huffpost--2020-03-25--Some Senate Republicans Want Lower Coronavirus Unemployment Payments

Some Senate Republicans think the coronavirus relief bill the Senate will soon vote on would offer too much money to people who lose their jobs .
Lawmakers have not yet finalized the actual text of the legislation , which was negotiated by the Trump administration and leaders of both parties on Capitol Hill .
Democrats said the unemployment provision would boost weekly benefits by $ 600 , a massive increase to payments that average $ 364 .
In normal times , unemployment insurance recipients are required to search for jobs and not reject offers that are comparable in pay to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed last week encouraged states to suspend those rules , however , as part of the government ’ s effort to encourage people to stay home so they don ’ t spread the coronavirus .
As a result of widespread school and business closures , many Americans have already been laid off or forced to stay home from work , and unemployment claims are surging .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) bragged Tuesday that the extra money would amount to full replacement of lost wages for people who have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own or a family member ’ s ― or for those whose employers have shut down due to the outbreak .
Benefits normally replace about 50 % of someone ’ s lost wages .
The extra benefits would only last for four months and would indeed encourage people to stay home instead of looking for work .
For some workers , the $ 600 boost could push their total benefit above what they previously earned from their jobs .
Democrats came up with the $ 600 figure because it ’ s roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the average weekly wage , which was $ 981 in February .
A Democratic aide said they would have preferred to actually match a person ’ s previous wage , but U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia shot that idea down , saying it would be too complicated for state workforce agencies .
A Labor Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
A Republican spokesman for the Senate Finance Committee said negotiators opted for a temporary across-the-board $ 600 boost in unemployment benefits because it offered faster relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with different programs administered by the states .
Before Wednesday , the unemployment benefits had not been one of the more controversial pieces of the legislation , which would also direct cash payments to most American households and set up a corporate bailout fund .
It ’ s unclear whether the new objections to the unemployment provisions of the bill will derail its passage .
Republicans said they were hoping to secure a vote on an amendment to the bill to fix it , but Democrats insisted it was a compromise reached in @ @ @

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Some Senate Republicans think the coronavirus relief bill the Senate will soon vote on would offer too much money to people who lose their jobs.
The last-minute objections threaten to delay the passage of a $2 trillion economic rescue package Senate leaders were hoping to wrap on Wednesday.
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The issue stems from what a group of GOP senators called a “drafting error” they argued would incentivize workers to leave their jobs and stay laid off.
“This bill pays you more not to work than if you are working,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) added: “We cannot encourage people to make more money in unemployment than they do with employment.”
Lawmakers have not yet finalized the actual text of the legislation, which was negotiated by the Trump administration and leaders of both parties on Capitol Hill. Democrats said the unemployment provision would boost weekly benefits by $600, a massive increase to payments that average $364.
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In normal times, unemployment insurance recipients are required to search for jobs and not reject offers that are comparable in pay to their previous positions. A bill Congress passed last week encouraged states to suspend those rules, however, as part of the government’s effort to encourage people to stay home so they don’t spread the coronavirus.
As a result of widespread school and business closures, many Americans have already been laid off or forced to stay home from work, and unemployment claims are surging.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) bragged Tuesday that the extra money would amount to full replacement of lost wages for people who have to stop working due to illness ― either their own or a family member’s ― or for those whose employers have shut down due to the outbreak. Benefits normally replace about 50% of someone’s lost wages.
The extra benefits would only last for four months and would indeed encourage people to stay home instead of looking for work. For some workers, the $600 boost could push their total benefit above what they previously earned from their jobs.
HuffPost readers: Do you receive SNAP benefits, often known as food stamps, and have you had any trouble getting groceries due to the coronavirus outbreak? Tell us about it ― email arthur@huffpost.com. Please include your phone number if you’re willing to be interviewed
Though Republicans called it a drafting error, it wasn’t an accident.
Democrats came up with the $600 figure because it’s roughly the difference between the average unemployment benefit and the average weekly wage, which was $981 in February. A Democratic aide said they would have preferred to actually match a person’s previous wage, but U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia shot that idea down, saying it would be too complicated for state workforce agencies. A Labor Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Democratic aide said it was possible the provision could change before the text is finalized.
A Republican spokesman for the Senate Finance Committee said negotiators opted for a temporary across-the-board $600 boost in unemployment benefits because it offered faster relief than would have been possible by tinkering with different programs administered by the states.
“Nothing in this bill incentivizes businesses to lay off employees, in fact it’s just the opposite,” the spokesman said.
Before Wednesday, the unemployment benefits had not been one of the more controversial pieces of the legislation, which would also direct cash payments to most American households and set up a corporate bailout fund.
It’s unclear whether the new objections to the unemployment provisions of the bill will derail its passage. Republicans said they were hoping to secure a vote on an amendment to the bill to fix it, but Democrats insisted it was a compromise reached in bipartisan negotiations.
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Graham has previously urged speedy passage of the bill. “There is no good reason left to deny the American people the relief they need,” he tweeted Wednesday. “Enough already. Pass the damn bill!”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), meanwhile, issued a statement Wednesday threatening to hold up the bill over its corporate provisions if the Republican senators did not drop what he called their “anti-worker objections” to unemployment assistance.


huffpost--2020-03-25--What People Across The Country Miss Most About Daily Life Before The Outbreak

ASSOCIATED PRESS A woman wearing personal protective equipment sits alone alongside empty swings to maintain social distancing at a playground , Wednesday , March 25 , 2020 , in New York .
Within a few weeks , coronavirus and the attempts to mitigate it have reshaped the contours of daily life for millions of Americans .
In a HuffPost/YouGov poll released this week , 88 % of Americans said their life had been affected at least a little since the outbreak began , with 41 % saying their lives had changed a lot .
Asked what they missed most about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Americans across the country tended to highlight the poignantly mundane : working , shopping , going out and spending time with loved ones .
Their responses ranged in both severity and specificity .
Some were afraid for their lives or their ability to remain financially afloat .
Some missed taking the family out for ice cream , brainstorming in-person with co-workers , seeing a daughter off to prom , or making a midnight run to the store .
Others mourned the sudden absence of a sense of safety and stability .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included making successful trips to the grocery store , being able to do my banking , being able to conduct business in person .
I even miss standing in line .
And on and on .
Need a return to normalcy.
” ― 68-year-old Texas man “ Feeling somewhat safe .
This thing would kill me .
My husband works grocery .
My lungs hurt right now .
I could have it , but can ’ t afford testing.
” ― 51-year-old Oregon woman “ I miss being at college with all my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and being able to utilize my campus resources.
” ― 18-year-old Florida woman “ I miss going out .
Even to go buy groceries .
I didn ’ t have to worry really about anything .
Or think that the store shelves would be empty .
Like I do now.
” ― 28-year-old Nevada woman “ I miss having the ability to take my time when buying the things that I want or need .
Due to the virus I feel as though I need to get what I need or want as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man “ I am a piano teacher , and I have had to switch to teaching remote online lessons .
I miss seeing my students , and I am a more effective teacher in person.
” ― 54-year-old Virginia woman “ Taking my kids to a sit-down dinner , to the movies , or even a day at the park or beach.
” ― 33-year-old California man “ I miss being a slob .
My daughter is a young home health nurse with almost no PPE for something as contagious and problematic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were told we ’ ll be laid off in two weeks , and our temp workers were all fired .
I miss the peace of mind for sure.
” ― 54-year-old Tennessee woman

A woman wearing personal protective equipment sits alone alongside empty swings to maintain social distancing at a playground, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in New York. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Within a few weeks, coronavirus and the attempts to mitigate it have reshaped the contours of daily life for millions of Americans. In a HuffPost/YouGov poll released this week, 88% of Americans said their life had been affected at least a little since the outbreak began, with 41% saying their lives had changed a lot.
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Asked what they missed most about their daily lives prior to the outbreak, Americans across the country tended to highlight the poignantly mundane: working, shopping, going out and spending time with loved ones. Their responses ranged in both severity and specificity. Some were afraid for their lives or their ability to remain financially afloat. Some missed taking the family out for ice cream, brainstorming in-person with co-workers, seeing a daughter off to prom, or making a midnight run to the store. Others mourned the sudden absence of a sense of safety and stability.
Here’s a sampling of some of the responses, lightly edited for clarity and length:
“Being able to have a routine which included making successful trips to the grocery store, being able to do my banking, being able to conduct business in person. I even miss standing in line. And on and on. Need a return to normalcy.” ― 68-year-old Texas man
“Feeling somewhat safe. This thing would kill me. My husband works grocery. My lungs hurt right now. I could have it, but can’t afford testing.” ― 51-year-old Oregon woman
“Going out freely and not worrying about my parents.” ― 45-year-old Virginia man
“I’m not working anymore ... I miss that.” ― 54-year-old Missouri woman
“Can’t go to pulmonary rehab, because it is closed.” ― 79-year-old Michigan man
“Hugging my grandchildren.” ― 53-year-old Arkansas woman
“Visits from my wife (I am in a nursing home).” ― 72-year-old Oklahoma man
“I miss being at college with all my friends, going to class in person and being able to utilize my campus resources.” ― 18-year-old Florida woman
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“Window shopping.” ― 65-year-old New Hampshire woman
“Daily coffee run.” ― 48-year-old California woman
“Visiting local breweries.” ― 36-year-old Minnesota man
“My daily water aerobics class.” ― 67-year-old Georgia woman
“I can’t do volunteer work with the nursing home, AARP or visit my brother in the hospital.” ― 66-year-old Alabama woman
“I miss going out. Even to go buy groceries. I didn’t have to worry really about anything. Or think that the store shelves would be empty. Like I do now.” ― 28-year-old Nevada woman
“I miss having the ability to take my time when buying the things that I want or need. Due to the virus I feel as though I need to get what I need or want as soon as possible.” ― 47-year-old Texas man
“I am a piano teacher, and I have had to switch to teaching remote online lessons. I miss seeing my students, and I am a more effective teacher in person.” ― 54-year-old Virginia woman
“Driving my taxi.” ― 51-year-old Wisconsin man
“Taking my kids to a sit-down dinner, to the movies, or even a day at the park or beach.” ― 33-year-old California man
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“My kids not being so stressed.” ― 53-year-old Texas woman
“I miss being a slob. My daughter is a young home health nurse with almost no PPE for something as contagious and problematic as the COVID-19 disease. At work today we were told we’ll be laid off in two weeks, and our temp workers were all fired. I miss the peace of mind for sure.” ― 54-year-old Tennessee woman
“Not being afraid of everyone around me.” ― 23-year-old New Hampshire woman
“The (obviously delusional) opinion that America was still a free country.” ― 61-year-old Kentucky man


huffpost--2020-03-25--If Trump’s ‘Travel Ban’ Was So Great, Then How Come We Have 61,167 COVID-19 Cases?

WASHINGTON ― The way President Donald Trump tells it , his China travel ban was a gutsy move against the coronavirus that “ pretty much shut it down coming in from China , ” “ stopped it , ” and put the deadly virus “ very much under control.
” Which of course raises the question : Why , then , does the U.S. have 61,167 coronavirus cases and 849 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon , with both numbers on the rise ?
Global health experts agree that blocking travel from China made sense , particularly given the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity and extent of the disease there .
But they also agree that Trump should have simultaneously made it a top priority to set up an extensive testing regime to understand the spread of the virus and to equip hospitals and first responders with the ventilators , respirators and other medical supplies they now need as the disease inevitably spreads around the country .
“ Once the virus is introduced to a community , unless it is contained it will grow exponentially .
And that is what we are seeing now , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of epidemiology at Harvard .
“ Travel bans don ’ t help once the spread has already happened.
” Trump , though , repeatedly claimed for weeks that his Jan. 31 decision , which banned foreigners who had been in China in the previous 14 days from entering the country , had saved the United States from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
At a reelection rally in Charleston , South Carolina , on Feb. 28 , Trump said : “ A virus starts in China , bleeds its way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , doesn ’ t spread widely at all in the United States because of the early actions that myself and my administration took against a lot of other wishes.
” To this day , Trump continues to tout that decision as a brave call that others would not have made and which has kept Americans safe .
“ I made a decision to close off to China .
That was weeks early .
And , honestly , I took a lot of heat , ” Trump said during an extended Fox News interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And I must say , doctors — nobody wanted to make that decision at the time .
It was very , very early .
Call it luck or call it talent .
It doesn ’ t matter .
We made a great decision.
” Trump ’ s claim that not even doctors supported his decision is false ― in fact , his own White House points to statements from doctors both inside and outside the administration supporting the China travel ban , which was later broadened to include foreigners who had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , said that merely keeping out potentially sick foreigners does nothing to slow the spread of a disease that was already present in the United States before the Jan. 31 travel restrictions .
Other countries that have done a better job slowing the spread of the virus ― South Korea , Germany ― worked hard to mass produce a test to figure out where precisely the disease was and how best to slow it .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , meanwhile , suffered technical problems developing a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopt a German test as a fallback .
During those weeks , rather than push his administration hard on either of those issues , Trump instead used seemingly every available opportunity to downplay the threat from the virus .
He claimed ― falsely ― that the disease was no worse than the seasonal flu , that it was likely to go away on its own , and advised Americans to ignore it and invest in the stock market .
“ Travel bans are easy , especially when , as in this case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Ned Price , a former CIA analyst and a spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama .
“ But they ’ re also not particularly effective when it comes to pandemics , and that ’ s especially the case when China was already weeks into the outbreak , and hundreds of thousands had already left the affected region .
”

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WASHINGTON ― The way President Donald Trump tells it, his China travel ban was a gutsy move against the coronavirus that “pretty much shut it down coming in from China,” “stopped it,” and put the deadly virus “very much under control.”
Which of course raises the question: Why, then, does the U.S. have 61,167 coronavirus cases and 849 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, with both numbers on the rise?
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Jeremy Konyndyk, who worked in the Obama White House on the response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, compared Trump’s move to France’s famously useless fortifications against the Nazis in World War II.
“The travel ban was his Maginot Line, the false sense of security that in fact left us hugely vulnerable to attack,” Konyndyk said. “Because it meant we didn’t man our other defenses.”
Global health experts agree that blocking travel from China made sense, particularly given the Chinese government’s attempts to cover up the severity and extent of the disease there. But they also agree that Trump should have simultaneously made it a top priority to set up an extensive testing regime to understand the spread of the virus and to equip hospitals and first responders with the ventilators, respirators and other medical supplies they now need as the disease inevitably spreads around the country.
“Once the virus is introduced to a community, unless it is contained it will grow exponentially. And that is what we are seeing now,” said William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard. “Travel bans don’t help once the spread has already happened.”
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International travelers, some wearing face masks, arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on March 12, 2020, one day before a U.S. flight travel ban hit 26 European countries over the coronavirus. FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images
Trump, though, repeatedly claimed for weeks that his Jan. 31 decision, which banned foreigners who had been in China in the previous 14 days from entering the country, had saved the United States from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Speaking to a favorite interviewer on Feb. 2, Trump assured Fox News viewers that there was no reason to worry about coronavirus. “Well, we pretty much shut it down coming in from China,” he told Sean Hannity.
At a reelection rally in Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 28, Trump said: “A virus starts in China, bleeds its way into various countries all around the world, doesn’t spread widely at all in the United States because of the early actions that myself and my administration took against a lot of other wishes.”
On March 7, Trump declared: “It came out of China, and we heard about it. And made a good move: We closed it down. We stopped it.”
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To this day, Trump continues to tout that decision as a brave call that others would not have made and which has kept Americans safe. “I made a decision to close off to China. That was weeks early. And, honestly, I took a lot of heat,” Trump said during an extended Fox News interview from the White House on Tuesday. “And I must say, doctors — nobody wanted to make that decision at the time. It was very, very early. Call it luck or call it talent. It doesn’t matter. We made a great decision.”
Trump’s claim that not even doctors supported his decision is false ― in fact, his own White House points to statements from doctors both inside and outside the administration supporting the China travel ban, which was later broadened to include foreigners who had been in Iran and Europe.
Outside experts, however, said that merely keeping out potentially sick foreigners does nothing to slow the spread of a disease that was already present in the United States before the Jan. 31 travel restrictions.
“Travel bans are easy ... but they’re also not particularly effective when it comes to pandemics.” - Ned Price, former National Security Council spokesman under Obama
“By the time he imposed those measures we already had community spread underway. And the failure to test guaranteed we didn’t catch or prepare for it,” Konyndyk said.
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Other countries that have done a better job slowing the spread of the virus ― South Korea, Germany ― worked hard to mass produce a test to figure out where precisely the disease was and how best to slow it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, suffered technical problems developing a test for several weeks, yet failed to adopt a German test as a fallback.
That put the United States a good six weeks behind other countries in mapping the coronavirus’s spread and in ramping up the production and distribution of medical supplies.
During those weeks, rather than push his administration hard on either of those issues, Trump instead used seemingly every available opportunity to downplay the threat from the virus. He claimed ― falsely ― that the disease was no worse than the seasonal flu, that it was likely to go away on its own, and advised Americans to ignore it and invest in the stock market.
“Travel bans are easy, especially when, as in this case, the airlines had already curtailed service,” said Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and a spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama. “But they’re also not particularly effective when it comes to pandemics, and that’s especially the case when China was already weeks into the outbreak, and hundreds of thousands had already left the affected region.”
He added: “What’s harder, but far more effective at stopping the spread of a disease, is the blocking and tackling that should have come in the weeks, months, and even years before the first case of coronavirus emerged.”


huffpost--2020-04-06--Trump Administration Report Details Havoc For Hospitals Dealing With COVID-19

WASHINGTON — A new internal watchdog report finds that hospitals were unprepared for the coronavirus and are still scrambling to find equipment and deal with a shortage of tests — problems critics say could have been averted had President Donald Trump taken the pandemic seriously from the beginning .
From a lack of enough protective gear to fears of not having enough ventilators to worries about keeping staff healthy to financial concerns , hospitals are struggling to keep up with a “ fast-moving ” pandemic , according to a report Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity and extent of the coronavirus for two months , falsely claiming that his travel restrictions against China had kept the disease from coming to the United States .
He did not declare a national emergency until mid-March , which finally sent a signal to local governments and hospitals that federal funds would help them deal with the crisis .
“ I think by the first or second week of February it was clear they needed to be prepping , ” said Jeremy Konyndyk , who worked on the Ebola outbreak response under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signal from the United States government never came.
” The report from HHS was self-generated , not requested by Congress .
It points out that some of the issues it found are already being addressed by new guidance from HHS and the $ 2 trillion emergency legislation passed by lawmakers last month .
The office declined to comment on how things might have been different if the federal government had urged hospitals to prepare a month earlier as that question was not in the scope of the report .
Perhaps the single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing supplies and extended waits for test results , ” the report found .
And the testing shortage , in turn , exacerbated other problems , such as the shortage of personal protective equipment , or PPE — including masks , gloves and face shields .
Because tests were either unavailable or taking a week or longer before returning results , hospitals were treating patients who had some COVID-19 symptoms as if they definitely had the disease .
“ One hospital reported that its staff , at the time of our interview , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day for its 23 patients with suspected cases of COVID-19 , ” the report found .
“ Another hospital administrator said , ‘ The testing turnaround presents a challenge , especially for our ‘ rule-out ’ patients … we have to use a lot of PPE on those rule-outs .
And especially when it ’ s a negative , we basically used all that PPE for nothing.
’ ” The testing shortfall is also forcing hospitals to tie up precious beds with patients who wind up not having COVID-19 as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also can not quickly find out for sure if they have the virus .
The report also disputes a conspiracy theory Trump has more than once spread during his daily briefings : that the rapid depletion of protective gear was being caused by hospital staff stealing it and selling it on the black market .
“ The administrator of one hospital stated that before COVID-19 , the hospital ’ s medical center used around 200 masks per day and that it was now using 2,000 per day , ” the report said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting from the national and state reserves were absurdly insufficient — “ won ’ t even last a day , ” said one — but were sometime unusable because of their age .
Others said that the lack of a coherent national response had hospitals bidding against each other as well as members of the public .
On top of everything else was the changing guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to safely care for COVID patients , which sometimes conflicted with what state health departments were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s difficult when a doctor or nurse shows you legitimate information from legitimate sources and they ’ re contradictory.
” Konyndyk , who served in the United States Agency for International Development , said the warning signs were there for Trump administration officials to have urged a forceful response .
“ It was all there .
PPE shortfalls , supply constraints , crisis care standards , limited hospital bandwidth .
All it took was asking the right questions , ” he said .

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WASHINGTON — A new internal watchdog report finds that hospitals were unprepared for the coronavirus and are still scrambling to find equipment and deal with a shortage of tests — problems critics say could have been averted had President Donald Trump taken the pandemic seriously from the beginning.
From a lack of enough protective gear to fears of not having enough ventilators to worries about keeping staff healthy to financial concerns, hospitals are struggling to keep up with a “fast-moving” pandemic, according to a report Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services’ own inspector general.
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“Hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 and keeping staff safe,” the report said.
Trump downplayed the severity and extent of the coronavirus for two months, falsely claiming that his travel restrictions against China had kept the disease from coming to the United States. He did not declare a national emergency until mid-March, which finally sent a signal to local governments and hospitals that federal funds would help them deal with the crisis.
“I think by the first or second week of February it was clear they needed to be prepping,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, who worked on the Ebola outbreak response under former President Barack Obama. “But the signal from the United States government never came.”
The report from HHS was self-generated, not requested by Congress. It points out that some of the issues it found are already being addressed by new guidance from HHS and the $2 trillion emergency legislation passed by lawmakers last month.
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The office declined to comment on how things might have been different if the federal government had urged hospitals to prepare a month earlier as that question was not in the scope of the report.
President Donald Trump walks out of the Oval Office for a news conference to declare a national emergency in response to the coronavirus, at the White House, March 13, in Washington. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nevertheless, the 41 pages, based on interviews conducted with 232 hospitals nationally over five days in late March, found a series of challenges for a health care community struggling to cope with a deadly respiratory illness with little warning.
Perhaps the single biggest problem was “severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results,” the report found. And the testing shortage, in turn, exacerbated other problems, such as the shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE — including masks, gloves and face shields.
Because tests were either unavailable or taking a week or longer before returning results, hospitals were treating patients who had some COVID-19 symptoms as if they definitely had the disease.
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“One hospital reported that its staff, at the time of our interview, used (on average) 307 masks per day for its 23 patients with suspected cases of COVID-19,” the report found. “Another hospital administrator said, ‘The testing turnaround presents a challenge, especially for our ‘rule-out’ patients … we have to use a lot of PPE on those rule-outs. And especially when it’s a negative, we basically used all that PPE for nothing.’”
The testing shortfall is also forcing hospitals to tie up precious beds with patients who wind up not having COVID-19 as well as sidelining staff who show symptoms but who also cannot quickly find out for sure if they have the virus.
The report also disputes a conspiracy theory Trump has more than once spread during his daily briefings: that the rapid depletion of protective gear was being caused by hospital staff stealing it and selling it on the black market.
“The administrator of one hospital stated that before COVID-19, the hospital’s medical center used around 200 masks per day and that it was now using 2,000 per day,” the report said.
Hospitals also complained that supplies they were getting from the national and state reserves were absurdly insufficient — “won’t even last a day,” said one — but were sometime unusable because of their age. Others said that the lack of a coherent national response had hospitals bidding against each other as well as members of the public.
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“One administrator noted that masks that originally cost 50 cents now cost $6 apiece,” the report said. “Other hospitals reported concerns about vendors buying up supplies and selling them to the hospital at a higher cost.”
On top of everything else was the changing guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to safely care for COVID patients, which sometimes conflicted with what state health departments were advising. One hospital administrator said: “It’s difficult when a doctor or nurse shows you legitimate information from legitimate sources and they’re contradictory.”
Konyndyk, who served in the United States Agency for International Development, said the warning signs were there for Trump administration officials to have urged a forceful response. “It was all there. PPE shortfalls, supply constraints, crisis care standards, limited hospital bandwidth. All it took was asking the right questions,” he said.


huffpost--2020-02-15--France Announces First Coronavirus Death In Europe

PARIS ( AP ) — France ’ s health minister on Saturday announced the first coronavirus death in Europe , an 80-year-old Chinese tourist who other French authorities say was initially turned away from two French hospitals when he first fell ill. Minister Agnes Buzyn said she was informed Friday night of the death of the patient , who had been in intensive care at Bichat Hospital in Paris after testing positive in late January .
His daughter also tested positive for the virus that has spread across central China and was hospitalized .
However , the health minister said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving Bichat shortly .
The hospital is among a handful in France with special isolation rooms .
As of Saturday , four of the 11 confirmed virus cases in France have been “ cured ” and left the hospital , the latest a French physician on Friday , she said .
Six others still remain hospitalized .
There were contradictory reports about the timing of the man ’ s illness .
Buzyn said he arrived in France on Jan. 16 and was hospitalized on Jan. 25 under strict isolation measures but his condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of Bichat ’ s infectious diseases unit , said the man had visited two French hospitals but because he “ didn ’ t fulfill the definition ” of someone at risk of having the virus , the hospitals decided it was unnecessary to test him .
The man did not live in Wuhan , the central Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus , but was from Hubei province that includes Wuhan .
Nine European countries collectively have 46 cases of the virus that first emerged in central China in December , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus has infected more than 67,000 people globally and has killed at least 1,526 patients , the vast majority in China .
The World Health Organization has called the virus a threat to global health .
Chinese authorities have placed some 60 million people under a strict lockdown , built emergency hospitals and instituted controls across the country to fight the spread of the virus .
Restaurants , cinemas and other businesses have been closed nationwide and sports and cultural events have been canceled to prevent crowds from gathering .
In Munich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yi told a gathering of the world ’ s top defense officials and diplomats that his country was “ determined to fight and win this battle ” against the virus , and suggested that its efforts were paying off .
He said the epidemic has presented a “ severe challenge ” to China ’ s economy growth but said it was well positioned to rebound .
“ The fundamentals sustaining strong economic growth have not changed , and will not change , ” he said .
“ After the storm comes the rainbow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will emerge stronger from the epidemic.
” Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said all Italians who sought repatriation from Wuhan due to the coronavirus have returned to Italy .
The last was 17-year-old student who arrived on a military flight early Saturday after being twice refused passage due to a fever .
The teen has tested negative for coronavirus , and will now spend two weeks in quarantine at a military facility near Rome .

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PARIS (AP) — France’s health minister on Saturday announced the first coronavirus death in Europe, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist who other French authorities say was initially turned away from two French hospitals when he first fell ill.
Minister Agnes Buzyn said she was informed Friday night of the death of the patient, who had been in intensive care at Bichat Hospital in Paris after testing positive in late January.
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His daughter also tested positive for the virus that has spread across central China and was hospitalized. However, the health minister said she was doing well and should be leaving Bichat shortly. The hospital is among a handful in France with special isolation rooms.
As of Saturday, four of the 11 confirmed virus cases in France have been “cured” and left the hospital, the latest a French physician on Friday, she said. Six others still remain hospitalized.
The deceased patient, a Chinese tourist from the province of Hubei, had a serious lung infection caused by the COVID-19 virus.
There were contradictory reports about the timing of the man’s illness. Buzyn said he arrived in France on Jan. 16 and was hospitalized on Jan. 25 under strict isolation measures but his condition deteriorated rapidly.
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Other French medical officials said earlier that the man had arrived in France on Jan. 23 and quickly fell ill.
Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, head of Bichat’s infectious diseases unit, said the man had visited two French hospitals but because he “didn’t fulfill the definition” of someone at risk of having the virus, the hospitals decided it was unnecessary to test him. The man did not live in Wuhan, the central Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus, but was from Hubei province that includes Wuhan.
He later tested positive and was admitted to Bichat on Jan. 29, Yazdanpanah said.
Nine European countries collectively have 46 cases of the virus that first emerged in central China in December, with Germany having the most at 16.
The virus has infected more than 67,000 people globally and has killed at least 1,526 patients, the vast majority in China. The World Health Organization has called the virus a threat to global health.
Chinese authorities have placed some 60 million people under a strict lockdown, built emergency hospitals and instituted controls across the country to fight the spread of the virus. Restaurants, cinemas and other businesses have been closed nationwide and sports and cultural events have been canceled to prevent crowds from gathering.
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In Munich on Saturday, chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a gathering of the world’s top defense officials and diplomats that his country was “determined to fight and win this battle” against the virus, and suggested that its efforts were paying off.
“Dawn is breaking and we are seeing light coming through,” Wang said through a translator.
He said the epidemic has presented a “severe challenge” to China’s economy growth but said it was well positioned to rebound.
“The fundamentals sustaining strong economic growth have not changed, and will not change,” he said. “After the storm comes the rainbow, and we are confident that China will emerge stronger from the epidemic.”
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said all Italians who sought repatriation from Wuhan due to the coronavirus have returned to Italy. The last was 17-year-old student who arrived on a military flight early Saturday after being twice refused passage due to a fever. The teen has tested negative for coronavirus, and will now spend two weeks in quarantine at a military facility near Rome.
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huffpost--2020-02-08--American In Wuhan Becomes First Non-Chinese National To Die From Coronavirus

BEIJING , Feb 8 ( Reuters ) - A 60-year-old American has died of the new coronavirus , the first confirmed non-Chinese death of the illness , U.S. officials said , as millions of Chinese began returning home after a Lunar New Year break that was extended to try to contain the outbreak .
While the vast majority of cases have been in China , the virus has spread to some two dozen countries abroad , with the latest such cases including five British nationals infected in a French ski resort .
“ We offer our sincerest condolences to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Reuters .
“ Out of the respect for the family ’ s privacy , we have no further comment.
” The death toll in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday , according to authorities , and is poised to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) .
Most of the deaths in China have occurred in and around Wuhan .
Across mainland China , the number of cases stood at 31,774 as of Saturday .
The virus has spread to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Reuters count based on official reports , infecting more than 330 people .
Two deaths have been reported outside of mainland China - in Hong Kong and the Philippines .
Both victims were Chinese nationals .
The latest patients include five British nationals staying in the same chalet at a ski resort in Haute-Savoie in southeastern France , health officials said , raising fears of further infections as British families head for the Alps during the school half-term holidays .
The five had stayed in the same ski chalet with a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not in a serious condition , the officials said .
The Chinese economy will sputter towards normal on Monday , as millions return from the provinces to the big cities after the biggest holiday of the year .
The holiday was extended , but many workplaces will remain closed and many white-collar workers will continue to work from home .
Apple Inc said it was working to reopen its China corporate offices and call centers and was making preparations to reopen retail stores there .
But Chinese authorities have blocked a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Feb. 10 over concerns about the spread of the virus , Japan ’ s Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday .
“ The longer this disruption continues the higher the risk it affects employment and the higher the risk of a much bigger hit on the economy , ” he said .
“ While the crude mortality appears to be around 2 % , there are likely to be many people who have been infected that haven ’ t been tested ... We probably won ’ t know the true case fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death on Friday of Li Wenliang , a doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the new coronavirus , sparked outrage on Chinese social media and rekindled memories of how Beijing was slow to tell the world about the SARS outbreak .
Beijing ’ s communist leadership has sealed off cities , canceled flights and closed factories to contain the epidemic , a response that has had ripple effects globally for financial markets and businesses dependent on the world ’ s second-biggest economy .
While China is bearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is increasing across Asia , with Japan alarmed by the rising number of cases aboard a quarantined cruise ship , major foreign companies pulling out of an international air show in Singapore , and Thailand losing money as Chinese tourists stay home .

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BEIJING, Feb 8 (Reuters) - A 60-year-old American has died of the new coronavirus, the first confirmed non-Chinese death of the illness, U.S. officials said, as millions of Chinese began returning home after a Lunar New Year break that was extended to try to contain the outbreak.
While the vast majority of cases have been in China, the virus has spread to some two dozen countries abroad, with the latest such cases including five British nationals infected in a French ski resort.
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The American man died on Thursday in Wuhan, epi center of the virus outbreak in the central Chinese province of Hubei, a U.S. embassy spokesman said in Beijing on Saturday.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” he told Reuters. “Out of the respect for the family’s privacy, we have no further comment.”
A Japanese man in his sixties and hospitalized with pneumonia in Wuhan also died after suffering symptoms consistent with the new coronavirus, Japan’s foreign ministry said.
The death toll in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday, according to authorities, and is poised to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
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Most of the deaths in China have occurred in and around Wuhan. Across mainland China, the number of cases stood at 31,774 as of Saturday.
The virus has spread to 27 countries and regions, according to a Reuters count based on official reports, infecting more than 330 people. Two deaths have been reported outside of mainland China - in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Both victims were Chinese nationals.
The latest patients include five British nationals staying in the same chalet at a ski resort in Haute-Savoie in southeastern France, health officials said, raising fears of further infections as British families head for the Alps during the school half-term holidays.
The five had stayed in the same ski chalet with a person who had been in Singapore. They were not in a serious condition, the officials said.
The Chinese economy will sputter towards normal on Monday, as millions return from the provinces to the big cities after the biggest holiday of the year. The holiday was extended, but many workplaces will remain closed and many white-collar workers will continue to work from home.
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U.S. electric car maker Tesla’s factory in Shanghai will resume production on Monday, a government official said on Saturday.
Apple Inc said it was working to reopen its China corporate offices and call centers and was making preparations to reopen retail stores there. But Chinese authorities have blocked a plan by Apple supplier Foxconn to resume production from Feb. 10 over concerns about the spread of the virus, Japan’s Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
The virus has been a blow to China’s already-slowing economy, with Goldman Sachs cutting its first-quarter GDP growth target to 4% from 5.6% previously and saying a deeper hit is possible.
“It’s certainly not going to be a return to normal next week,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics in Singapore.
“The longer this disruption continues the higher the risk it affects employment and the higher the risk of a much bigger hit on the economy,” he said.
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Health officials are still uncertain how deadly the illness is.
“It is hard to say how lethal this novel coronavirus infection is,” Professor Allen Cheng, an infectious diseases expert at Monash University in Melbourne, told Reuters.
“While the crude mortality appears to be around 2%, there are likely to be many people who have been infected that haven’t been tested ... We probably won’t know the true case fatality for some time yet.”
News of the death on Friday of Li Wenliang, a doctor who was reprimanded by police for raising the alarm about the new coronavirus, sparked outrage on Chinese social media and rekindled memories of how Beijing was slow to tell the world about the SARS outbreak.
Beijing’s communist leadership has sealed off cities, canceled flights and closed factories to contain the epidemic, a response that has had ripple effects globally for financial markets and businesses dependent on the world’s second-biggest economy.
Chinese-ruled Hong Kong introduced a two-week quarantine on Saturday for all people arriving from the mainland, or who have been there during the previous 14 days.
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While China is bearing the brunt of the virus, anxiety is increasing across Asia, with Japan alarmed by the rising number of cases aboard a quarantined cruise ship, major foreign companies pulling out of an international air show in Singapore, and Thailand losing money as Chinese tourists stay home.
Another three people on the cruise liner off Japan tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases from the ship to 64, Japan’s health ministry said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd on Friday banned “any guests holding Chinese, Hong Kong or Macau passports, regardless of when they were there last” from boarding the company’s ships.


huffpost--2020-05-03--The Best Movies To Watch On Netflix In May 2020

Premise : In this gambling thriller directed and co-written by the Safdie brothers ( “ Good Time ” ) , a jeweler in New York City keeps leveraging his assets to make sports bets .
This jeweler acquires a rare black opal mined by Ethiopian Jewish miners and believes selling the uncut gem will earn him enough money to pay off his debts .
He ’ s continuously running around New York City in a stressed out fashion as he juggles sales to clients such as NBA star Kevin Garnett , runs from violent men he owes money to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out with his mistress .
The movie didn ’ t earn any Academy Award nominations in 2019 but should have .
I thought it was the third-best movie of the year ( behind “ Parasite ” and “ Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood ” ) .
I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever been more stressed and anxious while watching a film .
Sandler ’ s jeweler character keeps betting on himself over and over again but in a self-harming ― not self-helping ― way that puts his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself way less .
How it starts : The camera pans quickly over a dusty , rocky landscape .
After a few seconds , the rocks give way to a busy mine .
Text appears : Welo Mine , Ethiopia , fall 2010 .
The camera gets closer , and it ’ s clear that men are running around and shouting .
There ’ s a visual jump to a close-up of a bloody , wounded leg and a man wincing in great pain .
Netflix highlights from earlier in the month : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Michael Showalter , a couple falls in love and then almost breaks up .
But before either of them pulls that trigger , they get framed for a bizarre murder .
While running from the police , they decide their only chance to survive will be to solve the crime themselves .
Premise : In this biographical drama directed by Jay Roach , screenwriter Dalton Trumbo faces jail time and career derailment because of his association with the Communist Party of the United States .
Trumbo ’ s refusal to step away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads to his blacklisting in the industry .
During the 1930s , in response to the Great Depression and the rise of Fascism , thousands of Americans joined the Communist Party of the United States .
After the U.S. allied with the Soviet Union during World War II , many more joined the C.P.U.S.A .
Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo , a long-time champion of workers ’ rights , became a member of the Party in 1943 .
But the Cold War cast a new light of suspicion on American Communists .
Premise : In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tina Fey , the character Kimmy Schmidt has become a successful author and is about to marry a prince .
But when she discovers the man who kidnapped her and kept her in a bunker might still be doing that to other women , she must decide whether to drop the wedding preparations to try and save the other potential captives .
A jock finds out about this writing service and asks this student if she ’ ll write a love letter for him to another girl in school .
Both of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and become friends in the process of jointly discovering what love and friendship can be .
How it starts : An older woman in a bed struggles to open her eyes and speak .
The camera shows that the woman is lying on a hospital bed .
A younger woman , her daughter , says the “ hurricane is coming , ” referring to Hurricane Katrina .
All the movies that have joined Netflix this month so far :

A24/"Uncut Gems" "Uncut Gems" with Adam Sandler
The new movie on Netflix:
Premise: In this gambling thriller directed and co-written by the Safdie brothers (“Good Time”), a jeweler in New York City keeps leveraging his assets to make sports bets. This jeweler acquires a rare black opal mined by Ethiopian Jewish miners and believes selling the uncut gem will earn him enough money to pay off his debts. He’s continuously running around New York City in a stressed out fashion as he juggles sales to clients such as NBA star Kevin Garnett, runs from violent men he owes money to, makes time for his family and hang out with his mistress.
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The movie didn’t earn any Academy Award nominations in 2019 but should have. I thought it was the third-best movie of the year (behind “Parasite” and “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood”). I don’t think I’ve ever been more stressed and anxious while watching a film. Sandler’s jeweler character keeps betting on himself over and over again but in a self-harming ― not self-helping ― way that puts his life at stake. He should believe in himself way less.
Setting: 2012 New York City
Netflix descriptors: “Unsettling,” “forceful” and “gritty”
A24/"Uncut Gems" The opening scene from "Uncut Gems"
How it starts: The camera pans quickly over a dusty, rocky landscape. After a few seconds, the rocks give way to a busy mine. Text appears: Welo Mine, Ethiopia, fall 2010. The camera gets closer, and it’s clear that men are running around and shouting. There’s a visual jump to a close-up of a bloody, wounded leg and a man wincing in great pain.
Notable cast: Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Adam Sandler and LaKeith Stanfield
Runtime: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Bonus: Netflix put together a video about the various jewelers and gamblers in the movie who had never acted before and were more or less playing themselves.
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Netflix highlights from earlier in the month:
Premise: In this romantic comedy directed by Michael Showalter, a couple falls in love and then almost breaks up. But before either of them pulls that trigger, they get framed for a bizarre murder. While running from the police, they decide their only chance to survive will be to solve the crime themselves.
Their amateurish DIY investigation brings them closer together and leads them to reevaluate the relationship.
Setting: New Orleans
Netflix descriptors: “Quirky” and “irreverent”
Netflix The opening scene from "The Lovebirds"
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How it starts: A pleasantly soft piano, drum and bass track plays while people stroll down a neighborhood sidewalk. What sounds like a trolley bell rings.
The camera focuses on a beautiful blue door with a big knocker. The door opens, and the protagonists step out. They smile and agree the previous night was “fun.”
Notable cast: Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae
Runtime: 1 hour, 26 minutes
Bonus: Here’s a video of an actual lovebird, in case you’re curious.
Premise: In this biographical drama directed by Jay Roach, screenwriter Dalton Trumbo faces jail time and career derailment because of his association with the Communist Party of the United States. Trumbo’s refusal to step away from the party during the Cold War leads to his blacklisting in the industry.
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Trumbo continues to ghostwrite and creates two of the most iconic movies of the era, “Roman Holiday” and “Spartacus.”
Setting: Los Angeles around 1950
Netflix descriptors: “Witty” and “inspiring”
Bleecker Street/"Trumbo" The opening scene from "Trumbo"
How it starts: A black screen has white text that reads:
During the 1930s, in response to the Great Depression and the rise of Fascism, thousands of Americans joined the Communist Party of the United States. After the U.S. allied with the Soviet Union during World War II, many more joined the C.P.U.S.A. Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, a long-time champion of workers’ rights, became a member of the Party in 1943. But the Cold War cast a new light of suspicion on American Communists.
After many paragraphs, the movie finally opens on a shot of a beautiful house. There’s a spotted horse in the foreground and a mountainous backdrop.
Notable cast: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane and Helen Mirren
Runtime: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Bonus: You can also watch a documentary about Dalton Trumbo with the same name. Here’s the trailer for that.
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Premise: In this interactive comedy co-written by Robert Carlock and Tina Fey, the character Kimmy Schmidt has become a successful author and is about to marry a prince. But when she discovers the man who kidnapped her and kept her in a bunker might still be doing that to other women, she must decide whether to drop the wedding preparations to try and save the other potential captives.
The plot is dark in the details, but the script plays the situation like a goofy farce.
Much like the 2018 Netflix film “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,” this interactive movie allows viewers to pick different paths for the characters in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure story.
Setting: New York City and across the U.S.
Netflix descriptors: “Witty,” “Quirky” and “Goofy”
Netflix Ellie Kemper in the opening scene of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend"
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How it starts: The character Kimmy Schmidt turns around in a wedding dress she’s trying on at a store in New York City.
“Now, this is the fancy option,” Schmidt says with a smile. “Like what Mrs. Peanut would get married in.”
Her friend Tituss, watching from nearby, responds, “You think Mr. Peanut is straight?”
Notable cast: Tituss Burgess, Jon Hamm, Carol Kane, Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski and Daniel Radcliffe
Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Bonus: Here’s Radcliffe reading the other “Kimmy” characters’ ridiculous lines from previous seasons:
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Premise: This documentary follows former first lady Michelle Obama as she goes on a book tour for her 2018 memoir, “Becoming,” balancing footage of the tour with details about her personal history and ongoing missions to support education initiatives.
Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama produced the project. They signed a deal with Netflix under the moniker Higher Ground Productions, and produced the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary “American Factor.”
Netflix descriptors: “Intimate,” “feel-good” and “inspiring”
Netflix Michelle Obama in "Becoming"
How it starts: Michelle Obama walks away from the camera in what looks like a finished basement. A bookshelf in front of her has both books and basketballs.
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She heads into a garage and then exits to a driveway. She says hi to someone who appears to be a bodyguard. She steps into the backseat of a giant Chevy Suburban and says “thank you.”
In the backseat, she tells the camera she usually listens to music in the car and unfurls a long white headphone cord.
“I have an eclectic taste of music,” Obama says. “It depends on the mood: whether I want to be inspired, or whether I just want to ... thump it out.”
Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minute
Bonus: Here’s Michelle Obama doing an interview with “Good Morning America” about her memoir back in 2018:
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Premise: In this coming-of-age dramedy, a high school student keeps to herself due to having unique interests and experiencing widespread bullying. She writes other students’ homework papers for money.
A jock finds out about this writing service and asks this student if she’ll write a love letter for him to another girl in school. Both of them end up falling for this girl and become friends in the process of jointly discovering what love and friendship can be.
Setting: Small-town Washington
Netflix Descriptors: “Heartfelt,” “quirky” and “feel-good”
Netflix The opening scene from "The Half of It."
How it starts: A epigraph quote from Plato’s “Symposium” appears on the screen: “Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole.”
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The camera transitions to a sketchpad with animated drawings. A voiceover talks while the sketches move and change.
“The ancient Greeks believed humans once had four arms, four legs and a single head made of two faces,” the voiceover says. “We were happy.”
Notable cast: Daniel Diemer, Collin Chou, Alexxis Lemire and Leah Lewis
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Bonus: Here’s an extended interview GLAAD did with the producer and the stars of the movie. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the interview takes place over video-conferencing.
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Premise: In this fantasy romance directed by David Fincher, a man ages in reverse. This means he starts life as an older man and gets younger over time.
He has a decades-spanning romance in his life. But given the different aging trajectories, the couple is only able to be fully together for a brief moment in time.
The movie won three Academy Awards and earned 13 nominations.
Setting: Various decades across the United States
Netflix Descriptors: “Heartfelt,” “emotional” and “romantic”
Netflix The opening scene from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
How it starts: An older woman in a bed struggles to open her eyes and speak. The camera shows that the woman is lying on a hospital bed. A younger woman, her daughter, says the “hurricane is coming,” referring to Hurricane Katrina.
Notable cast: Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Brad Pitt and Tilda Swinton
Runtime: 2 hours, 46 minutes
Bonus: CBS released a short behind-the-scenes video called “The Curious Case of Brad Pitt.” It features an interview with Pitt, but the real star is whoever titled the segment.
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All the movies that have joined Netflix this month so far:
May 1
“All Day and a Night” (Netflix Film)
“Get In” (Netflix Film)
“The Half Of It” (Netflix Film)
“Mrs. Serial Killer” (Netflix Film)
“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”
“Back to the Future”
“Back to the Future Part II”
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
“Cracked Up, The Darrell Hammond Story”
“Den of Thieves”
“For Colored Girls”
“Fun with Dick & Jane”
“I Am Divine”
“Jarhead”
“Jarhead 2: Field of Fire”
“Jarhead 3: The Siege”
“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”
“Material”
“Sinister”
“Song of the Sea”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Heartbreak Kid”
“The Patriot”
“Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery: A New Arrival”
“Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery: World of Tomorrow”
“Thomas & Friends: Thomas and the Royal Engine”
“Underworld”
“Underworld: Evolution”
“Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”
“Urban Cowboy”
“What a Girl Wants”
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”
May 4


huffpost--2020-05-24--South America Emerges As A New COVID Epicenter, While Cases In Africa Grow Rapidly

GENEVA ( Reuters ) - South America has become a new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with Brazil hardest-hit , while cases are rising in some African countries that so far have a relatively low death toll , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said on Friday .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic today reached a milestone in Africa , with more than 100,000 confirmed cases .
The virus has now spread to every country in the continent since the first case was confirmed in the region 14 weeks ago , ” the WHO said in a statement , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast continent .
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti , WHO regional director for Africa , who is from Botswana , said : “ For now COVID-19 has made a soft landfall in Africa , and the continent has been spared the high numbers of deaths which have devastated other regions of the world.
” Even so , she said , “ We must not be lulled into complacency as our health systems are fragile and are less able to cope with a sudden increase in cases.
” About half of African countries are experiencing community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The situation in South America appeared graver .
Dr. Mike Ryan , WHO ’ s top emergencies expert , speaking earlier to a news conference , said : “ In a sense South America has become a new epicenter for the disease.
” Brazil is the “ most affected , ” and authorities there have approved broad use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 , he said .
He reiterated that clinical evidence does not support the drug ’ s widespread use against the disease , given its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % rises in cases in the past week , while others have seen a decline or have stable rates , Ryan said .
The low mortality rate may be because half the continent ’ s population is 18 or younger , he said , while saying he remains worried the disease will spread on a continent with “ significant gaps ” in intensive care services , medical oxygen and ventilation .

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GENEVA (Reuters) - South America has become a new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with Brazil hardest-hit, while cases are rising in some African countries that so far have a relatively low death toll, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
“The COVID-19 pandemic today reached a milestone in Africa, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases. The virus has now spread to every country in the continent since the first case was confirmed in the region 14 weeks ago,” the WHO said in a statement, noting there were 3,100 confirmed deaths on the vast continent.
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Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, who is from Botswana, said: “For now COVID-19 has made a soft landfall in Africa, and the continent has been spared the high numbers of deaths which have devastated other regions of the world.”
Even so, she said, “We must not be lulled into complacency as our health systems are fragile and are less able to cope with a sudden increase in cases.”
About half of African countries are experiencing community transmission of the virus, the WHO said.
The situation in South America appeared graver. Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergencies expert, speaking earlier to a news conference, said: “In a sense South America has become a new epicenter for the disease.”
Brazil is the “most affected,” and authorities there have approved broad use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19, he said. He reiterated that clinical evidence does not support the drug’s widespread use against the disease, given its risks.
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Nine African countries had 50% rises in cases in the past week, while others have seen a decline or have stable rates, Ryan said.
The low mortality rate may be because half the continent’s population is 18 or younger, he said, while saying he remains worried the disease will spread on a continent with “significant gaps” in intensive care services, medical oxygen and ventilation.


huffpost--2020-05-24--Got Vacation Time? You Should Use It, Especially Now.

You need a vacation , even though you can ’ t really go anywhere .
The world is reeling from a public health crisis ; the global economy is tanking .
If you still have a job , you ’ re either going to work in the middle of a pandemic or stuck at home , still trying to work ― and you ’ re probably working harder than usual .
You ’ re stressed as hell .
Things are bad , home life is crazy , especially for people with children or who are caregivers for others in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot out of you .
The endless barrage of awful news takes a real toll , not least because of how little control we have over the viral outbreak .
It ’ s time to embrace something simple that Americans seem to resist : time off .
You need it .
You deserve it .
You earned your paid vacation days just as much as you earned your paychecks .
Plus , the year is almost halfway over , and the novel coronavirus doesn ’ t seem to be going anywhere anytime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days , if you can manage it .
Sleep in .
Read a book .
Binge a TV show .
Start a DIY project .
Watch old baseball games on YouTube .
Go on a drive or a bike ride or a hike .
Bake something .
Play a video game .
Hide from your kids in the garage with a bottle of wine .
Do absolutely nothing at all ― just imagine it !
Your brain and your body will thank you .
And while more than three-quarters of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re heavily skewed toward higher-income earners and people who work full-time , as shown in a 2019 report from the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research .
For instance , 91 % of workers in the top 25 % of income have paid vacation , compared to 52 % of workers in the bottom quarter of the income scale .
Data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics further show that workers in fields like construction and the service industry are much less likely than management and professional workers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including vacation time , sick days and holidays .
There also are people for whom taking time off in the middle of the pandemic might not be possible , like front-line health care personnel , first responders , essential workers at grocery stores and other businesses , or a self-employed person or small business owner trying to keep their companies open .
This also might not be feasible for lots of others for a variety of reasons .
And of course , there are more than 39 million workers who are suffering from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
Don ’ t let your boss try to make you feel guilty for asking , or try to pit employees against each other .
Handling a company ’ s workload with an absent employee is a management problem , not a worker problem .
There are reasons bosses get paid more , and that ’ s one of them .
You wouldn ’ t accept it if your boss just refused to pay you one week .
So you shouldn ’ t accept it if she denies you the paid leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a condition of your employment .
You trade your labor and your time to your employer in exchange for compensation , and your paid leave is as much a part of that as your wages and your health insurance and everything else .
It ’ s great if you have a cool boss who understands the pressure workers are under right now and is flexible about your work hours or even willing to give you an off-the-books “ mental health day.
” Favors from benevolent bosses are nice and should be appreciated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the paid leave you ’ ve earned .
It belongs to you and you don ’ t need to justify how you use that time .
You ’ re not going to have the vacation of your dreams .
Depending on your household , you may still have to carry the heavy burdens of caring for children or others in your home .
But removing work from the equation makes a huge difference .
After all , even in normal times , we spend most of our waking hours working , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not doing that for a few days .
Set an out-of-office reply for your email and voicemail and make clear that you won ’ t be checking messages while you ’ re off .
Turn off news notifications on your phone .
Don ’ t read , watch or listen to the news at all , in fact .
Delete any apps that will interrupt you while you ’ re resting or tempt you to just check in with work real quick .

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You need a vacation, even though you can’t really go anywhere. The world is reeling from a public health crisis; the global economy is tanking. If you still have a job, you’re either going to work in the middle of a pandemic or stuck at home, still trying to work ― and you’re probably working harder than usual.
You’re stressed as hell. Things are bad, home life is crazy, especially for people with children or who are caregivers for others in their homes. Working under these circumstances takes a lot out of you. The endless barrage of awful news takes a real toll, not least because of how little control we have over the viral outbreak.
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It’s time to embrace something simple that Americans seem to resist: time off. You need it. You deserve it. You earned your paid vacation days just as much as you earned your paychecks. Plus, the year is almost halfway over, and the novel coronavirus doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Take a day. Take a few days, if you can manage it.
Sleep in. Read a book. Binge a TV show. Start a DIY project. Watch old baseball games on YouTube. Go on a drive or a bike ride or a hike. Bake something. Play a video game. Hide from your kids in the garage with a bottle of wine. Do absolutely nothing at all ― just imagine it! Your brain and your body will thank you.
So will your boss and your co-workers, if they’re smart. The alternative is sliding deeper into anxiety until you burn out, which doesn’t do you, your family or your employer any good.
Sadly, not everyone can give themselves a rest. The United States is alone among rich countries in not guaranteeing paid vacation time to workers. By contrast, countries like Canada and Japan mandate 10 paid vacation days a year, and residents of European Union countries are guaranteed at least 20 paid vacation days annually.
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And while more than three-quarters of American workers do have paid vacation benefits, they’re heavily skewed toward higher-income earners and people who work full-time, as shown in a 2019 report from the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research. For instance, 91% of workers in the top 25% of income have paid vacation, compared to 52% of workers in the bottom quarter of the income scale.
Data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics further show that workers in fields like construction and the service industry are much less likely than management and professional workers to have paid leave of any kind, including vacation time, sick days and holidays.
Look how relaxed she is. That could be you. Fizkes/Getty Images
There also are people for whom taking time off in the middle of the pandemic might not be possible, like front-line health care personnel, first responders, essential workers at grocery stores and other businesses, or a self-employed person or small business owner trying to keep their companies open. This also might not be feasible for lots of others for a variety of reasons. And of course, there are more than 39 million workers who are suffering from joblessness who didn’t have a choice.
But for everyone else, there are no good reasons not to give yourself a chance to recharge.
Don’t let your boss try to make you feel guilty for asking, or try to pit employees against each other. Handling a company’s workload with an absent employee is a management problem, not a worker problem. There are reasons bosses get paid more, and that’s one of them.
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You wouldn’t accept it if your boss just refused to pay you one week. So you shouldn’t accept it if she denies you the paid leave to which you’re entitled as a condition of your employment. You trade your labor and your time to your employer in exchange for compensation, and your paid leave is as much a part of that as your wages and your health insurance and everything else.
It’s great if you have a cool boss who understands the pressure workers are under right now and is flexible about your work hours or even willing to give you an off-the-books “mental health day.” Favors from benevolent bosses are nice and should be appreciated, but that’s no substitute for using the paid leave you’ve earned. It belongs to you and you don’t need to justify how you use that time.
You’re not going to have the vacation of your dreams. Depending on your household, you may still have to carry the heavy burdens of caring for children or others in your home. But removing work from the equation makes a huge difference. After all, even in normal times, we spend most of our waking hours working, so you’ll feel the difference when you’re not doing that for a few days.
Unplugging as much as humanly possible is key.
Set an out-of-office reply for your email and voicemail and make clear that you won’t be checking messages while you’re off. Turn off news notifications on your phone. Don’t read, watch or listen to the news at all, in fact. Delete any apps that will interrupt you while you’re resting or tempt you to just check in with work real quick.
Since travel and adventure aren’t involved, the main goal of using vacation time right now is to de-stress. That can’t happen if the ugliness creating your anxiety is still right in your face.
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And don’t worry. None of us is as important to our workplaces as we think we are.
Everything will be fine. The world and your workplace will go on without you and will be there when you return, reenergized and ready to get back to it.


huffpost--2020-04-09--Saudi Arabia Announces Yemen Cease-Fire Amid Pandemic

CAIRO ( AP ) — The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced Wednesday that its forces would begin a cease-fire starting Thursday , a step that could pave the way for the first direct peace talks between the two sides that have been at war for more than five years .
In a statement carried by Saudi Arabia ’ s official state news agency , a Saudi military spokesman , Col. Turki al-Malki , said that the ceasefire would last two weeks and that it comes in response to U.N. calls to halt hostilities amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be extended to pave the way for all the parties “ to discuss proposals , steps , and mechanisms for sustainable ceasefire in Yemen ... for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen.
” Within hours of the announcement , residents in the contested Yemeni province Marib said a suspected Houthi missile struck a security building in the city center .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility or reports of casualties .
A Yemeni presidential adviser , Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi , blamed the Houthis , saying on Twitter that the attack shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , who called for a cease-fire in all global conflicts on March 23 to tackle the virus and specifically called two days later for a cessation in Yemen , welcomed the announcement , saying : “ This can help to advance efforts towards peace as well as the country ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” He urged Yemen ’ s government , which is backed by the Saudi-led coalition , and the Houthis “ to follow through on their commitment to immediately cease hostilities ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to engage with each other without preconditions in negotiations facilitated by the U.N. special envoy for Yemen , Martin Griffiths .
“ Only through dialogue will the parties be able to agree on a mechanism for sustaining a nation-wide ceasefire , humanitarian and economic confidence-building measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people , and the resumption of the political process to reach a comprehensive settlement to end the conflict , ” Guterres said in a statement .
Guterres said earlier this month that warring parties in 11 countries had responded positively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tackle the virus .
Guterres said then that the world faces “ a common enemy — COVID-19 , ” which doesn ’ t care “ about nationality or ethnicity , faction or faith.
” Heavy fighting in Yemen between coalition-backed government forces and the Houthis killed more than 270 people the past 10 days , government officials and tribal leaders said Wednesday .
The two sides are battling over for the key border province of Jawf and the oil-rich central province of Marib .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media , while the tribal leaders did want to be quoted by name out of fear of reprisals .
The war has proved costly for Saudi Arabia and has damaged its image abroad .
The calls for peace come amid a trying time .
The country is engaged in an international price war over the cost of oil , having pushed its production higher to try to take back market share from Russia and the United States .
International rights groups criticized Saudi Arabia over the conflict and the humanitarian toll .
Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 2,932 confirmed cases and 41 deaths .
Yemen , the Arab world ’ s poorest nation , has been convulsed by civil war since 2014 .
That is when the Iranian-backed Houthis took control of the country ’ s north , including the capital of Sanaa .
The Saudi-led military coalition intervened against the Houthis the following year , conducting relentless airstrikes and a blockade of Yemen .
The talks proposed by Al-Malki would be the first face-to-face peace negotiations among the Saudis , Houthis and government since the war started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two warring parties , al-Malki said a Saudi military team would also be present .

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CAIRO (AP) — The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced Wednesday that its forces would begin a cease-fire starting Thursday, a step that could pave the way for the first direct peace talks between the two sides that have been at war for more than five years.
In a statement carried by Saudi Arabia’s official state news agency, a Saudi military spokesman, Col. Turki al-Malki, said that the ceasefire would last two weeks and that it comes in response to U.N. calls to halt hostilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said the ceasefire could be extended to pave the way for all the parties “to discuss proposals, steps, and mechanisms for sustainable ceasefire in Yemen ... for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen.”
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There was no immediate reaction from Houthi leaders or Yemen’s internationally recognized government to the coalition’s statement.
Within hours of the announcement, residents in the contested Yemeni province Marib said a suspected Houthi missile struck a security building in the city center. There was no immediate claim of responsibility or reports of casualties. A Yemeni presidential adviser, Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, blamed the Houthis, saying on Twitter that the attack shows the rebels “are fueling war not peace.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for a cease-fire in all global conflicts on March 23 to tackle the virus and specifically called two days later for a cessation in Yemen, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This can help to advance efforts towards peace as well as the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He urged Yemen’s government, which is backed by the Saudi-led coalition, and the Houthis “to follow through on their commitment to immediately cease hostilities” in response to his March 25 plea and to engage with each other without preconditions in negotiations facilitated by the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths.
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“Only through dialogue will the parties be able to agree on a mechanism for sustaining a nation-wide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic confidence-building measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, and the resumption of the political process to reach a comprehensive settlement to end the conflict,” Guterres said in a statement.
Guterres said earlier this month that warring parties in 11 countries had responded positively to his appeal for a global cease-fire to tackle the virus. Guterres said then that the world faces “a common enemy — COVID-19,” which doesn’t care “about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith.”
Heavy fighting in Yemen between coalition-backed government forces and the Houthis killed more than 270 people the past 10 days, government officials and tribal leaders said Wednesday. The two sides are battling over for the key border province of Jawf and the oil-rich central province of Marib. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, while the tribal leaders did want to be quoted by name out of fear of reprisals.
The flare-up in fighting came at a time Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile targeted at their capital, Riyadh, late last month. The Houthis frequently launch missiles across Yemen’s border into Saudi Arabia, but it’s rare that they reach the capital.
The war has proved costly for Saudi Arabia and has damaged its image abroad. The calls for peace come amid a trying time. The country is engaged in an international price war over the cost of oil, having pushed its production higher to try to take back market share from Russia and the United States. International rights groups criticized Saudi Arabia over the conflict and the humanitarian toll. Saudi Arabia is also battling the coronavirus outbreak, with 2,932 confirmed cases and 41 deaths.
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Iran, which backs the Houthis, is also facing challenges at home. As the worst-hit country in the Middle East, it has 67,286 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,993 deaths.
Al-Malki, the coalition spokesman, said the ceasefire was aimed at “building confidence” between the two warring parties and to support the United Nations-led initiative to end the war.
Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest nation, has been convulsed by civil war since 2014. That is when the Iranian-backed Houthis took control of the country’s north, including the capital of Sanaa. The Saudi-led military coalition intervened against the Houthis the following year, conducting relentless airstrikes and a blockade of Yemen.
Past attempts at ending the conflict have stalled. A 2018 peace agreement, brokered by the U.N. in Sweden, led to a rough road map to end fighting in the key port city of Hodeida but brought little actual progress.
The talks proposed by Al-Malki would be the first face-to-face peace negotiations among the Saudis, Houthis and government since the war started. In addition to representatives from the two warring parties, al-Malki said a Saudi military team would also be present.
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In the past, informal and secretive talks took place inside Saudi Arabia and Oman between the Houthis and Saudis. Both sides blamed the failure of the talks on manipulation by Saudi Arabia or Iran.
The conflict has killed over 100,000 people and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushing the country to the brink of famine.


huffpost--2020-04-23--Gay Couple Find Amazing Way To Honor Pride During Coronavirus Crisis In Poland

WARSAW , April 23 ( Reuters ) - Married gay couple Dawid Mycek and Jakub Kwiecinski say they face frequent abuse in Poland for being part of a so-called “ homosexual plague.
” “ So we thought that if we are dealing right now with a real plague ( the new coronavirus ) we could help protect people from this plague and do something good , ” said 37-year-old Kwiecinski .
He and his husband gave out 300 rainbow face masks on the streets of the northern Polish city of Gdansk this month to help people protect themselves from COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) people in the country .
A video of them distributing the masks was watched on Facebook over 2 million times .
Poland has reported 10,346 cases of the coronavirus and 435 deaths , and wearing a face mask is mandatory in public spaces .
Kwiecinski and Mycek , 35 , who married in Portugal , said reactions to their masks were overwhelmingly positive , but the general attitude towards LGBT people in Poland has become more hostile in recent years .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any form of same-sex union , parades to celebrate LGBT life became violent flash points last year in the buildup to October elections .
“ The situation of LGBT people in Poland is getting worse I would say day by day , we have the right-wing in power ... the Law and Justice party and they are against LGBT , ” Kwiecinski said .
A spokeswoman for the ruling conservative Law and Justice party ( PiS ) did not respond to requests for comment .
PiS officials have previously said they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to exist as couples in private .
Kwiecinski and Mycek said in recent years they have received death threats from 80 people .
“ We ’ ve heard many times in Poland from people and from Polish bishops , and from Polish politicians that we are a plague , ” Kwiecinski said referring to comments made by the archbishop of Krakow , Marek Jedraszewski last August .

WARSAW, April 23 (Reuters) - Married gay couple Dawid Mycek and Jakub Kwiecinski say they face frequent abuse in Poland for being part of a so-called “homosexual plague.”
“So we thought that if we are dealing right now with a real plague (the new coronavirus) we could help protect people from this plague and do something good,” said 37-year-old Kwiecinski.
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He and his husband gave out 300 rainbow face masks on the streets of the northern Polish city of Gdansk this month to help people protect themselves from COVID 19 and raise awareness of the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.
A video of them distributing the masks was watched on Facebook over 2 million times.
Poland has reported 10,346 cases of the coronavirus and 435 deaths, and wearing a face mask is mandatory in public spaces.
Kwiecinski and Mycek, 35, who married in Portugal, said reactions to their masks were overwhelmingly positive, but the general attitude towards LGBT people in Poland has become more hostile in recent years.
In Poland, which doesn’t recognize any form of same-sex union, parades to celebrate LGBT life became violent flash points last year in the buildup to October elections.
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The country is due to hold presidential elections on May 10.
“The situation of LGBT people in Poland is getting worse I would say day by day, we have the right-wing in power... the Law and Justice party and they are against LGBT,” Kwiecinski said.
“They also encourage people to attack us, to insult us.”
A spokeswoman for the ruling conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) did not respond to requests for comment.
PiS officials have previously said they are not against gay couples, they just want them to exist as couples in private.
Kwiecinski and Mycek said in recent years they have received death threats from 80 people.
“We’ve heard many times in Poland from people and from Polish bishops, and from Polish politicians that we are a plague,” Kwiecinski said referring to comments made by the archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jedraszewski last August.
Jedraszewki described Poland as under siege from a “rainbow plague” of gay rights campaigners he compared to Poland’s former Communist rulers.
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