job.
At least 10 Amazon warehouse workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of Thursday, according to public reports. Employees say many more are likely sick. The company is not making cases public; news about cases have filtered out via warehouse workers. The company just shut down a Kentucky warehouse because of the outbreak, only after staffers protested because three workers tested positive for coronavirus.
Warehouse workers and delivery drivers say they lack protective gear like goggles, masks and gloves. And that they don’t have adequate amounts of sanitizer to wipe down their workstations and are working close together ― despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that recommend social distancing. Meanwhile, the amount of work is staggering.
Advertisement
“It is very dangerous and scary. I’m scared for my own safety and the safety of my own community,” said Monica Moody, who works at an Amazon warehouse in Concord, North Carolina, near Charlotte, speaking on another call with workers and activists on Tuesday.
“Amazon is making us choose between coming to work or risk losing pay.” - Monica Moody, Amazon warehouse worker
Workers are still gathering in groups of 10 or more, she said. And there are rumors that colleagues have tested positive for COVID-19.
“We’re all freaked out,” said Moody, who is a member of United for Respect, which advocates for retail workers. “Amazon is making us choose between coming to work or risk losing pay.”
The pressure is on to keep working ― longer hours and at faster speeds. And while Amazon has unveiled a host of measures meant to cope with the pandemic, there are two policies that truly tell the tale: The company is offering unlimited unpaid leave to anyone who doesn’t want to risk coming to work. Meanwhile, workers who do come in are making $2 more per hour and are paid double when working overtime.
Advertisement
It’s a fraught choice. “You’re either getting a lot of money or you’re sitting at home worried about the bills,” said Jana Jumpp, a United for Respect member who works in a Jeffersonville, Indiana, Amazon fulfillment center and spoke on the call Wednesday. “The only choice we have is to take time off without pay or be exposed to this virus.”
Some of her colleagues aren’t as worried, she said. “I’ve had people say, ‘I don’t care if I’m sick, I want to get that money,’” she added.
Jumpp is 58 years old and has loved working at Amazon until recently, she said. Now she’s taking unpaid time off.
“I’m scared to go back,” she said. “There is nowhere near enough protection in our facility; people are not given hand sanitizer, wipes or masks.”
‘They Push Us And Push Us’
The situation also appears dire for the company’s army of contract workers, including its fleet of drivers who are either independent contractors or who work for small local companies that manage fleets of vans and cars delivering packages ― under immense pressure.
Advertisement
“We’re not social distancing,” said the driver in New England, who works for a contractor and spoke with HuffPost last week.
Drivers crowd into a group in the morning before they set out on their routes for the day. They’re not given sanitizing wipes or any kind of protective gear to stay safe on the road. And with business increasing right now, drivers are being pushed to deliver packages as fast as possible.
“We’re being pushed really hard to do our routes. As many as we can. I mean they push us and push us,” the driver said, adding that there’s no time to stop for bathroom breaks or even to eat.
And, though this driver was able to buy some sanitizing wipes, there’s no real time to try to keep packages clean. “I try to wipe down the van and wipe my hands but we can’t sit there and wipe down packages.”
What Happens When A Worker Gets Sick
If a worker tests positive in a warehouse, employees in the facility are told about the situation, an Amazon spokesperson told HuffPost. But often, employees start out by hearing rumors.
Advertisement
A sign is lit on the facade of an Amazon fulfillment center on Staten Island in New York. The company plans to hire another 100,000 new workers in their fulfillment centers to fill increased customer demand during the coronavirus outbreak in which many Americans are working from home and discouraged from going out. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stephanie Haynes, a United for Respect member who works at a Joliet, Illinois, warehouse, said that after hearing a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19, she and a few colleagues confronted a human resources manager at their warehouse. They were told to go back to work and that Amazon had checked cameras to see who worked near this person.
“We didn’t find out because Amazon told us,” she said, adding that she worked with this woman. “Somebody else who worked with her, as well, came and said something.”
Amazon says its policy is to send home anyone who works closely with an infected person. Haynes was not told to go home.
She’s scared.
“I have allergy asthma. I have family at home. I have children at home. My fiance has diabetes,” she said on the call Wednesday. “A lot of people want to go home but they have bills they want to pay. ... Amazon needs to do a lot more to protect us.”
Advertisement
In a statement, Amazon acknowledged that a worker in Joliet tested positive. “We are supporting the individual who is recovering. We are following guidelines from local officials and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site,” said the statement.
The worker who tested positive was last at the facility a week ago, the company said. Anyone who was in close contact was asked to stay home with pay for 14 days.
Amazon said it does not make cases public.
‘Amazon’s Paid Sick Leave Is A Joke’
Under Amazon’s COVID-19 sick leave policy, workers get 14 days of paid sick time if they’re diagnosed with the disease or placed under quarantine. But that leaves out the raft of workers who are immunocompromised and considered at-risk under CDC guidelines. It also leaves out the many, many sick workers who can’t actually get tested for coronavirus.
Companies with similar policies have faced a raft of criticism over their restrictions.
Workers who can’t use the emergency policy are permitted to tap into whatever paid sick leave they’ve earned while working at the company. But many say they just don’t have enough hours saved up to take a meaningful amount of time off.
“Amazon’s paid sick leave is a joke,” said Jumpp.
The company needs to implement true universal sick leave, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said in a letter to Bezos last weekend.
Advertisement
“I am encouraged that you have recognized the importance of paid sick leave during the current crisis,” she writes. “However, I am concerned that gaps in these policies will leave many workers without the option to follow best medical advice when they are sick, putting themselves, their colleagues, and their communities at greater risk.”
Warren is pushing for universal paid sick leave for all workers expanded beyond what Amazon is offering. Congress has failed to provide any kind of emergency paid sick leave to workers at Amazon. A provision in emergency coronavirus legislation passed last week only guarantees paid sick time to workers at companies with fewer than 500 employees.
‘This Isn’t Business As Usual’
“Much of the essential work we do cannot be done from home,” Bezos said in a letter to workers earlier this week, acknowledging the difficulties of the situation. He reassured employees that their safety is his top concern, while acknowledging the enormity of the crisis and the role Amazon is playing.
“This isn’t business as usual, and it’s a time of great stress and uncertainty. It’s also a moment in time when the work we’re doing is its most critical,” he said.
The company is now prioritizing essential goods ― groceries, cleaning supplies ― over other items.
Bezos tried to reassure workers that he’s thinking of their safety.
“We’ve implemented a series of preventative health measures for employees and contractors at our sites around the world — everything from increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning to adjusting our practices in fulfillment centers to ensure the recommended social distancing guidelines. We are meeting every day, working to identify additional ways to improve on these measures,” he said.
Advertisement
“This isn’t business as usual, and it’s a time of great stress and uncertainty. It’s also a moment in time when the work we’re doing is its most critical.” - Jeff Bezos, in a letter to Amazon employees
The mask shortage is a known issue, Bezos writes. But, he says, medical workers come first. “When our turn for masks comes, our first priority will be getting them in the hands of our employees and partners working to get essential products to people,” the letter notes.
He points out that the company plans on hiring 100,000 more workers to deal with the demands of the crisis.
A spokesperson emphasized that the company’s policies are evolving along with the public health crisis.
The epidemic is clearly a breakout moment for Amazon. Workers say the level of work right now is similar to the Christmas rush. And they also understand that they’re performing a clearly essential service right now, enabling much of the country to shelter in place and slow the spread of the virus.
Advertisement
Still, employees say Amazon needs to do more. Not only do they need more protective equipment, but they say Amazon should proactively be checking worker temperatures before letting them start work, and that warehouses should be closed for cleaning after an outbreak. They also want real paid sick leave.
At this point, many workers have just stopped showing up at the warehouses.