huffpost--2020-03-20--Here's How To Keep Your Home As Coronavirus-Free As Possible

People with horrible coughs , fevers and trouble breathing aren ’ t driving the coronavirus pandemic .
It ’ s people with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all who are responsible for the majority of new COVID-19 cases , according to research published earlier this week .
People who work in essential jobs have an especially high chance of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 , the technical name for the virus that causes COVID-19 , and bringing it home .
Since it ’ s so hard to tell who ’ s carrying the virus before symptoms show , essential workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at an increased risk of being exposed in shared spaces , where it can survive for hours to days .
Researchers still don ’ t know a lot about SARS-CoV-2 , but they ’ ve studied similar viruses and know their weaknesses .
A team of scientists and architects have scoured that research and have written a guide for making your indoor space as unfriendly to the virus as possible .
Here are a few quick and easy tips from that guide and from experts that you can use at home : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfect counters regularly .
Washing your hands is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and everyone else from COVID-19 .
You should do it often ― some examples of good times are when you return from being outside , after you ’ ve touched a potentially infected surface , after you use the bathroom and before you eat .
Hand washing fights the virus in two ways : It completely destroys some copies of the virus , and nearly all that survive come off your hands and go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can hitch a ride in minuscule water droplets that fly into the air during hand washing .
Removing clutter from around your sink limits the surface area where they can land and survive , and occasionally disinfecting the counter will keep them from infecting anyone .
Increasing the amount of fresh air coming into your home will help flush out indoor contaminants , including viral particles in the air .
Researchers aren ’ t sure how many people are getting sick from inhaling airborne copies of SARS-CoV-2 , but they ’ re increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles that remain suspended in the air for up to a half-hour .
“ A little fresh air can do your body good , and we think there ’ s evidence it can do your building good as well , ” said Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg , a co-author of the guide and a professor at the School of Architecture and Environment at the University of Oregon .
“ It ’ s a simple strategy that we have access to in most buildings and homes.
” Use a humidifier to keep indoor humidity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boosting the percentage of water molecules in the air can help in a few ways , according to the guide ’ s authors .
Those water molecules may damage the outer membrane of the virus , making it viable for a shorter amount of time .
They also make the tiny droplets that viruses live in heavier , which causes them to fall out of the air more quickly .
The humidity also affects how well your body can defend itself against pathogens and other particles , including viruses .
A coronavirus gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like your eyes , nose , and mouth .
Indoor air tends to dry out those membranes , making your body more vulnerable to pathogens .
Keeping the humidity a little bit higher allows your body ’ s first line of defense to work at its optimum level .
Letting sunlight stream into your home is another way to put some pressure on viruses that have made their way inside .
UV light damages most microorganisms and viruses , including coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 .
“ We have evidence in the literature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other viruses , ” said Mark Fretz , another of the guide ’ s co-authors and a research assistant professor at the University of Oregon ’ s College of Design .
“ It ’ s also good for your psychological well-being.
” Don ’ t forget to clean the items you use every day .
We ’ re all having to make really big changes to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
These recommendations are no replacement for hand washing and social distancing , but they might still make a small difference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having even a little more control might get us through this a little bit easier .

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People with horrible coughs, fevers and trouble breathing aren’t driving the coronavirus pandemic. It’s people with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all who are responsible for the majority of new COVID-19 cases, according to research published earlier this week.
People who work in essential jobs have an especially high chance of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the technical name for the virus that causes COVID-19, and bringing it home. Since it’s so hard to tell who’s carrying the virus before symptoms show, essential workers’ families, partners, and roommates are at an increased risk of being exposed in shared spaces, where it can survive for hours to days.
Advertisement
Researchers still don’t know a lot about SARS-CoV-2, but they’ve studied similar viruses and know their weaknesses. A team of scientists and architects have scoured that research and have written a guide for making your indoor space as unfriendly to the virus as possible. Here are a few quick and easy tips from that guide and from experts that you can use at home:
Remove clutter from around the sink and disinfect counters regularly.
Washing your hands is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and everyone else from COVID-19. You should do it often ― some examples of good times are when you return from being outside, after you’ve touched a potentially infected surface, after you use the bathroom and before you eat.
Hand washing fights the virus in two ways: It completely destroys some copies of the virus, and nearly all that survive come off your hands and go down the drain.
However, some survivors can hitch a ride in minuscule water droplets that fly into the air during hand washing. Removing clutter from around your sink limits the surface area where they can land and survive, and occasionally disinfecting the counter will keep them from infecting anyone.
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Make sure you also regularly disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched, like countertops, doorknobs and faucet handles.
Open a window.
Increasing the amount of fresh air coming into your home will help flush out indoor contaminants, including viral particles in the air. Researchers aren’t sure how many people are getting sick from inhaling airborne copies of SARS-CoV-2, but they’re increasingly concerned that the virus can spread through particles that remain suspended in the air for up to a half-hour.
“A little fresh air can do your body good, and we think there’s evidence it can do your building good as well,” said Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, a co-author of the guide and a professor at the School of Architecture and Environment at the University of Oregon. “It’s a simple strategy that we have access to in most buildings and homes.”
mladenbalinovac via Getty Images
Use a humidifier to keep indoor humidity between 40% and 60%.
Recent research shows that high temperature and high relative humidity may reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
Advertisement
Boosting the percentage of water molecules in the air can help in a few ways, according to the guide’s authors. Those water molecules may damage the outer membrane of the virus, making it viable for a shorter amount of time. They also make the tiny droplets that viruses live in heavier, which causes them to fall out of the air more quickly.
The humidity also affects how well your body can defend itself against pathogens and other particles, including viruses. A coronavirus gets into the body through mucous membranes, like your eyes, nose, and mouth. Indoor air tends to dry out those membranes, making your body more vulnerable to pathogens. Keeping the humidity a little bit higher allows your body’s first line of defense to work at its optimum level.
Open blinds and shades.
Letting sunlight stream into your home is another way to put some pressure on viruses that have made their way inside. UV light damages most microorganisms and viruses, including coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2.
“We have evidence in the literature that sunlight can inactivate influenza viruses and other viruses,” said Mark Fretz, another of the guide’s co-authors and a research assistant professor at the University of Oregon’s College of Design. “It’s also good for your psychological well-being.”
Don’t forget to clean the items you use every day.
This includes disinfecting your phone, carefully washing your clothes, and cleaning your reusable grocery bags.
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huffpost--2020-03-20--Here's What You've Been Cooking During Your Self-Quarantine

Like many of you , I ’ ve been practicing extreme social distancing as the specter of an invisible threat looms outside .
Because of the coronavirus , I ’ m not going to bars or restaurants , I ’ m certainly not hosting any dinners for my friends , and my trips outside have become short , anxiety-riddled affairs devoid of any human contact , if I can help it .
The problem is , this new lifestyle is antithetical to the one I lived a week ago , when the self-quarantining began in earnest here in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals I enjoy in the company of people I know , and I ’ ve grown accustomed to having the outlet of food and friends available to me 24/7 ( yes , I am spoiled , both emotionally and calorically ) .
But much of the city ’ s social privileges were canceled overnight , and now we ’ re all staying indoors .
For needy people like me , this is not ideal .
The self-care substitutes I ’ m left with are a fridge full of food ― thanks to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media , the only place to unload emotional baggage onto my peers now that a global crisis has interrupted my dinner party plans .
So I cook at home , I post photos of my meals and I seek out inspiration from real home cooks because I have no idea how to put all these new ingredients together on my own .
You all seem to be doing the same ― I ’ ve seen a lot more of your home cooking on Twitter since this isolating pandemic began , and your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social withdrawal .
So I asked you , the readers , to send me more of the meals you ’ re cooking from your new life under self-quarantine .
I kicked the exercise off with the fancy grilled cheese sandwich I made , using kimchi , scallions and some leftover pulled pork : Did I mention I ’ m an average cook with the palate of a stoned teenager ?
Luckily , I got some much-needed inspiration from your responses , which ranged from adorable Pinterest-ready family meals to unholy gray matter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an apocalypse .
I loved them all .
A good number of you are making tacos , which is a tried and true response to having a variety of produce and ( in my case ) no idea what to do with it : Some of you are doing what I did by cooking down bigger cuts of meat first to use in several meals .
In my case , I threw a pre-smoked pork shoulder in the sous vide machine for 24 hours , preparing for a dinner party that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You all seem more prepared : Next up are the kitchen warriors I most identify with ; those who opened the fridge , grabbed anything and everything they could find , and threw proteins and veggies on top of some starch with maybe some cheese or soy sauce .
You folks are out there experimenting and innovating when some of us don ’ t have the guts .
I , for one , salute you for these creations : Last but not least come the comfort foods .
We all know we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few pounds in the quarantine , and that ’ s OK !

Twitter We asked you to show us the meals you're making under quarantine. You delivered!
Like many of you, I’ve been practicing extreme social distancing as the specter of an invisible threat looms outside. Because of the coronavirus, I’m not going to bars or restaurants, I’m certainly not hosting any dinners for my friends, and my trips outside have become short, anxiety-riddled affairs devoid of any human contact, if I can help it.
The problem is, this new lifestyle is antithetical to the one I lived a week ago, when the self-quarantining began in earnest here in New York City. My well-being revolves around the meals I enjoy in the company of people I know, and I’ve grown accustomed to having the outlet of food and friends available to me 24/7 (yes, I am spoiled, both emotionally and calorically). But much of the city’s social privileges were canceled overnight, and now we’re all staying indoors. For needy people like me, this is not ideal.
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The self-care substitutes I’m left with are a fridge full of food ― thanks to an ill-advised fit of panic shopping ― and social media, the only place to unload emotional baggage onto my peers now that a global crisis has interrupted my dinner party plans.
So I cook at home, I post photos of my meals and I seek out inspiration from real home cooks because I have no idea how to put all these new ingredients together on my own. You all seem to be doing the same ― I’ve seen a lot more of your home cooking on Twitter since this isolating pandemic began, and your posts are truly helping to treat my social withdrawal.
So I asked you, the readers, to send me more of the meals you’re cooking from your new life under self-quarantine. I kicked the exercise off with the fancy grilled cheese sandwich I made, using kimchi, scallions and some leftover pulled pork:
More of you are cooking now that you’re quarantined.
Show me the meals you’ve been making in isolation and tell me about them, and I’ll feature them in a @HuffPostLife story!
They don’t have to be beautiful or complex, just yours.
I’ll start. Pork/kimchi grilled cheese: pic.twitter.com/fz5PlMdTcf — Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) March 18, 2020
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Did I mention I’m an average cook with the palate of a stoned teenager? Luckily, I got some much-needed inspiration from your responses, which ranged from adorable Pinterest-ready family meals to unholy gray matter that looks like it may well outlive us in an apocalypse. I loved them all.
A good number of you are making tacos, which is a tried and true response to having a variety of produce and (in my case) no idea what to do with it:
Super tasty roasted cauli tacos, with refried beans in crispy cheese tortillas (learnt from Chef Shoe on @netflix) pic.twitter.com/Pa1Ut7gH1O — Martin Izzard (@Martin_Izzard) March 18, 2020
Slow cooked pork shoulder. So then I made tacos al pastor. And then breakfast tacos. pic.twitter.com/AfewifLFU5 — Erin Evans (@heyerinevans) March 18, 2020
Carne adovada tacos pic.twitter.com/BOMz3dHVd6 — Jed Dolbeer (@jdolbeer) March 18, 2020
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Some of you are doing what I did by cooking down bigger cuts of meat first to use in several meals. In my case, I threw a pre-smoked pork shoulder in the sous vide machine for 24 hours, preparing for a dinner party that was quickly and rightly canceled over coronavirus fears. You all seem more prepared:
When your supply chain is a 4x leader. Grilled trout caught on yours and my Public Lands. pic.twitter.com/c7ZHwOp1yT — John Wilson (@JWneural) March 18, 2020
Spicy pork loin. My mom’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner recipe. Decided not to wait until Christmas 😁 pic.twitter.com/YWqtCPMbVT — Liliana Triolet (@lilitriolet) March 18, 2020
Others are opting for hearty soups, which I would like to re-create myself, but I’m too intimidated.
Yours look pretty dang good, though:
Incidentally bought like 8 pounds of pork belly last weekend and I’ve been on a ramen kick before all this started, so here’s some curry ramen with chashu pic.twitter.com/GwL7oTMMFr — uncle dick in the deer stand (@cactus_flack) March 18, 2020
Reheated ramen broth/noodles I bought from my fave local shop before it closed, added leftover corned beef + veggies + egg! pic.twitter.com/3CXJQy6nwQ — Jessie Opoien (@jessieopie) March 18, 2020
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Next up are the kitchen warriors I most identify with; those who opened the fridge, grabbed anything and everything they could find, and threw proteins and veggies on top of some starch with maybe some cheese or soy sauce.
You folks are out there experimenting and innovating when some of us don’t have the guts. I, for one, salute you for these creations:
Pre made lobster ravioli and frozen shrimp with spinach and lemon sauce! pic.twitter.com/Tx1kEbHWeG — Jamie Lavarnway (@jamie_lavarnway) March 18, 2020
Instant pot sticky chicken thighs (my version). pic.twitter.com/9W1AdJ3nNS — Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) March 18, 2020
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Cooked this South Indian eggplant dish to eat with rice / been cooking tons of comfort food everyday pic.twitter.com/tDPkzqDyP0 — Nandita Iyer😷🏃♀ (@saffrontrail) March 18, 2020
rice, broccoli rabe, purple cabbage, topped with hummus, avocado, toasted almonds, sriracha and soy sauce pic.twitter.com/QnL0S7FJAl — baze blackwood 🎤 (@bazeblackwood) March 18, 2020
pan fried polenta, kale, sautéed mushrooms, lil burrata, prosciutto, lemon juice, and a sh*t ton of parm grated on top! pic.twitter.com/3d9VEeqGpy — thot toddy (@savserif) March 18, 2020
Sorry it’s not pretty but it’s penne pasta with pesto, chicken, mozzarella, and kale pic.twitter.com/HgC2dZwWzY — Gen Z Correspondent (@askjunie) March 18, 2020
Last but not least come the comfort foods. We all know we’re about to pack on a few pounds in the quarantine, and that’s OK!
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You folks are leaning in, baking and frying using lots of butter and sour cream, and I want you to know that I support you:
Parm mac and cheese with spicy chicken pic.twitter.com/SxEyRhtATd — Darrrrrrren (@zeebotter) March 18, 2020
Pound cake French Toast with strawberries! pic.twitter.com/Y6hq0UV3pT — Scooter (@hi_its_scooter) March 18, 2020
Chicken nachos and a cranberry quarantini pic.twitter.com/0CJ4CAA7dH — Pat Collins (@PL_Coll) March 18, 2020
Made this deli ring because the situation called for comfort food and calories be damned pic.twitter.com/9SqQcDTJU1 — Notalie Portman (@NotaliePortman) March 18, 2020
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huffpost--2020-03-20--Trump Administration Failed Dry Run 'Crimson Contagion' Pandemic Exercise

Officials wouldn ’ t explain why the administration ’ s coronavirus response was so slow to roll out testing , or to move on promoting social distancing and school closings — all steps highlighted in the exercise , according to the Times .
While President Donald Trump has claimed that “ nobody knew there would be a pandemic ... of this proportion , ” that ’ s exactly the kind of possibility the exercise addressed .
The Trump administration also had the benefit of lessons learned by the Obama administration in dealing with the Ebola crisis .
Obama aides in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparedness for incoming officials of the Trump administration as part of the transition , but almost all of the previous administration ’ s experts had left the government by last year .
Former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats , who was fired by Trump in 2019 , warned of the danger of a pandemic to an unprepared nation last year in his Worldwide Threat Assessment .
The U.S. will “ remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , strain international resources , and increase calls on the United States for support , ” the threat report warned .
The presentation of this year ’ s threat assessment to members of Congress has been held up by the Trump administration , Time magazine reported , citing unnamed sources .
The report warns the U.S. is unprepared for a pandemic .

Officials wouldn’t explain why the administration’s coronavirus response was so slow to roll out testing, or to move on promoting social distancing and school closings — all steps highlighted in the exercise, according to the Times.
While President Donald Trump has claimed that “nobody knew there would be a pandemic ... of this proportion,” that’s exactly the kind of possibility the exercise addressed.
The Trump administration also had the benefit of lessons learned by the Obama administration in dealing with the Ebola crisis. Obama aides in early 2017 ran an exercise for pandemic preparedness for incoming officials of the Trump administration as part of the transition, but almost all of the previous administration’s experts had left the government by last year.
Former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who was fired by Trump in 2019, warned of the danger of a pandemic to an unprepared nation last year in his Worldwide Threat Assessment.
The U.S. will “remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support,” the threat report warned.
The presentation of this year’s threat assessment to members of Congress has been held up by the Trump administration, Time magazine reported, citing unnamed sources. The report warns the U.S. is unprepared for a pandemic.


huffpost--2020-03-20--Why Social Distancing Could Go On A Lot Longer Than We Think

There ’ s More Than One Way To Flatten A Curve Herd Immunity Could Limit The Spread Of Disease — But Not Enough “ Herd immunity ” is a term that comes up every flu season ( and in just about every anti-vaccination debate ) .
It means that if enough people in a given population are immune to a disease , then the disease won ’ t be able to spread as easily from person to person .
When it comes to diseases for which there are vaccines , like measles or the seasonal flu , that means a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get sick , and therefore can ’ t infect someone who hasn ’ t been vaccinated .
And it means that if you do get sick , you won ’ t pass the infection on to people who have been vaccinated .
Even when a vaccine isn ’ t perfect , it can still help to keep a disease from tearing through your town .
We ’ re Going To Have To Keep Up Social Distancing Cases Of The Virus Could Go Down — And Then Go Way Back Up This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tends to go down in the summer when it ’ s hotter and more humid and people are spending less time cooped up indoors .
Then rates rebound in the fall .
It ’ s possible that the novel coronavirus could behave similarly , though Gordon points out that it seems to be transmitting quite easily in hot , humid climates like Singapore and Indonesia .
Scientists don ’ t know enough about it to make a prediction .
A summer slump and autumn rise could have to do with seasonality of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing .
The Prospects Are ‘ Scary ’ ― But The More We Learn , The More We ’ ll Know

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If and when the world sees a reduction in the number of new coronavirus cases, we may have the work of Neil Ferguson, a British mathematical biologist, to thank. A widely respected epidemiologist, Ferguson has used mathematical models to study the transmission of swine flu, Ebola, Zika and other diseases. In early February, Ferguson and his colleagues at Imperial College London were among the first to conclude, using statistical analysis, that China had radically undercounted COVID-19 cases.
But it is a report that Ferguson released on March 16 that jolted governments in the U.S. and U.K. into action. If allowed to spread wholly unchecked, the disease would claim some 510,000 lives in Britain and up to 2.2 million in the United States, the study predicted (though it noted it’s unlikely any government would impose no control measures at all). Even with moderate levels of social distancing, the study warned, we’d see a surge of infections that would overwhelm hospitals and swamp health care systems.
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Ferguson concluded that “intensive, and socially disruptive interventions ... most notably, large scale social distancing, will need to be in place for many months, perhaps until a vaccine becomes available.”
By week’s end, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had abruptly shifted course, after previously minimizing social distancing on the premise that large numbers of Brits would need to contract the disease to develop “herd immunity.” In the U.S., President Donald Trump discouraged gatherings of more than 10 people, and the state of California ordered all of its residents to shelter in place on March 19.
Ferguson and his colleagues had shared preliminary drafts of their study with British and American officials before they publicly released it. What else is in the report that so alarmed both Downing Street and the White House?
The Imperial College researchers predicted the ways that various interventions could slow rates of infection, hospitalization and death in the continued absence of effective medical treatments or a vaccine. The study looked at five interventions: home isolation of cases (staying home for a week if you have symptoms); household quarantine (where anyone who lives in the same house as someone with symptoms self-isolates for two weeks); social distancing (reducing contact with other people by 75%); social distancing of those over 70 (who are most at risk of dying after contracting COVID-19); and closing schools and universities.
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Using data from China and other countries on how the virus is transmitted and how the infection progresses in patients, layered over models of social contacts in the U.K. and the U.S., the team created simulations to see how these interventions would work alone or in concert — and how they compared to no interventions at all.
All the interventions won out over complete inaction, and combinations of these methods were even more effective. But no one set of measures modeled in the simulations could stop the spread, save the most lives, and unburden an overwhelmed health care system all at once.
There’s More Than One Way To Flatten A Curve
You’ve probably seen some version of a graph representing potential COVID-19 cases with two curving lines on it. One line goes up real high, real fast, then comes back down; the other rises more gradually and doesn’t get as high, but takes much longer to return to zero. That second line is the “flattened” curve. That’s the goal.
If we were to let the virus spread unchecked, the number of cases would shoot up rapidly, and the influx of sick people would quickly overwhelm the capacity of hospitals. If, on the other hand, we implemented strategies to contain the spread of the virus — like practicing social distancing — it would pass from person to person more slowly, so there would be fewer cases at once, giving our health care system a fighting chance to respond.
That’s the basic picture. Of course, how to flatten the curve is an extremely complicated question. The Imperial College report modeled out the effects of two fundamental strategies — one set of interventions aimed at “mitigation,” or limiting deaths from the disease while still allowing some transmission, and one set aimed at “suppression,” or reducing the number of cases as much as possible. The researchers concluded that both approaches have the potential to flatten the curve, but neither is likely to stop the spread of the coronavirus any time soon.
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Herd Immunity Could Limit The Spread Of Disease — But Not Enough
“Herd immunity” is a term that comes up every flu season (and in just about every anti-vaccination debate). It means that if enough people in a given population are immune to a disease, then the disease won’t be able to spread as easily from person to person. When it comes to diseases for which there are vaccines, like measles or the seasonal flu, that means a person who’s been vaccinated won’t get sick, and therefore can’t infect someone who hasn’t been vaccinated. And it means that if you do get sick, you won’t pass the infection on to people who have been vaccinated. Even when a vaccine isn’t perfect, it can still help to keep a disease from tearing through your town.
But we don’t have a vaccine for this coronavirus yet, because it is totally new to us. And because it’s totally new to us, people haven’t had the chance to build up natural immunity to it, the way most of us probably have some immunological memory of past flus (antibodies) that help us resist getting sick every year.
What if we gave the population time to build up immunity? That’s part of the thinking behind the mitigation approach. If we isolate the most vulnerable (older people and people with existing health conditions) and those who are showing symptoms, but we let healthy (mostly younger) people go about life ― possibly passing the virus around, but not feeling sick as a result ― those people will build up antibodies to the novel coronavirus, and eventually herd immunity will naturally hamper its spread.
The Imperial College report concluded that with a combination of social distancing just among seniors and isolation of people with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who live with them, we could “reduce peak critical care demand by two-thirds and halve the number of deaths” over three to four months’ time.
But there’s a “but”: “This will not be enough to prevent health systems being overwhelmed,” Ferguson said. Even in this “‘optimal’ mitigation scenario,” the report warns, the need for critical care would be eight times higher than what hospitals in the U.S. and the U.K. can handle. (Capacity is represented by the flat red line in the graph below.) And a lot of people would still die: 250,000 Brits and as many as 1.2 million Americans.
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Mitigation strategy scenarios for Great Britain showing critical care (ICU) bed requirements. The black line shows the unmitigated epidemic. The green line shows a mitigation strategy incorporating closure of schools and universities; the orange line shows case isolation; the yellow line shows case isolation and household quarantine; and the blue line shows case isolation, home quarantine and social distancing of those aged over 70. The blue shading shows the three-month period in which these interventions are assumed to remain in place. Imperial College London
We’re Going To Have To Keep Up Social Distancing
The alternative to the mitigation route would be trying for suppression, to get the total number of cases as low as we can, which the Imperial College London researchers concluded “is the only viable strategy at the current time.” That means imposing social distancing to physically keep people from being able to pass the virus to each other. Millions of people in the U.S. and Europe are already getting a sense of what this is like. Get used to it.
“It’s not going to be a short-term process if we try to do suppression,” said Aubree Gordon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study.
According to the projections, to stop or significantly staunch human-to-human transmission in the U.S. or U.K. would require a combination of social distancing of the entire population, isolating known cases, and either quarantining the households of known cases or closing schools and universities.
Though they recognize that these measures would be “disruptive,” the researchers believe they would minimize the number of new cases enough to not overwhelm hospitals, so the sickest can be treated. “While there are many uncertainties,” the report acknowledges, “such a combined strategy is the most likely one to ensure that critical care bed requirements would remain within surge capacity.” (One of the uncertainties is what happens when health care professionals can’t get child care and have to miss work.)
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There’s a “but” here, too. Social distancing prevents herd immunity from developing. As soon as isolation and social distancing restrictions are lifted, the coronavirus will start spreading all over again.
“The problem is that no one other than those who have recovered from the infection are likely to be immune,” Barry Bloom, an infectious disease and immunology expert at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told HuffPost.
And since the whole point of suppression is that very few people will get it, that means very few will develop immunity. The herd could get hit hard once again.
Cases Of The Virus Could Go Down — And Then Go Way Back Up
According to the model, if the U.S. were to put social distancing measures in place by the end of March and enforce them for five months (yes, five whole months), you could expect to see infection rates decrease, or at least stay more or less within hospitals’ critical care capacity, until restrictions are lifted. After that, they would rise again, peaking sometime between October and December.
Suppression strategy scenarios for the U.S. showing ICU bed requirements. The black line shows the unmitigated epidemic. Green shows a suppression strategy incorporating closure of schools and universities, case isolation and population-wide social distancing beginning in late March 2020. The orange line shows a containment strategy incorporating case isolation, household quarantine and population-wide social distancing. The red line is the estimated surge ICU bed capacity in the U.S. The blue shading shows the five-month period in which these interventions are assumed to remain in place. Imperial College London
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This pattern may seem familiar. The flu tends to go down in the summer when it’s hotter and more humid and people are spending less time cooped up indoors. Then rates rebound in the fall. It’s possible that the novel coronavirus could behave similarly, though Gordon points out that it seems to be transmitting quite easily in hot, humid climates like Singapore and Indonesia. Scientists don’t know enough about it to make a prediction. A summer slump and autumn rise could have to do with seasonality of the infection — or it could be coincidental timing.
“No one really knows that this virus will survive the summer and come back in the fall,” Bloom said. “Everybody, including the model makers, are speculating.”
What’s pretty certain is that we won’t have a vaccine for a year to 18 months (or more), and that’s too long to keep people from going to work or school. What’s more, the better social distancing works, the worse things will be when the virus returns. “The more successful a strategy is at temporary suppression, the larger the later epidemic is predicted to be in the absence of vaccination, due to lesser build-up of herd immunity,” the report says.
That’s why the Imperial College model suggests that after an initial period of strict social distancing, people could start to move about again — until the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs rises to a certain level, at which point the restrictions would kick back in.
It might look like this: We spend April, May, June and July living a no-school, socially distanced existence, until critical cases fall dramatically. Then we get a few weeks’ reprieve before cases climb up to the trigger point and school is canceled again.
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The “triggering” model is more nimble; the thresholds can be raised or lowered as trends change, or on a state-to-state basis. And it allows for periods of normalcy, although social distancing would be in effect two-thirds of the time. (Case isolation, household quarantine and social distancing of people 70 and over would remain in effect throughout.) And the number of cases would continue bouncing up and down until we found an effective vaccine. The researchers’ simulation goes for two years.
The Prospects Are ‘Scary’ ― But The More We Learn, The More We’ll Know
“The challenges we collectively face are daunting,” said Christl Donnelly, one of the authors of the Imperial College report, in a statement. “However, our work indicates if a combination of measures are implemented, then transmission can be substantially reduced. These measures will be disruptive but uncertainties will reduce over time, and while we await effective vaccines and drugs, these public health measures can reduce demands on our healthcare systems.”
“It’s a very well done study,” Gordon said, “and very scary.” But she emphasized that the model will be continually updated and refined as we learn more about the virus and how to treat it, and as we ramp up testing to see how it’s spreading here.
Policy and decision-making will depend on testing and “having really smart people model the course of the epidemic in real time, not just in analogy to China,” Bloom said.
Ferguson may be personally modeling the course and how to slow it. The scientist, an adviser to the British government who recently attended a Downing Street briefing, tweeted Wednesday that he had a cough and fever and was self-isolating.
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huffpost--2020-03-19--No, You Don't Have To Be Extra Productive During The Coronavirus Pandemic

If you have been scrolling through the bad and worse news about the coronavirus pandemic on Twitter , you may have seen the viral tweets about how famous artists innovated during quarantines , like when Shakespeare wrote “ King Lear ” while theaters were shuttered for plague or when Isaac Newton created calculus while social distancing .
Maybe you have felt some version of this judgment from friends and family who are using their time indoors social distancing to exercise more , expand their cooking repertoire or come out of this global pandemic with a new skill like a language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture never stops , quarantine or not .
I feel pressured to keep hustling despite knowing better .
My concentration is shot with each coronavirus update , which is entirely understandable .
I will be typing diligently away on my laptop , then suddenly overtaken with worry for my parents who are doctors seeing sick patients and over 60 years old .
And despite these normal concerns , I still feel twinges of guilt for falling behind on deadlines and promises to pick up a hobby .
“ Why aren ’ t I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” thinks the capitalist part of my brain .
“ There is a tendency in this country and in Western society and within capitalism to be self-critical , as opposed to being self-compassionate , ” said Cynthia Pong , founder of Embrace Change , a coaching business that focuses on helping women of color to transition in their careers .
“ We have crafted a lot of our feelings of self-worth on achievement , accomplishment and being prolific in stuff that we do .
If you take that away , there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to deal with.
” Some people thrive under this stress .
Others don ’ t .
“ Best ” is a relative term , Pong told me .
Doing your best in this time is different from doing your best during non-pandemic times .
Recognize that it can look different for each person , and don ’ t compare and despair over how others are managing hobbies and activities during this crisis .
“ If you ’ re just producing what you need to produce to get through the day , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orbé-Austin , a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals manage their careers .
“ You want to get to some place where you feel like , ‘ This is baseline to me .
This feels like how I want to be using the time.
’ ” If you are feeling unmoored and overwhelmed by this moment , Orbé-Austin recommended meditation and the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise , in which you ground yourself by acknowledging five things you see around you , four things you can touch , three things you hear , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can taste .
Don ’ t become your own punishing boss .
Recognizing when to push through and when to let go and call off the workday is essential to knowing what is a reasonable new pace of productivity for you .
Here ’ s a passage from advice columnist and work-from-home expert Heather Havrilesky ’ s guide to working remotely that resonated with me : It helped me realize that I was becoming my own strict enforcer when I shamed myself for getting distracted by emails and for not adjusting quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suddenly apart from my friends and family .
It is normal for this emergency to take up your focus .
Support yourself so you can support others .
Pong told me that we can dedicate days to coming to terms with our situation , citing last Friday when she learned that her own speaking engagements were canceled .
“ I just had to scrap that day .
Granted , I have the privilege to do that .
I don ’ t have to answer to an external boss , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut your losses .
If I had just forged ahead , I probably would ’ ve turned out mediocre work for the next three days.
” You get to decide what ’ s an accomplishment worth celebrating right now .
It also helps to talk to others about your feelings , too .
For people feeling pressured to be more creative or productive , Pong recommended seeking support from your friends .
“ I bet if they talked to other people in their circle , and if people were really honest , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ... That alone can help this feeling of ‘ Oh , what ’ s wrong with me , ’ ” she said .
As for me , I have come to the freeing realization that my best work under pandemic stress should not be centered around external achievements others may notice .
I may be the only one who congratulates me for calling my family more and remembering to stretch .
I have the privilege of a job I can do from home , and I am grateful for it , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Good days for me are when I sleep a little more and worry a little less .
Pandemic emergencies are not a good creative restraint for me .

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If you have been scrolling through the bad and worse news about the coronavirus pandemic on Twitter, you may have seen the viral tweets about how famous artists innovated during quarantines, like when Shakespeare wrote “King Lear” while theaters were shuttered for plague or when Isaac Newton created calculus while social distancing.
These facts are intended to reassure and motivate, but they carry an inherent judgment: You could be making the most of this time; are you rising to the challenge?
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During a pandemic, Isaac Newton had to work from home, too. He used the time wisely. https://t.co/yHTBuFhQi1 — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 13, 2020
Just a reminder that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear. — rosanne cash (@rosannecash) March 14, 2020
Maybe you have felt some version of this judgment from friends and family who are using their time indoors social distancing to exercise more, expand their cooking repertoire or come out of this global pandemic with a new skill like a language or sleek and sanitized arms. Hustle culture never stops, quarantine or not.
I feel pressured to keep hustling despite knowing better. My concentration is shot with each coronavirus update, which is entirely understandable. I will be typing diligently away on my laptop, then suddenly overtaken with worry for my parents who are doctors seeing sick patients and over 60 years old. And despite these normal concerns, I still feel twinges of guilt for falling behind on deadlines and promises to pick up a hobby. “Why aren’t I working more quickly, doing more?” thinks the capitalist part of my brain.
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“There is a tendency in this country and in Western society and within capitalism to be self-critical, as opposed to being self-compassionate,” said Cynthia Pong, founder of Embrace Change, a coaching business that focuses on helping women of color to transition in their careers. “We have crafted a lot of our feelings of self-worth on achievement, accomplishment and being prolific in stuff that we do. If you take that away, there’s a void. And voids are so hard to deal with.”
When I talked with career experts about the self-imposed productivity guilt I feel, they offered me helpful, more compassionate ways of reframing the pressure to stay focused and produce.
“The fact that your attention is all over the place is you being empathetic and responding to what’s happening,” Pong said. “If you weren’t, I might be a little bit concerned ... ‘Are you not affected by what’s happening right now?’”
Some people thrive under this stress. Others don’t.
“Best” is a relative term, Pong told me. Doing your best in this time is different from doing your best during non-pandemic times. Recognize that it can look different for each person, and don’t compare and despair over how others are managing hobbies and activities during this crisis.
“If you’re just producing what you need to produce to get through the day, that’s OK,” said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals manage their careers. “You want to get to some place where you feel like, ‘This is baseline to me. This feels like how I want to be using the time.’”
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“I no longer expect to innovate, and that is one less weight on my shoulders”
If you are feeling unmoored and overwhelmed by this moment, Orbé-Austin recommended meditation and the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, in which you ground yourself by acknowledging five things you see around you, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.
“Before starting this exercise, pay attention to your breathing,” Orbé-Austin said. “Slow, deep, long breaths can help you maintain a sense of calm or help you return to a calmer state.”
Don’t become your own punishing boss.
Recognizing when to push through and when to let go and call off the workday is essential to knowing what is a reasonable new pace of productivity for you. Here’s a passage from advice columnist and work-from-home expert Heather Havrilesky’s guide to working remotely that resonated with me:
Until I learned to be a less punishing boss to myself, I was (ironically) far less productive. Try to keep sticking your schedule overall, but be realistic and merciful towards yourself when you’re struggling emotionally or you just need to mix it up one day. And don’t carry the guilt from one day to the next. Start with a clean slate and congratulate yourself whenever you accomplish something.
It helped me realize that I was becoming my own strict enforcer when I shamed myself for getting distracted by emails and for not adjusting quickly enough to my new normal of being suddenly apart from my friends and family.
It is normal for this emergency to take up your focus. Support yourself so you can support others. Pong told me that we can dedicate days to coming to terms with our situation, citing last Friday when she learned that her own speaking engagements were canceled.
“I just had to scrap that day. Granted, I have the privilege to do that. I don’t have to answer to an external boss,” she said. “Sometimes you’ve got to cut your losses. If I had just forged ahead, I probably would’ve turned out mediocre work for the next three days.”
If you do have a boss and are in need of a break, try advocating for a mental health day with your manager, so that you can return to the work with fresher eyes, Pong said.
You get to decide what’s an accomplishment worth celebrating right now.
It also helps to talk to others about your feelings, too. For people feeling pressured to be more creative or productive, Pong recommended seeking support from your friends. “I bet if they talked to other people in their circle, and if people were really honest, they would not be the only person experiencing this ... That alone can help this feeling of ‘Oh, what’s wrong with me,’” she said.
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As for me, I have come to the freeing realization that my best work under pandemic stress should not be centered around external achievements others may notice. I may be the only one who congratulates me for calling my family more and remembering to stretch. I have the privilege of a job I can do from home, and I am grateful for it, but I still need frequent rest from it. Good days for me are when I sleep a little more and worry a little less. Pandemic emergencies are not a good creative restraint for me.


huffpost--2020-03-18--How Long Coronavirus Lives On Clothes, And How To Wash Them

Social media is saturated with a lot of misleading information at the moment , so we asked a handful of experts ( doctors and epidemiologists included ) to answer all your questions concerning clothing and the coronavirus .
Keep in mind , specific research has yet to be done on how this new coronavirus interacts with clothes .
But whether you ’ re wondering about hand-washing , how to approach the laundromat or what temperature you should really be washing your clothes at , we ’ ve got some guidance .
How long can the coronavirus live on clothing ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus than others ?
Is it safe to go to the laundromat right now ?
What temperature should I wash my clothes at ?
What kind of detergent should I use ?
If you don ’ t have access to a machine , is hand-washing effective ?
If you don ’ t have access to laundry facilities , Nanos said that “ you can hand wash your clothes at home as long as you can get the temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
” She added that it remains “ easier and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a regular washing machine , which is still totally safe and will kill the virus even if you were washing your clothes with sick people ‘ s clothes.
” How often should you wash your clothing ?
Should I remove my clothing when returning home from work each day ?

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As we grow more and more aware of precautions we should take in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re bombarded with questions on how we should wash and disinfect household items, including clothing.
Social media is saturated with a lot of misleading information at the moment, so we asked a handful of experts (doctors and epidemiologists included) to answer all your questions concerning clothing and the coronavirus. Keep in mind, specific research has yet to be done on how this new coronavirus interacts with clothes. But whether you’re wondering about hand-washing, how to approach the laundromat or what temperature you should really be washing your clothes at, we’ve got some guidance.
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How long can the coronavirus live on clothing?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is usually transmitted through respiratory droplets (from an infected person sneezing or coughing) rather than through fomites, objects and materials that when contaminated can transfer disease. However, the CDC notes that evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials, which includes clothing.
Articles of clothing, according to public health specialist Carol Winner, can hold respiratory droplets, as we use them every single day. These particles can dry out over time and inactivate the virus. But this doesn’t mean that it will happen quickly, and she said scientists are still learning more and more about this virus each day.
“We know that the droplet can dry out under some conditions, which may be faster with natural fibers,” Winner told HuffPost. “We’re hearing that heat and humidity can affect viral survival on surfaces, but remember, it’s 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Australia, and Tom Hanks still got it.”
Are certain types of fabrics more susceptible to the virus than others?
Robert Amler, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College and a former CDC chief medical officer, told HuffPost that the duration of the virus depends on the fabric, as some materials are more porous than others.
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“Some researchers believe the fibers in porous material catch the virus particles, dry them out and break them apart,” Amler said. “Smooth surfaces like leather and vinyl can be wiped clean.”
Family and emergency Dr. Janette Nesheiwat suggested that polyester, spandex-like material may retain germs longer than breathable cotton-based fabrics, making it important to wash leggings, underwear and dresses carefully (more on how to do that later!).
Muriel de Seze via Getty Images While guidelines encourage social distancing (personal distancing of six feet) to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, public health specialist Carol Winner said laundromats are generally safe to go to, if you take the right precautions.
“Polyester spandex-like material may retain germs longer than cotton-based fabrics, but all types of fabrics can be contaminated,” Nesheiwat said.
As information and research pertaining to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, continues to evolve, Winner stressed that so far studies focused on it tells us about the virus’ ability to remain on surfaces such as cardboard, steel, copper and plastic-door knobs and high-traffic areas.
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“The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease has told us that some viruses can remain active after two or three days on plastic and stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard and four hours on copper,” she said. Be aware that some of your buttons, zippers and other clothing hardware could be made of those materials.
Is it safe to go to the laundromat right now?
For individuals who don’t have access to a laundry machine and dryer in their home or apartment, laundromats are a crucial way to clean clothes.
And while current CDC guidelines encourage social distancing (personal distancing of six feet) to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, Winner said laundromats are generally safe to go to ― if the right precautions are taken, of course.
These typically include protective measures such as wearing gloves, washing your hands, not touching your face and disinfecting all surfaces of the machines you use.
“The only way the viral particles become active is to get into your mouth, nose and eyes, so if you wear gloves, don’t touch your face and remove them properly following CDC’s guidelines, you should be fine,” she explained.
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However, if you do not have access to gloves, she added that sanitizing your hands while at, and before leaving, the laundromat, can help. Additionally, you’ll also want to wash your hands for up to 20 to 30 seconds once arriving at home.
If you’re concerned about whether your clothes will come out of a shared laundry machine safely, Dr. Georgine Nanos said not to worry.
“Yes, it is safe to use [a shared laundry machine] right now because the virus is killed by washing your clothes over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, from what we currently understand,” she said. “The more challenging issue is going to be the social distancing and contact with potentially contaminated surfaces and people in the laundromat. Not the laundry itself.”
What temperature should I wash my clothes at?
When it comes time to wash clothes, Winner said there are specific guidelines you’ll want to follow in order to help kill the virus. This includes using the hot water setting on your washing machine and giving your clothes some extra time and heat in the dyer.
“Whenever possible, use the hot water setting, as it helps to kill the virus,” she said. “Extra heat, and time in the dryer, do make sense, as the droplets should dry out, which would likely inactivate the virus.”
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However, while Nanos agreed about washing clothes in hot water, she warned against boiling them in high temperatures.
“If you can wash your clothes in the hottest water possible recommended for that material, that would be ideal,” Nanos said. “However, please don’t ruin all your clothes by boiling everything, as that will add more stress and anxiety that none of us need right now.”
What kind of detergent should I use?
Rodney E. Rohde, chair and professor of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, reiterated the importance of washing clothes in warm or hot water, but also advised paying attention to the detergent you are using.
“I would recommend that you wash clothes in detergents that contain a bleach compound,” Rohde told HuffPost. “Viruses do not do well at all in this type of harsh environment.”
The American Chemistry Council has compiled a list of products (detergents included) to use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens and COVID-19.
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If you don’t have access to a machine, is hand-washing effective?
If you don’t have access to laundry facilities, Nanos said that “you can hand wash your clothes at home as long as you can get the temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.” She added that it remains “easier and faster if you can wash your clothes in a regular washing machine, which is still totally safe and will kill the virus even if you were washing your clothes with sick people‘s clothes.”
How often should you wash your clothing?
While some people may wait to do their laundry until they’re faced with big piles of it, Winner recommended regularly washing your clothes, especially if you are still required to report to work or have been in crowded areas.
“It’s best, as always, to regularly wash your clothes,” she said. “If you have been in a crowded area, you might want to remove your clothing when you come into the house and put it in the laundry container or washer to be prudent.”
This also extends to outwear; Nanos suggested it’s wise to wash coats often.
“You should wash your coat if you are using your elbows or your sleeves to touch frequently used items and potentially contaminated surfaces such as elevator buttons, handrails and door handles,” she said.
“Do not treat your clothing with Lysol,” Nesheiwat said. “However, there are anti-germal clothing sprays that can be used.”
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Should I remove my clothing when returning home from work each day?
Since the goal is block exposure to the coronavirus, Amler advised changing your clothes if you are still reporting to work daily or are commuting in large crowd environments.
“You should change your clothes and wash them any time others have touched them or you have been in large group gatherings,” he said.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to change in the garage to avoid contact with clean clothing, according to Nanos; she advised getting in the habit in keeping these clothes stored in a separate bag.
“Being in health care for most of my life, I’ve always done this anyway, as I am exposed to more infectious diseases than most people,” she said. “So I agree it’s good practice ― maybe not necessarily stripping down in the garage, but at least getting in the habit of putting on other clothes and shoes once getting home.”
Should a sick person wash their clothing separately?
This question has probably crossed everyone’s mind, especially in households with more than two people.
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“It’s best to wash a sick person’s clothing separately always,” Nesheiwat said. “Clothing can carry staph, E.coli, flu, etc.”


huffpost--2020-03-18--What To Do If You're Put On Unpaid Leave Over Coronavirus

Eighteen percent of working Americans have already had their hours reduced or been let go because of the coronavirus , according to a survey of 835 adults conducted Friday and Saturday .
In the hard-hit airline industry , United Airlines is asking employees to volunteer for unpaid leave and Virgin Atlantic said it will ask staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months .
You could find yourself on unpaid leave during the pandemic , whether you need it or not .
Many , but not all , workers in America can take up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious health condition ― like COVID-19 ― or to care for a family member who is seriously ill .
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act , employers can ’ t fire eligible employees for taking sick leave ― but they ’ re not required to pay the workers during the time off .
Under the proposed Families First Coronavirus Response Act , which passed the House over the weekend and is still pending in the Senate , some workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak would get the benefit ― temporarily ― of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptions .
The bill only covers companies with fewer than 500 employees , for example .
But check to make sure you ’ re not being illegally targeted for unpaid leave .
If you are being asked to take unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak , see who else is on that list , Ballman advised .
The lawyer said she is starting to hear of workers being unfairly targeted for unpaid leave because they are deemed a higher risk for COVID-19 by their employer .
“ It ’ s starting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal , ” she said .
“ If it ’ s all older employees , or people with disabilities , or people who are pregnant , then you might have a discrimination case .
And coronavirus be damned at that point , ” Ballman said .
“ You still can ’ t target older people or people with disabilities or pregnant people even if you think it ’ s in their best interest.
” When paid leave is not offered , you can try joining forces with your fellow workers .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws give you the legal backing to organize around this issue .
“ The National Labor Relations Act protects ‘ protected and concerted activity ’ on behalf of employees , which means two or more employees discussing work-related issues , including asking the employer to do something about them [ having coronavirus-related paid leave ] .
They can ’ t be disciplined or retaliated against for doing that , ” said Peter Cappelli , director of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School ’ s Center for Human Resources .

BernardaSv via Getty Images For many Americans, unpaid leave is still the norm.
The coronavirus pandemic is radically changing the way companies do or increasingly don’t do business.
As people follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on social distancing, employers are finding they don’t need as many workers ― particularly for jobs that require a physical presence. (Telecommuting is an option for fewer than 1 in 3 Americans.)
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Eighteen percent of working Americans have already had their hours reduced or been let go because of the coronavirus, according to a survey of 835 adults conducted Friday and Saturday. In the hard-hit airline industry, United Airlines is asking employees to volunteer for unpaid leave and Virgin Atlantic said it will ask staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave during the next three months.
More employers will likely follow suit as businesses are increasingly affected by the pandemic.
Here’s what you need to know if your boss asks or tells you to take unpaid leave because of the coronavirus, including what rights you have and what actions you can take.
You could find yourself on unpaid leave during the pandemic, whether you need it or not.
Many, but not all, workers in America can take up to 12 weeks of medical leave for a serious health condition ― like COVID-19 ― or to care for a family member who is seriously ill. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, employers can’t fire eligible employees for taking sick leave ― but they’re not required to pay the workers during the time off.
Under the proposed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the House over the weekend and is still pending in the Senate, some workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak would get the benefit ― temporarily ― of paid sick leave. There are many exceptions. The bill only covers companies with fewer than 500 employees, for example.
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Even if your health isn’t being affected by the pandemic, your employer still might be.
If your boss is making you take unpaid leave related to the coronavirus, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. In California, for example, employees can get partial wage replacement payments if they lose hours due to COVID-19.
Donna Ballman, a Florida-based employment attorney and author of “Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed, or Sue the Bastards,” noted that whether you volunteer or are forced to take unpaid leave can make a big difference in whether you can qualify for unemployment benefits.
“If you are furloughed, laid off or forced onto an unpaid leave, you could qualify for unemployment or even temporary unemployment. Some states have temporary unemployment benefits,” Ballman said. “But if you voluntarily take that leave, then you may be disqualified.”
Can your boss force you to take unpaid coronavirus leave? Yes, if you are an at-will employee. The company can end your employment at its discretion as long as it’s not violating a contract or anti-discrimination laws, Ballman said.
“They can say, Take two weeks off or you’re fired. They can absolutely do that,” she said.
But check to make sure you’re not being illegally targeted for unpaid leave.
If you are being asked to take unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak, see who else is on that list, Ballman advised. The lawyer said she is starting to hear of workers being unfairly targeted for unpaid leave because they are deemed a higher risk for COVID-19 by their employer. “It’s starting to happen, and it’s still illegal,” she said.
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“If it’s all older employees, or people with disabilities, or people who are pregnant, then you might have a discrimination case. And coronavirus be damned at that point,” Ballman said. “You still can’t target older people or people with disabilities or pregnant people even if you think it’s in their best interest.”
When paid leave is not offered, you can try joining forces with your fellow workers.
One of the top recommendations when working through a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic is to seek clear communication from your boss. You deserve to know what your employer’s (possibly evolving) pandemic-related policies are, including how you will be paid or not during this time.
If you are an eligible employee, federal labor laws give you the legal backing to organize around this issue. “The National Labor Relations Act protects ‘protected and concerted activity’ on behalf of employees, which means two or more employees discussing work-related issues, including asking the employer to do something about them [having coronavirus-related paid leave]. They can’t be disciplined or retaliated against for doing that,” said Peter Cappelli, director of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School’s Center for Human Resources.
Cappelli noted the group focus of the NLRA’s protections. The law doesn’t shield individual workers complaining about coronavirus leave issues to their boss, he said. Workers need to approach management as a group or send at least two people formally to speak on behalf of the group.
Recognize that even if you lobby for coronavirus paid leave along with your co-workers, the answer from your boss may still be “no.”
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“You can definitely try banding together as a group. The reality, though, is that some employers, particularly smaller businesses, genuinely may not be able to pay people when they’re shut down,” said Alison Green, author of the Ask a Manager career advice site.
The pending sick leave bill makes provision for the financial pressures on small businesses, too. Under the legislation, companies with less than 50 employees would be allowed to seek an exemption to paying for sick and family leave due to the coronavirus.
Ultimately, your employer’s financial success is not within your control. But you can take steps if you recognize that your employer’s business is in trouble.
“Anybody in the cruise or airline industry or hospitality industry may need to seriously think about looking elsewhere at this point if they can’t hang on for what could be months,” Ballman said.
That’s easier said than done, she acknowledged. “Even the biggest companies are going to do hiring freezes or cutbacks.”
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huffpost--2020-03-18--Mom Channels Coronavirus Anxiety Into Relatable Comics

In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic , a Bay Area mom channeled her anxiety into a series of relatable comics .
Alison Wong has been drawing comics since she was a child , but when she became a mother , she created her own strip , New Mom Comics .
Her latest installment finds levity in the many ways the novel coronavirus has upended life as she knows it .
“ I felt like everywhere I looked was anxiety-provoking news , and my friends were all worried , ” Wong told HuffPost .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s lives , to bring a bit of a break in everyone ’ s feed .
I felt like I had a responsibility to help in some small way.
” The coronavirus-related comics find the humor in social distancing with her 2-month-old and 5-year-old , grocery store chaos , and more .
She also paid tribute to workers who still have to report for duty in this time .
“ I started New Mom Comics when I had my first child , because I realized that new parents had a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I wanted to bring some humor to the daunting experience of new parenthood and compiled a comic series of the first year .
I think the experience might have also helped me here , as I ’ m trying to pull out something positive in a rather stressful time.
” As Wong ’ s family shelters in place in the Bay Area , there have been challenges , but she maintains her positive attitude .
“ We ’ re fortunate that my husband can work from home , and I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freelance work .
But it can get a bit crazy in the house , ” she noted .
“ We are taking it one day at a time .
In the last week , I feel like every day had a new update that drastically changed our lifestyle.
” “ I have friends from around the world acknowledging how they needed these right now , ” she explained .
“ Like , ‘ Thank you so much for this .
It ’ s the perfect balm for a tense and uncertain time. ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can have a break from all the news ― to have a laugh and bond with a friend around humor , and not fear .
”

In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Bay Area mom channeled her anxiety into a series of relatable comics.
Alison Wong has been drawing comics since she was a child, but when she became a mother, she created her own strip, New Mom Comics. Her latest installment finds levity in the many ways the novel coronavirus has upended life as she knows it.
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
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“I felt like everywhere I looked was anxiety-provoking news, and my friends were all worried,” Wong told HuffPost. “I wanted to bring some humor to people’s lives, to bring a bit of a break in everyone’s feed. I felt like I had a responsibility to help in some small way.”
The coronavirus-related comics find the humor in social distancing with her 2-month-old and 5-year-old, grocery store chaos, and more. She also paid tribute to workers who still have to report for duty in this time.
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
For Wong, finding light moments in the midst of trying times is therapeutic.
“I started New Mom Comics when I had my first child, because I realized that new parents had a lot of anxiety,” she explained. “I wanted to bring some humor to the daunting experience of new parenthood and compiled a comic series of the first year. I think the experience might have also helped me here, as I’m trying to pull out something positive in a rather stressful time.”
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As Wong’s family shelters in place in the Bay Area, there have been challenges, but she maintains her positive attitude.
“We’re fortunate that my husband can work from home, and I’m taking a maternity leave break from my freelance work. But it can get a bit crazy in the house,” she noted. “We are taking it one day at a time. In the last week, I feel like every day had a new update that drastically changed our lifestyle.”
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
Wong said the social media response to her coronavirus-related comics has been “amazing.”
“I have friends from around the world acknowledging how they needed these right now,” she explained. “Like, ‘Thank you so much for this. It’s the perfect balm for a tense and uncertain time.’”
Ultimately, she’s glad she can provide some respite from the intensity of the global crisis.
Said Wong, “I hope people can have a break from all the news ― to have a laugh and bond with a friend around humor, and not fear.”
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Keep scrolling and visit Wong’s Instagram and Facebook page for more comics.
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
Alison Wong/New Mom Comics
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Alison Wong/New Mom Comics


huffpost--2020-03-18--What To Do If Your Family Or Friends Aren't Taking Coronavirus Seriously

Millennials and Gen Z have been roundly criticized for not taking the threat of coronavirus seriously ( and rightfully so ; look at all the young people who partied on St. Patrick ’ s Day ) .
But as Walley ’ s and Jordan ’ s stories illustrate , baby boomer parents and relatives are just as likely to lag on social isolation .
That ’ s especially worrisome because COVID-19 is most dangerous for older adults or those with serious health conditions .
( An older adult is broadly defined as anyone over the age of 60 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with judgment , just concern and facts .
“ I had to call my parents last night and tell them I think they should stay home for a while , ” he said .
“ While still young for parents of a guy my age , they are at greater risk .
It went as predicted : My mom , who tends to be anxious about some things and the one who taught me the importance of following rules , said , ‘ Well , OK , if you say so.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Focus on something they care about .
Compare coronavirus to pandemics and health emergencies of the past .
Be realistic about what you can do .
Acknowledge that social distancing is hard even for you .
Everyone is feeling the brunt of coronavirus .
Even those who are in denial or appear to have no emotions about it most likely do .
One of the most important things you can do is to approach your relative with empathy : You ’ re just as bummed out about self-isolating as they are .
@ @ @ @

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Jordan, a doctoral student in Britain, spent the early weeks of the pandemic fretting about how the coronavirus might affect her elderly grandparents.
The same couldn’t be said for her parents. Even as the British government slowly began to ramp up its coronavirus response, Jordan said her parents, both in their 50s, were too lax about the threat.
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“They are continuing to work, which I understand because my mom is a teacher ― schools are still open in the U.K. ― and my dad works outdoors, but they’re not really taking it seriously,” said Jordan, who asked that we use only her first name so she could speak openly.
Her parents are still visiting her grandparents and going out to eat at restaurants.
“My dad keeps saying ‘it’s just like the flu’ and that ‘a lot of people die every day,’” she said. “They don’t seem to understand how social distancing can help other people because they are not worried about getting it and they don’t seem to listen when I try to talk to them about it.”
Across the pond in Maryland, writer Micaela Walley is dealing with the same resistance from many of her relatives.
“I live in Maryland, where our local officials have been very proactive in taking steps to prevent the coronavirus from spreading,” Walley said. “But a large portion of my family lives in the Deep South, where their local officials are known for being notoriously inactive across the board.”
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When Walley brings up the preventative steps being mandated in her state, her family tells her the threat of COVID-19 is “not as big of a deal as the media portrays it to be.”
“It’s extremely disheartening to see the people that I love react this way,” Walley told HuffPost. “And my family members are some of the very people that would be the most vulnerable to this virus if they contracted it.”
Millennials and Gen Z have been roundly criticized for not taking the threat of coronavirus seriously (and rightfully so; look at all the young people who’ve been busted for house parties). But as Walley’s and Jordan’s stories illustrate, baby boomer parents and relatives are just as likely to dismiss the need to social distant. That’s especially worrisome because COVID-19 is most dangerous for older adults or those with serious health conditions. (An older adult is broadly defined as anyone over the age of 60).
“I think some people are naturally immune to the panic even though they are not immune to COVID19,” said Shane G. Owens, a psychologist and the assistant director of campus mental health at Farmingdale State College (SUNY).
“When you mix this with Americans’ deeply rooted sense of liberty, it can be a dangerous combination,” Owens said. “We do not like being told where not to go and what not to do.”
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In these challenging times, we have to look beyond ourselves. But how do you convince your relatives that this isn’t a political issue or even a family issue, it’s a major global health crisis?
Below, Owens and family therapists offer their advice for talking to family and close friends who still don’t believe they’re affected by the pandemic.
10'000 Hours via Getty Images Whether it's your partner, spouse, roommate, neighbor, relative, parents or kids, avoid judgment when broaching this subject. Instead, experts say, to try empathy.
Don’t come at your relative with judgment, just concern and facts.
Express your opinion clearly and non-judgmentally. Owens suggested using “I” language. (For instance, “I am worried for your health and the health of others you might come into contact with” instead of “You really should be doing more to keep the numbers down.”)
Come prepared with facts available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, he said. Talk about how, even if they’re young or relatively healthy for their age, they can be a carrier for the virus and spread it without ever experiencing symptoms.
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Some relatives may heed your advice, but others will need hard facts, Owens said, drawing on his personal experience as an example.
“I had to call my parents last night and tell them I think they should stay home for a while,” he said. “While still young for parents of a guy my age, they are at greater risk. It went as predicted: My mom, who tends to be anxious about some things and the one who taught me the importance of following rules, said, ‘Well, OK, if you say so.’”
His dad reacted the opposite way.
“My dad, who’s less anxious than almost anyone I know and has a healthy distrust of rules and authority, pushed back some,” Owens said. “He trusts science, though, and doctors — especially me and my best friend, who’s an infectious disease doctor —and said he’d think about it.”
The most important thing, Owens said, is that the person is left to choose for themselves while understanding their responsibility and the consequences.
Approach the conversation in a loving way.
Most of the time, when something stirs us up or we disagree, we don’t think about how we’re delivering our message. When talking about coronavirus, approach it from a place of love, said Liz Higgins, a family therapist and founder of Millennial Life Counseling in Dallas.
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“Think of ways to deliver your message that get to the heart of the point, which is that you care about their safety, their health, and want to do your part in at least communicating that to your loved one,” she said.
For tough conversations like this, don’t just spring it on them. Tell them you’d like to jump on the phone and talk about something important to you when they have a chance.
“Ask if you can talk to them about something without just confronting them and catching them off-guard,” Higgins said.
JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images “Remind people that personal sacrifice is necessary for the greater good,” said Virginia Gilbert, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles.
Focus on something they care about.
Get your relatives’ buy-in to social distancing by focusing on something that they do consider important, said Nikole Benders-Hadi, a psychiatrist and medical director of behavioral health at Doctor on Demand.
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“No one wants to be told what to do, so instead of telling them how they ought to change their behavior, focus instead on things they do actually prioritize,” she said. “They may have concerns about family members who may be immunocompromised, or the long-term financial consequences of this pandemic, or something else.”
Your cousin may be wrapped up in making questionable vacation plans, but she’ll likely understand that grandma’s health comes first.
Compare coronavirus to pandemics and health emergencies of the past.
Your relative might not be convinced that the threat of coronavirus is serious, but if they’ve lived through other pandemics and health crises, they’ve seen the consequences of inaction.
Maybe they experienced the polio epidemic in the 1940s and 1950s. Or maybe your grandpa was born just a few years after the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed an estimated 675,000 Americans among a staggering 20 million to 50 million people globally.
Talk about these historic moments with younger relatives who want to go out, too.
“Remind people that personal sacrifice is necessary for the greater good,” said Virginia Gilbert, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles.
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“Older generations who lived through the Depression, the World Wars and other pandemics should be able to understand that there’s more to life than their personal happiness, as young people are learning now.”
“Social distancing is hard. We like to be around others, even though we spend a lot of time on social media.” - Shane G. Owens, a psychologist
Be realistic about what you can do.
It’s hard to find two people who can agree on the exact same amount of caution or seriousness with which to approach COVID-19. If your relative is still not taking the bait, it’s OK to establish boundaries (for instance, no grandkid visits for the time being) or to physically distance yourself, said Marie Land, a therapist in Washington, D.C.
“Once you’ve tried to make your point, it may be better to just try to see how you can both make this work,” Land said. “I know college students want to rent an Airbnb or stay with friends or other family because there are differences in how restrictive they want to be compared to their parents.”
Acknowledge that social distancing is hard even for you.
Everyone is feeling the brunt of coronavirus. Even those who are in denial or appear to have no emotions about it most likely do. One of the most important things you can do is to approach your relative with empathy: You’re just as bummed out about self-isolating as they are. Tell them that.
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“Social distancing is hard,” Owens said. “We like to be around others, even though we spend a lot of time on social media. And those — like me —with kids are going to find it increasingly difficult not to have playdates and to keep them away from their older relatives. It impacts us all.”


huffpost--2020-03-18--Act Like You Already Have Coronavirus

Act Like You Already Have Coronavirus

Early in the novel coronavirus pandemic , health experts suggested symptomatic people were driving most of the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
But a new study questions whether people who didn ’ t show any signs of the disease are spreading it more than originally thought .
“ Stealth transmission refers to the fact that people who have mild , non-discrete symptoms or are asymptomatic are contributing greatly to the spread of the virus , ” said Kirsten Hokeness , professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microbiology , and human health and disease .
Many cases are mild enough that you may never realize you are infected , said Nasia Safdar , medical director of Infection Control and Prevention at the University of Wisconsin Health in Madison , Wisconsin .
“ A mild case would be something like low-grade fever , which you might not know you have , ” she said .
“ It might be a runny nose , and , amidst allergy season , you might not see it as important.
” “ These are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.
” - Jagdish Khubchandani , associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University “ These people can be labeled as infected , but asymptomatic , ” he said .
“ These are the people who can infect others where others actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.
” There ’ s still a lot we don ’ t know about the disease , but we do know it can be fatal for certain groups , like those over age 60 and those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible that COVID-19 patients remain infected ― and have the potential to spread the virus to others ― for a while .
Hokeness said the incubation period for the virus , or the length of time between contracting it and the onset of symptoms , is about five days on average .
She pointed to a new study out of Germany , which found that individuals can spread the virus very soon after they ’ ve been infected ― and long before they may even show symptoms .
The virus can also potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the initial infection .
In that study , researchers were able to cultivate live virus between Day One and Day Five after the onset of symptoms .
This was when the virus was most infectious , Hokeness said .
It remained infectious , but less so , up until the eighth day of symptoms .
“ On Day One , which could be really mild to you , you are producing a lot of active virus which gets transmitted by the respiratory droplets , and either directly acquired by susceptible individuals or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If [ the virus ] can ’ t find its next host , we stop it dead in its tracks.
” - Kirsten Hokeness , professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University “ This is phenomenally important for a disease like COVID-19 , in which there is no natural immunity in the population and for which no vaccine exists , ” Hokeness said .
“ This means that the only way for the virus to leave the population , in a sense , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability of the virus to spread from person to person.
” At this point , it ’ s hard to say exactly how many people have COVID-19 , though the numbers at the time of publication stand at almost 168,000 cases worldwide with more than 6,600 deaths .
In the United States , there are 5,700 recorded cases and 100 deaths .
Hokeness said the lack of test availability early in the pandemic could mean “ far more people are infected or have been infected in the U.S. than we have been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , many people with asymptomatic or mild cases may not choose to be tested and instead simply self-isolate .
Khubchandani said the stealth transmission study suggests there may be five or 10 undetected cases for each one we know about .
“ I think it could be more , but certainly not less , ” he said .
So , what should you do right now ?
Hokeness said hygiene is still important : Wash your hands , and sanitize when you don ’ t have soap and water .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as large gatherings ; the government has suggested gatherings of more than 10 should be eliminated .

nadia_bormotova via Getty Images Experts insist that the only way to slow the spread of coronavirus is for everyone to take drastic but necessary precautions.
Early in the novel coronavirus pandemic, health experts suggested symptomatic people were driving most of the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. But a new study questions whether people who didn’t show any signs of the disease are spreading it more than originally thought.
According to a model from researchers out of China, “stealth transmission” contributed to the rapid rise in cases.
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“Stealth transmission refers to the fact that people who have mild, non-discrete symptoms or are asymptomatic are contributing greatly to the spread of the virus,” said Kirsten Hokeness, professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University and an expert in immunology, virology, microbiology, and human health and disease.
“The new study suggests that two-thirds of the cases may be transmitted in this way, according to their mathematical modeling,” she said.
Many cases are mild enough that you may never realize you are infected, said Nasia Safdar, medical director of Infection Control and Prevention at the University of Wisconsin Health in Madison, Wisconsin.
“A mild case would be something like low-grade fever, which you might not know you have,” she said. “It might be a runny nose, and, amidst allergy season, you might not see it as important.”
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“These are the people who can infect others where others actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.” - Jagdish Khubchandani, associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University
This is part of what makes COVID-19 so “distressing,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University.
“These people can be labeled as infected, but asymptomatic,” he said. “These are the people who can infect others where others actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.”
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the disease, but we do know it can be fatal for certain groups, like those over age 60 and those with underlying conditions. It’s also possible that COVID-19 patients remain infected ― and have the potential to spread the virus to others ― for a while.
Hokeness said the incubation period for the virus, or the length of time between contracting it and the onset of symptoms, is about five days on average.
Advertisement
She pointed to a new study out of Germany, which found that individuals can spread the virus very soon after they’ve been infected ― and long before they may even show symptoms. The virus can also potentially spread for a prolonged period of time after the initial infection.
In that study, researchers were able to cultivate live virus between Day One and Day Five after the onset of symptoms. This was when the virus was most infectious, Hokeness said. It remained infectious, but less so, up until the eighth day of symptoms.
“On Day One, which could be really mild to you, you are producing a lot of active virus which gets transmitted by the respiratory droplets, and either directly acquired by susceptible individuals or picked up from surfaces,” Hokeness said.
In other words: If you haven’t yet, start acting like you already have COVID-19.
“If [the virus] can’t find its next host, we stop it dead in its tracks.” - Kirsten Hokeness, professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University
This is a critical reason we have to practice social distancing.
“This is phenomenally important for a disease like COVID-19, in which there is no natural immunity in the population and for which no vaccine exists,” Hokeness said. “This means that the only way for the virus to leave the population, in a sense, is to either infect everyone or limit the ability of the virus to spread from person to person.”
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Social distancing, she said, “creates a barrier” and protects vulnerable people in the community.
At this point, it’s hard to say exactly how many people have COVID-19, though the numbers at the time of publication stand at almost 168,000 cases worldwide with more than 6,600 deaths. In the United States, there are 5,700 recorded cases and 100 deaths. Hokeness said the lack of test availability early in the pandemic could mean “far more people are infected or have been infected in the U.S. than we have been able to confirm.” On top of that, she said, many people with asymptomatic or mild cases may not choose to be tested and instead simply self-isolate.
Khubchandani said the stealth transmission study suggests there may be five or 10 undetected cases for each one we know about. “I think it could be more, but certainly not less,” he said.
“Everyone should be suspected of infection,” he said.
So, what should you do right now? Hokeness said hygiene is still important: Wash your hands, and sanitize when you don’t have soap and water. Many bars and restaurants have been shuttered, as well as large gatherings; the government has suggested gatherings of more than 10 should be eliminated.
But really, keep as isolated as you can.
“Don’t make this for naught by continuing to get together and host play dates or socialize,” Hokeness said. “The faster we can isolate ourselves and limit contact, the faster we can get this virus to fizzle out so to speak. ... If [the virus] can’t find its next host, we stop it dead in its tracks.”