huffpost--2020-04-10--5 Ridiculous Things To Distract Yourself With This Weekend

If you ’ re here to find out if we have an answer for whether Governor Cuomo wears a nipple ring , we regret to inform you that we do not and probably never will .
Still , another week has gone by and with it , a few sparkly , welcome distractions from the pandemic that we ’ re sharing in our Anything But Coronavirus series ( aka , ABC ) .
After his teammate and best pal La ’ Darius Marshall appeared on the cover of The Cut , Jerry Harris is the latest “ Cheer ” star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for InStyle .
There was also the “ Schitt ’ s Creek ” finale and the major fashion moment that came along with it , some exciting “ Tiger King ” news , and more .
Or rather , the discourse over Drake ’ s house .
The rapper ’ s digs are featured in this month ’ s issue of Architectural Digest , and social media users were quick to issue their commentary .
Is it a mall ?
A Las Vegas casino ?
A hotel ?
Check out the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wedding look during the “ Schitt ’ s Creek ” finale “ Schitt ’ s Creek ” could not possibly have ended its six-season run without one more epic Moira Rose fashion moment .
The matriarch , played by the imitable Catherine O ’ Hara , steps in as officiant when a storm prevents David and Patrick ’ s actual justice of the peace from making it to their wedding .
The look , and the entire finale that aired this week , was the happy , over-the-top ending we deserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of our favorite high-energy athletes wearing high fashion .
Jerry Harris , the sweetheart of “ Cheer ” and ultimate king of mat talk , appears in a new spread for InStyle in which he reveals , among other things , the differences between regular Jerry and mat Jerry .
It is , as , expected , pure joy .
The spread appears in InStyle ’ s May issue , available on newsstands , on Amazon and for digital download April 17 .
The news that we might be getting a bonus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deeply disturbing and extremely popular “ Tiger King ” left us with questions and wanting more ― now it looks like we might be getting it .
While not confirmed by the streaming service , it recently shared a video interviewing protagonist Joe Exotic from prison , and the prospect of another episode has been confirmed by other people featured in the docu-series .
This perfect Imperfect Food order that is ( kind of ? )
NSFW ?
IDK ?
Imperfect Foods is a delivery service that sells “ imperfect ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste ― and apparently also combat loneliness during self-isolation .
Just kidding !
Still , check out this phallic potato that Twitter user Kris P Kreme shared from the contents of her first order .
There ’ s a “ vein ” and everything .

If you’re here to find out if we have an answer for whether Governor Cuomo wears a nipple ring, we regret to inform you that we do not and probably never will. Still, another week has gone by and with it, a few sparkly, welcome distractions from the pandemic that we’re sharing in our Anything But Coronavirus series (aka, ABC).
After his teammate and best pal La’Darius Marshall appeared on the cover of The Cut, Jerry Harris is the latest “Cheer” star to land a magazine spread, this time for InStyle. There was also the “Schitt’s Creek” finale and the major fashion moment that came along with it, some exciting “Tiger King” news, and more.
Below, five other things besides COVID-19 to obsess over.
Drake’s Very Large, Very Extra House
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Or rather, the discourse over Drake’s house. The rapper’s digs are featured in this month’s issue of Architectural Digest, and social media users were quick to issue their commentary. Is it a mall? A Las Vegas casino? A hotel? Check out the spread and decide for yourself.
Moira Rose’s wedding look during the “Schitt’s Creek” finale
“Schitt’s Creek” could not possibly have ended its six-season run without one more epic Moira Rose fashion moment. The matriarch, played by the imitable Catherine O’Hara, steps in as officiant when a storm prevents David and Patrick’s actual justice of the peace from making it to their wedding. The look, and the entire finale that aired this week, was the happy, over-the-top ending we deserve, bébés.
“Cheer” star Jerry Harris’ InStyle spread
PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHOELLER Jerry Harris, of Netflix's "Cheer," stars in a joyful InStyle spread
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It’s another week of our favorite high-energy athletes wearing high fashion. Jerry Harris, the sweetheart of “Cheer” and ultimate king of mat talk, appears in a new spread for InStyle in which he reveals, among other things, the differences between regular Jerry and mat Jerry. It is, as, expected, pure joy. The spread appears in InStyle’s May issue, available on newsstands, on Amazon and for digital download April 17.
The news that we might be getting a bonus episode of “Tiger King.”
Netflix’s deeply disturbing and extremely popular “Tiger King” left us with questions and wanting more ― now it looks like we might be getting it. While not confirmed by the streaming service, it recently shared a video interviewing protagonist Joe Exotic from prison, and the prospect of another episode has been confirmed by other people featured in the docu-series.
This perfect Imperfect Food order that is (kind of?) NSFW? IDK?
I received my first order from Imperfect foods, and let me tell you, I’m 100% satisfied. pic.twitter.com/iDVKeAWX7p — Kris P Kreme (@krisv_723) April 8, 2020
Imperfect Foods is a delivery service that sells “imperfect” produce and other groceries to eliminate food waste ― and apparently also combat loneliness during self-isolation. Just kidding! Still, check out this phallic potato that Twitter user Kris P Kreme shared from the contents of her first order. There’s a “vein” and everything.


huffpost--2020-04-10--The Outer Banks Tried To Crack Down On Outsiders, But They Keep Sneaking In

Daniel Pullen for HuffPost An officer with the Dare County Sheriff 's Office inspects the identification of a driver entering the Outer Banks .
This coronavirus-inspired roadblock checkpoint is set up just west of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge , which connects the mainland with Roanoke Island .
Dare County had announced on March 17 that it was closing its two main bridges to the Outer Banks to visitors , a restriction it extended to all non-resident homeowners on March 20 .
To cross the bridges , drivers now need a valid North Carolina driver ’ s license or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or in the surrounding counties of Currituck , Hyde or Tyrell .
Non-resident employees can present pay stubs or employee identification badges to gain entry .
Businesses can also apply for entry permits for their non-resident employees .
‘ We ’ ve Never Seen People In Trunks ’ Others may have found legal ways around the bridge closures .
Steve Abbott , communications supervisor at the North Carolina Department of Transportation , said there appears to be an increase in the number of people from out of state registering for licenses in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Elizabeth City , not far north of Dare County , said they have seen the same , anecdotally .
“ The majority of the reasoning for them turning around is because they did not realize that they could not escort people from out of town , ” Currituck County Chief Deputy Jeff Walker said .
“ But make no mistake about it ― if we find a local shuttling people over for the purpose of defying the order , we will charge them.
” ‘ I ’ ve Seen Some Really Testy @ @

SOUTHERN SHORES, N.C. ― On March 30, Joseph Bakersmith arrived home from work feeling angry and tired.
As a plumber and newly dubbed “essential worker,” he’d spent the day fixing people’s pipes while wearing a gas mask in an attempt to protect himself from the coronavirus sweeping the United States.
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Bakersmith lives in Dare County, whose five Atlantic beach towns, Roanoke Island and Hatteras Island make up most of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Dare County had announced on March 17 that it was closing its two main bridges to the Outer Banks to visitors, a restriction it extended to all non-resident homeowners on March 20. To cross the bridges, drivers now need a valid North Carolina driver’s license or other government-issued identification showing an address in Dare or in the surrounding counties of Currituck, Hyde or Tyrell. Non-resident employees can present pay stubs or employee identification badges to gain entry. Businesses can also apply for entry permits for their non-resident employees.
Dare County had zero confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, when the county acted. As of Thursday, it has reported 13 cases.
Despite the bridge closures, Bakersmith had spent the day working at rental houses with driveways full of cars sporting out-of-state license plates.
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He knew some of those cars could belong to people who arrived on the Outer Banks for an early-season vacation before the closures or to full-time residents who simply didn’t have North Carolina plates.
But after seeing dozens of Facebook posts attesting to an increased number of out-of-staters flooding the islands’ rental homes, grocery stores and gas stations, Bakersmith was convinced people were sneaking onto the Outer Banks ― and he was going to prove it.
Joseph Bakersmith, a Dare County resident, plumber and newly dubbed "essential worker," poses on a deserted "beach road" (South Virginia Dare Trail) in Nags Head, North Carolina. Daniel Pullen for HuffPost
Bakersmith opened the Craigslist app on his phone and created a new advertisement. “Rides from Virginia to the Outer Banks,” the post’s headline read.
Within six hours, Bakersmith said he’d received 18 messages. A man from Chesapeake, Virginia, offered money in exchange for a ride over the bridge to see his girlfriend. A woman said she was coming from Virginia and asked if Bakersmith would be available around 1 p.m. the next day.
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Bakersmith said he posted the fake ad to draw attention to the possibility of people actually offering these kinds of services. And it worked. A screenshot of his post went viral on Facebook.
On March 31, the Kitty Hawk Police Department posted a statement on Facebook regarding the ad and implied that they were investigating the matter. Bakersmith called the police station the next morning and admitted that he was the poster. According to the police report, a Dare County officer told Bakersmith it was a “stupid idea” and he agreed.
Although Bakersmith’s post was just a ploy, the issue it drew attention to is very much real. Amidst a global pandemic, police and officials in North Carolina are reporting a number of people attempting to sneak onto the Outer Banks through all sorts of illicit means ― in the trunks of cars, by boat, via tow trucks.
‘We’ve Never Seen People In Trunks’
A roadblock checkpoint is set up in Kitty Hawk at the southern end of the Wright Memorial Bridge, which connects the Outer Banks to the North Carolina mainland. Here officers stop all in-bound vehicles and screen drivers' identification to determine whether they meet COVID-19 restrictions for entry into the Dare County Outer Banks. Daniel Pullen for HuffPost
The limited-entry protocols in use on the Outer Banks right now are similar to those used after severe hurricanes. However, Kitty Hawk Police Chief Joel Johnson said the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing closures have been nothing like a hurricane.
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“We’ve never seen people in trunks,” Johnson said. “In hurricanes, it’s not as intense as this is. I don’t think people are taking this as seriously.”
Maj. Jeff Deringer with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office said that since the closures, officers have charged four individuals who attempted to access the islands without the proper ID or entry permits, or aided someone else in doing so.
One of them was found in the trunk of a car.
As for the driver of that vehicle, Deringer said, “When the deputy was asking them for their identification, they pointed to their work uniform. The deputy said, ‘No, that’s not good enough. You have to show me something official.’”
Neither the driver in the uniform nor the person in the trunk was a Dare County resident, Deringer said. In the other case, he said, the driver was a county resident and their passenger was a non-resident friend they were trying to sneak onto the Outer Banks.
Deringer said he believes the individuals trying to sneak in without the proper permits are primarily either visitors who want to wait out the pandemic on the beach or non-resident property owners who want to reach their properties.
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Others may have found legal ways around the bridge closures. Steve Abbott, communications supervisor at the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said there appears to be an increase in the number of people from out of state registering for licenses in North Carolina. Division of Motor Vehicles staff in Elizabeth City, not far north of Dare County, said they have seen the same, anecdotally.
“The officers have seen a lot of the paper form of driver’s license coming through the checkpoints,” Dare County Deputy Sheriff Capt. Greg Wilson said. “When you get your license renewed, they’ll give you a paper one until your other one comes in the mail.”
Officers are stationed at the bridge checkpoints 24 hours a day, working 12-hour shifts. On the north end of the barrier islands, at the Wright Memorial Bridge, Deringer said officers turn away about 50 drivers without the proper paperwork per day.
To the south, at a checkpoint just after the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, officers are turning away five to 15 cars per day.
Two beach towns in Currituck County, to the north, have also restricted access by visitors and non-resident property owners.
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The Currituck County Sheriff’s Department has taken to the water to monitor boat traffic between mainland Currituck and the Outer Banks. On March 29, the first full day the officers began monitoring the waterways, they turned around 12 boats.
“The majority of the reasoning for them turning around is because they did not realize that they could not escort people from out of town,” Currituck County Chief Deputy Jeff Walker said. “But make no mistake about it ― if we find a local shuttling people over for the purpose of defying the order, we will charge them.”
‘I’ve Seen Some Really Testy Exchanges’
Posted signs alert drivers to safety procedures at this roadblock checkpoint just west of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge. Daniel Pullen for HuffPost
Deringer said officers at the bridges are only checking the license of the driver, unless they have reason to believe the passengers don’t possess valid IDs or reentry permits. Those reasons include luggage visible in the back seat or multiple people in one car who don’t appear to be related.
But this current system has led some residents to suspect that more people are accessing the Outer Banks than law enforcement and county officials realize.
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In turn, this suspicion has ignited fierce debates on social media.
Mandy Haage Fuller moderates a 19,000-member private Facebook group called OBX Locals. She said she’s directed all discussion related to the coronavirus to a separate private Facebook group called Outer Banks COVID-19 Community.
“Not so much in OBX Locals, but in groups that are a mix of tourists and non-resident property owners and locals, I’ve seen some really testy exchanges,” Fuller said.
Dare County has a year-round population of roughly 35,000. During tourist season, that number can balloon to more than 200,000.
An officer gives a thumbs-up approval for entry into the Outer Banks at the southern end of the Wright Memorial Bridge. Daniel Pullen for HuffPost
One reason that Dare County has been so firm about keeping outsiders out is that there is only one hospital in the county ― The Outer Banks Hospital ― and a handful of urgent care practices. County Manager Bobby Outten said the hospital has approximately 20 beds. It does not have an intensive care unit.
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“We were told that anyone that had to be ventilated would have to be moved to another hospital depending on where bed space was,” Outten said. (Vidant Health spokesperson Brian Wudkwych declined to confirm the exact number of hospital beds at the Outer Banks Hospital.)
The combination of limited health care options and an influx of out-of-staters has sparked fear and anger among some residents.
On March 21, Dare County Commissioner Steve House, posting in Outer Banks COVID-19 Community, cited “several reports of people being accosted both verbally and physically” because they were believed to be visitors or non-resident property owners.
House wrote that one of those reports came from the wife of a Coast Guard member stationed on the Outer Banks. Wilson, the deputy sheriff captain, confirmed that report to HuffPost and said the woman was in the parking lot of a pharmacy when someone saw her out-of-state license plate and began cursing at her and telling her to “get out.”
On March 24, Dare County released a statement asking people to use social media to spread facts about the virus and not to engage in divisive and negative behavior.
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“Every person in Dare County is facing the uncertainty of this unprecedented crisis,” the statement read. “Now is the time for heightened compassion and kindness. We truly are all in this together. There is no place for hate, ill will or labeling.”
Outten said the county is not planning to evacuate visitors and non-resident property owners currently on the islands.
“I’m not sure how we would pick and choose who to evacuate,” the county manager said. “It’s either everybody or nobody.”
Any further decisions regarding the bridge closures are being made by the Dare County Control Group, which includes county commissioners, town mayors and law enforcement personnel.
On Tuesday, a group of six non-resident homeowners filed a federal lawsuit against Dare County for denying them access to their properties. The suit asks that the county immediately allow access for all property owners.
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huffpost--2020-04-28--The Best Kinds Of Canned Tuna For Your Health, According To Experts

Ah , the lowly can of tuna — how far it is has risen !
Whether you spread it on a baguette , put a scoop on top of a fresh , crunchy green salad or slip it between a piece of cheese and a slice of whole grain bread for a tuna melt , there are few things a can of tuna can ’ t do .
In the age of the coronavirus pandemic ’ s shelter-in-place mandates , canned tuna is especially relevant .
Because it comes in a can and is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the few healthy food staples that you can grab at the grocery store in bulk and let sit in your pantry until you need it .
This means fewer trips to the grocery store , which is always a plus these days .
If a stroll down the canned fish aisle leaves you scratching your head , though , we don ’ t blame you : The number of tuna options out there is overwhelming .
There ’ s tuna in olive oil , tuna in water , chunk light tuna , yellowfin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
First things first : How much tuna is too much tuna ?
While fish is generally lauded as an excellent source of protein and healthy fat , it also contains mercury , which can be toxic for the body in large quantities .
According to nutritionist Tamar Samuels , founder of All Great Nutrition and co-founder of Culina Health , fish and seafood tend to be higher in mercury than other foods because mercury emissions released into the air from coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources settle into the ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency “ recommend limiting intake of high-mercury fish and seafood ( including tuna and other large predatory fish like shark , swordfish , tilefish and king mackerel ) to no more than six ounces a week , and one can of tuna is typically five ounces , ” Samuels told HuffPost .
“ All tuna has some mercury , but the amount does vary depending on the type of fish , ” Samuels explained .
“ Some brands like Safe Catch do test the mercury content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell cans that have mercury levels lower than the FDA limits .
I think these are totally worth it !
You can also just incorporate lower mercury fish and seafood into your diet , like canned salmon or frozen fish.
” The inside scoop on all those different types of tuna Regardless of the brand of tuna , you ’ ll likely see certain words pop up on cans of tuna over and over again , like slipjack , yellowfin , albacore .
While you probably shouldn ’ t be eating canned tuna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can make informed decisions about the type of tuna you choose to consume , based on your personal dietary needs .
As long as you ’ re mindful of how much mercury you ’ re consuming and keep it to around one can a week , it ’ s hard to go wrong with most cans of tuna .
So , if you find a flavor you like and the price is right , go ahead and indulge in that weekly tuna melt , preferable with some healthy veggies on top .

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Ah, the lowly can of tuna — how far it is has risen! Whether you spread it on a baguette, put a scoop on top of a fresh, crunchy green salad or slip it between a piece of cheese and a slice of whole grain bread for a tuna melt, there are few things a can of tuna can’t do.
In the age of the coronavirus pandemic’s shelter-in-place mandates, canned tuna is especially relevant. Because it comes in a can and is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein, it’s one of the few healthy food staples that you can grab at the grocery store in bulk and let sit in your pantry until you need it. This means fewer trips to the grocery store, which is always a plus these days.
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If a stroll down the canned fish aisle leaves you scratching your head, though, we don’t blame you: The number of tuna options out there is overwhelming. There’s tuna in olive oil, tuna in water, chunk light tuna, yellowfin tuna ― the list goes on and on.
So, which tuna choices are healthiest? Let’s take a look.
First things first: How much tuna is too much tuna?
While fish is generally lauded as an excellent source of protein and healthy fat, it also contains mercury, which can be toxic for the body in large quantities. According to nutritionist Tamar Samuels, founder of All Great Nutrition and co-founder of Culina Health, fish and seafood tend to be higher in mercury than other foods because mercury emissions released into the air from coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources settle into the ocean, thus affecting fish.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency “recommend limiting intake of high-mercury fish and seafood (including tuna and other large predatory fish like shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel) to no more than six ounces a week, and one can of tuna is typically five ounces,” Samuels told HuffPost.
If you’re pregnant, that recommendation is even lower. Because high mercury levels can have a negative impact on developing fetuses, the Environmental Working Group suggests pregnant women consume 25% less high-mercury fish than the FDA and EPA recommendation.
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Tim Boyle via Getty Images Too much tuna: Options in stores abound, with little explanation of the differences between each type.
Now, onto those often-expensive cans of fancy-looking tuna: Do they ever contain less mercury, making them safer to eat in larger quantities? Actually, yes.
“All tuna has some mercury, but the amount does vary depending on the type of fish,” Samuels explained. “Some brands like Safe Catch do test the mercury content of each can of tuna and only sell cans that have mercury levels lower than the FDA limits. I think these are totally worth it! You can also just incorporate lower mercury fish and seafood into your diet, like canned salmon or frozen fish.”
The inside scoop on all those different types of tuna
Regardless of the brand of tuna, you’ll likely see certain words pop up on cans of tuna over and over again, like slipjack, yellowfin, albacore. While you probably shouldn’t be eating canned tuna for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can make informed decisions about the type of tuna you choose to consume, based on your personal dietary needs.
Registered dietician Vanessa Rissetto broke down the different types of tuna. Here’s what you need to know about each:
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Chunk light tuna: “This is typically from yellowfin tuna or skipjack, meaning it’s lower in calories and fat and therefore lower in omegas and lower in mercury,” Rissetto said.
Solid/albacore tuna: Rissetto said this type of tuna tends to be higher in calories and lower in protein and B12, and higher in mercury. “It has a mild flavor,” she added.
Yellowfin: Also referred to as ahi tuna, yellowfin tuna is higher in mercury than albacore or skipjack. It’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Skipjack: “Skipjack is the species most commonly used in canned tuna,” Rissetto said. “It is mainly sold as ‘canned light’ or ‘chunk light’ tuna, and it is also available fresh and frozen. It’s high in omega-3s, too.”
Packed in water: “There’s no added salt or calories here, which should be taken into consideration,” Rissetto said.
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Packed in water, salt added: Rissetto said that some people like this for flavor. “But if you’re having blood pressure issues, then you would want to pay attention to the sodium content.”
Packed in olive oil: While this can be a flavorful option with some additional healthy fats, Rissetto said to be careful what you mix it with. “Because of the fat [content], you wouldn’t want to add mayo,” she explained.


huffpost--2020-04-28--What Is Herd Immunity, And Can It Really Help Us Fight Coronavirus?

Put simply , this is when enough of a population becomes immune to a disease ― either because they ’ ve been vaccinated or because they ’ ve had the disease and recovered and developed immunity .
As a result , the disease can no longer spread efficiently , and even those who are not immune to the disease are still protected from becoming ill. We ’ ve seen this with illnesses like polio and chickenpox that are now much rarer than they used to be .
We ’ re not sure if recovering from COVID-19 makes people immune to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gaps in our knowledge about the novel coronavirus right now , and many of them relate to immunity .
At this point , we don ’ t know if people develop protective immunity to COVID-19 after recovering from the illness , or if they can be reinfected .
Experts have been looking at other , similar respiratory viruses for an idea , but there ’ s no guarantee they work the same way .
Since SARS-CoV-2 ( the name for the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19 ) is so new , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the science is just not far enough along for us to know what it takes to actually be immune , ” said Anna Bershteyn , an assistant professor in the department of population health at NYU Langone Health .
We don ’ t know how many people need to be immune to achieve herd immunity .
“ As we start doing these surveys across entire communities to see how many people have antibodies and how many people have infection , it might turn our whole concept of what the R0 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realizing that there might be actually quite a lot of infection from the first surge that went undetected , ” Bershteyn said .
We don ’ t have a vaccine yet .
To achieve herd immunity without a vaccine , many people could become seriously sick .
“ To achieve herd immunity in the U.S. , that would be close to 200 million cases and even with a low fatality rate of 0.5 % ― which is probably the best estimate at present ― that would be 1 million fatalities in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obviously not an acceptable risk and would definitely overwhelm the health system unless it was spread out over many years.
” Overcoming COVID-19 is going to take time .
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time , but it ’ s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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There’s a lot of talk about how achieving herd immunity for COVID-19 is the key to reopening the economy during the current pandemic.
Put simply, this is when enough of a population becomes immune to a disease ― either because they’ve been vaccinated or because they’ve had the disease and recovered and developed immunity. As a result, the disease can no longer spread efficiently, and even those who are not immune to the disease are still protected from becoming ill. We’ve seen this with illnesses like polio and chickenpox that are now much rarer than they used to be.
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A vaccine would make herd immunity possible, but we won’t have a COVID-19 vaccine for quite some time. So some people have floated the idea of purposefully allowing the population to get infected with the coronavirus as a way to build up herd immunity.
That, to put it mildly, can have some dangerous consequences.
Achieving herd immunity would mean that most people could go out in public without risking infection. But at this stage in our fight against COVID-19, a number of risks and barriers are in the way. Here are a few of them:
We’re not sure if recovering from COVID-19 makes people immune to the virus.
There are a lot of gaps in our knowledge about the novel coronavirus right now, and many of them relate to immunity. At this point, we don’t know if people develop protective immunity to COVID-19 after recovering from the illness, or if they can be reinfected. Experts have been looking at other, similar respiratory viruses for an idea, but there’s no guarantee they work the same way.
“For the 2003 SARS virus, it appears there was protective immunity and this lasted up to two years, so that gives some good hope that lasting immunity is possible,” said Jeremy Rossman, honorary senior lecturer in virology at the University of Kent.
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But even if recovering from COVID-19 does grant someone protective immunity, we don’t know how long this immunity lasts.
Since SARS-CoV-2 (the name for the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19) is so new, “the crux of the challenge right now is that the science is just not far enough along for us to know what it takes to actually be immune,” said Anna Bershteyn, an assistant professor in the department of population health at NYU Langone Health.
She explained that for coronavirus strains that cause the common cold, people can be immune for a few months before their immunity wanes and they become susceptible again. For other illnesses ― such as some of the 2003 SARS strain ― immunity sometimes lasts longer.
Meanwhile, in some situations, immunity is not helpful. In some cases of dengue fever, Bershteyn pointed out, a low level of immunity can actually be harmful and make the infection worse the second time around.
“But we don’t know where this particular virus lies on that spectrum,” she said.
rclassenlayouts via Getty Images For COVID-19, “the crux of the challenge right now is that the science is just not far enough along for us to know what it takes to actually be immune,” said Anna Bershteyn, an assistant professor at NYU Langone Health.
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We don’t know how many people need to be immune to achieve herd immunity.
We can expect that COVID-19 will continue to spread either until we have a vaccine or until enough people get sick and become immune. But we don’t know what percentage of the population needs to be immune to achieve herd immunity. Typically, though, this number falls somewhere between 70% and 90%.
Determining this percentage primarily depends on how contagious the virus is, Bershteyn explained. Public health professionals use a mathematical term called R0 (pronounced R naught) to measure how contagious an infectious disease is. Essentially, R0 indicates how many people in a population will become infected with an illness from one case.
Generally, the higher the R0, the harder it is to control the spread of infection. So far, R0 estimates for COVID-19 are varied, but most estimates place it between 2 and 3.5, Rossman said. “At these numbers, you would need between 60-70% of the population to be immune in order to achieve herd immunity.”
But any of these numbers could easily change once we have more accurate testing data on the number of cases of COVID-19 and the number of people with antibodies to the virus.
“As we start doing these surveys across entire communities to see how many people have antibodies and how many people have infection, it might turn our whole concept of what the R0 is on its head because we’re realizing that there might be actually quite a lot of infection from the first surge that went undetected,” Bershteyn said.
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We don’t have a vaccine yet.
“With containing many infectious diseases, vaccines are absolutely critical,” Bershteyn explained. “In public health they’re one of the most powerful tools that we have to stop the spread of infectious diseases.”
Scientists are working on several vaccines right now, and experts say there’s a good chance we will eventually develop one that can be used to immunize enough of the population to stop transmission of the coronavirus.
That said, creating a vaccine that’s both effective and safe is a time consuming and complex task. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said a vaccine could be ready within 12 to 18 months, but the process typically takes multiple years.
Even once researchers are able to identify a safe and effective vaccine, it will need to be manufactured and distributed, further lengthening the timeline for it to become publicly available.
“Not all vaccines are equally easy to scale up to billions of doses, which is what we’re going to need if we’re going to get the whole world vaccinated,” Bershteyn said.
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upixa via Getty Images Dr. Anthony Fauci has said a coronavirus vaccine could be ready within 12 to 18 months, but the process typically takes multiple years.
To achieve herd immunity without a vaccine, many people could become seriously sick.
If the United States were to achieve herd immunity without a vaccine, this would mean we would have millions of cases of COVID-19, and likely many deaths.
“To achieve herd immunity in the U.S., that would be close to 200 million cases and even with a low fatality rate of 0.5% ― which is probably the best estimate at present ― that would be 1 million fatalities in the U.S.,” Rossman said. “This is obviously not an acceptable risk and would definitely overwhelm the health system unless it was spread out over many years.”
In addition to strained health systems, important medical supplies could run low, as we’ve already seen happen in New York and other COVID-19 hot spots.
“Even if the true death rate from this disease is less than 1%, when you have that many cases it means an enormous number of deaths, not to mention other serious illness and complications like kidney failure or nerve problems,” said Kate Eisenberg, a family physician at University of Rochester Medical Center and an epidemiologist.
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Overcoming COVID-19 is going to take time.
The next few months will be critical in developing much-needed scientific knowledge about the coronavirus and finding answers to key questions that will help us learn how to respond to the threat of the virus, Bershteyn said. This includes understanding how long immunity lasts, whether immunity is protective, and more.
“We’ll understand what to do next much better once we have answers to those questions,” Bershteyn said.
As we wait for a vaccine to become available, determining how our society can start to reopen without sparking new outbreaks will be challenging, Eisenberg said.
“Most experts think this will require an enormous amount of testing and contact tracing,” Eisenberg said. “The more widely we reopen prior to achieving herd immunity, the more we’re accepting that some outbreaks will occur, particularly if we reopen without associated aggressive public health measures.”
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but it’s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.


huffpost--2020-04-28--Maria Shriver's Thirsty Instagram Post On Brad And Leo Had Her Daughter Saying 'OMG'

Sometimes you ’ re horny on main and , other times , your parents are .
Maria Shriver is the latest celebrity to express some sexual energy on social media , sharing a snapshot on Instagram of actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt sitting in a convertible .
The image of the men featured the caption , “ They came to pick me up , but I was strong and I told them I ’ m staying home , ” likely referencing widespread efforts to practice social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Shriver captioned the image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to her and asked what she would do .
“ I mean , c ’ mon , do you have to ask ?
!
” the 64-year-old wrote .
“ I ’ d go as fast as I could !
You ?
# StayHomeStaySafe.
” We certainly can ’ t blame her .
Have you seen Pitt ’ s arm muscle ?
Shriver ’ s daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger was clearly a bit shocked by her mom ’ s thirstiness and commented , “ Omg mom.
” Under the 30-year-old ’ s comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the hilarious mother-daughter moment .
One user wrote : “ I often tell my kids it ’ s a parent ’ s job to embarrass their kids LOL !
” and Shriver responded saying “ bingo.
” Shriver also wrote back to her daughter , explaining that now she knows what to get her mom for Mother ’ s Day .
Moms on social media are just the best , aren ’ t they ?

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Sometimes you’re horny on main and, other times, your parents are.
Maria Shriver is the latest celebrity to express some sexual energy on social media, sharing a snapshot on Instagram of actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt sitting in a convertible.
The image of the men featured the caption, “They came to pick me up, but I was strong and I told them I’m staying home,” likely referencing widespread efforts to practice social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
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Shriver captioned the image by saying that her friend had sent this to her and asked what she would do.
“I mean, c’mon, do you have to ask?!” the 64-year-old wrote. “I’d go as fast as I could! You? #StayHomeStaySafe.”
We certainly can’t blame her. Have you seen Pitt’s arm muscle?
Shriver’s daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger was clearly a bit shocked by her mom’s thirstiness and commented, “Omg mom.”
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Instagram
Under the 30-year-old’s comment, many Instagram users shared their thoughts on the hilarious mother-daughter moment.
One user wrote: “I often tell my kids it’s a parent’s job to embarrass their kids LOL!” and Shriver responded saying “bingo.”
Shriver also wrote back to her daughter, explaining that now she knows what to get her mom for Mother’s Day.
Instagram
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huffpost--2020-04-28--UN Chief: Extremists Taking Advantage Of COVID-19 Lockdowns To Recruit Online Youths

Even before the coronavirus pandemic , he said , one of every five young people was not getting an education , training or working , and one of every four was affected by violence or conflict .
And he lamented that every year , 12 million girls become mothers when they are still children .
Guterres told a U.N. Security Council meeting on youth , peace and security that “ these frustrations and , frankly , failures to address them by those in power today , fuel declining confidence in political establishments and institutions.
” “ When such a cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy for extremist groups to exploit the anger and despair , and the risk of radicalization climbs , ” he said .
But despite these challenges , the U.N. chief said young people “ are still finding ways to engage , support each other , and to demand and drive change ” — including in the fight against COVID-19 .
Guterres pointed to young people in Colombia , Ghana , Iraq and several other countries joining humanitarian workers in delivering supplies to front-line health workers and people in need , keeping communications open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said young people are also supporting his March 23 call for a cease-fire in all conflicts in the world .
Jayathma Wickramanayake , the secretary-general ’ s envoy on youth , criticized the media for focusing on “ the small minority of young people who disregarded guildelines ” and put people at risk by going to beaches , pubs and parties — and for “ completely sidelining the thousands of young people who were already fighting in the front lines of the crisis.
” She pointed to young people in Kenya and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and networks to help their communities face COVID-19 , the many young health workers and medical students attending to coronavirus patients in China and Italy , the Scouts , Girl Guides and Red Cross youth volunteers running environment and hand-washing campaigns in Jordan and elsewhere , and young people making face masks and fundraising in the United States .
Wickramanayake dedicated her speech “ to all the young people who are putting their communities ahead of themselves within war zones , within refugee camps , within favelas and within settlements , showcasing grit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see in our own political leaders.
” Secretary-General Gutteres and many Security Council ambassadors stressed the impact of COVID-19 on young people , from a suspension of their education to lost jobs , family stress , mental health issues and other hardships .
According to the U.N. chief ’ s recent report to the council , there are 1.85 billion young women and men aged 10 to 24 in the world in 2020 , 90 percent of them living in developing countries and many in conflict areas .
“ Young people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solutions and innovation , ” Estonia ’ s U.N .
Ambassador Sven Jürgenson said .
“ During the current pandemic , however , they can be among the greatest victims.
” He cited estimates that an additional 42 million to 66 million children could fall into “ extreme poverty ” as a result of COVID-19 and an analysis from the U.N. Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization showing that 91 percent of the world ’ s students are affected by school closures , and more than 1.5 billion students in 191 countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This will lead to increased educational gaps , serious damage to the prospects for a better future and can potentially lay seeds of radicalization among young people , constituting a threat to peace and security , ” Jürgenson warned .
“ Now , the imperative to protect them is even greater : on top of social , education , and health systems that ( are ) already weakened by conflict or disaster , the COVID-19 pandemic is triggering multiple , interlinked crises impacting hundreds of millions of young people , ” she warned @

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that extremist groups are taking advantage of COVID-19 lock downs to intensify social media efforts to spread hatred and recruit young people who are spending more time online.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, he said, one of every five young people was not getting an education, training or working, and one of every four was affected by violence or conflict. And he lamented that every year, 12 million girls become mothers when they are still children.
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Guterres told a U.N. Security Council meeting on youth, peace and security that “these frustrations and, frankly, failures to address them by those in power today, fuel declining confidence in political establishments and institutions.”
“When such a cycle takes hold, it is all too easy for extremist groups to exploit the anger and despair, and the risk of radicalization climbs,” he said.
But despite these challenges, the U.N. chief said young people “are still finding ways to engage, support each other, and to demand and drive change” — including in the fight against COVID-19.
Guterres pointed to young people in Colombia, Ghana, Iraq and several other countries joining humanitarian workers in delivering supplies to front-line health workers and people in need, keeping communications open within communities while maintaining social distancing. He said young people are also supporting his March 23 call for a cease-fire in all conflicts in the world.
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Jayathma Wickramanayake, the secretary-general’s envoy on youth, criticized the media for focusing on “the small minority of young people who disregarded guildelines” and put people at risk by going to beaches, pubs and parties — and for “completely sidelining the thousands of young people who were already fighting in the front lines of the crisis.”
She pointed to young people in Kenya and Cameroon who immediately adopted their peacebuilding organizations and networks to help their communities face COVID-19, the many young health workers and medical students attending to coronavirus patients in China and Italy, the Scouts, Girl Guides and Red Cross youth volunteers running environment and hand-washing campaigns in Jordan and elsewhere, and young people making face masks and fundraising in the United States.
Wickramanayake dedicated her speech “to all the young people who are putting their communities ahead of themselves within war zones, within refugee camps, within favelas and within settlements, showcasing grit and leadership that sometimes we even fail to see in our own political leaders.”
Secretary-General Gutteres and many Security Council ambassadors stressed the impact of COVID-19 on young people, from a suspension of their education to lost jobs, family stress, mental health issues and other hardships.
According to the U.N. chief’s recent report to the council, there are 1.85 billion young women and men aged 10 to 24 in the world in 2020, 90 percent of them living in developing countries and many in conflict areas.
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“Young people are a huge source of new ideas, solutions and innovation,” Estonia’s U.N. Ambassador Sven Jürgenson said. “During the current pandemic, however, they can be among the greatest victims.”
He cited estimates that an additional 42 million to 66 million children could fall into “extreme poverty” as a result of COVID-19 and an analysis from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization showing that 91 percent of the world’s students are affected by school closures, and more than 1.5 billion students in 191 countries have trouble continuing their studies normally.
“This will lead to increased educational gaps, serious damage to the prospects for a better future and can potentially lay seeds of radicalization among young people, constituting a threat to peace and security,” Jürgenson warned.
U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft added that the more than 400 million young people directly affected by violence or conflict are most vulnerable.
“Now, the imperative to protect them is even greater: on top of social, education, and health systems that (are) already weakened by conflict or disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic is triggering multiple, interlinked crises impacting hundreds of millions of young people,” she warned.


huffpost--2020-04-24--13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

Spaced eight feet apart , U.S. Air Force Academy cadets celebrate their graduation as a team of F-16 Thunderbirds fly over the academy on April 18 in Colorado Springs , Colorado .
After senior cadets spent more than a month on lockdown in the academy ’ s dorms due to the coronavirus pandemic , Saturday ’ s graduation , which was moved up by six weeks , marked the first time a military academy graduated a class early since World War II .
Health care workers clap and wave on April 19 as Toronto police and the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers along University Avenue as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in the Canadian city .
Larize Nel , a volunteer lies next to Mapimpi , an orphaned rhino , on April 17 amid the spread of COVID-19 at a sanctuary for rhinos orphaned by poaching , in Mookgopong , Limpopo province , South Africa .
The Fort Myers Police Department makes a heart out of police cars on April 16 to thank health workers at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers , Florida , in this picture obtained from social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Yaya Matsui , 12 , pose for a photograph while holding pictures that they drew during the COVID-19 outbreak , as they stand on the balcony of their home in Tokyo on April 19 .
“ I miss being with my grandmother and my grandfather .
Also , I want to go to my grandmother ’ s house , ” said Reku , who drew a picture of himself standing in between his two smiling grandparents .
Yaya , who drew a picture of herself and a friend said “ what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hang out with my friends.
” A picture taken on April 18 shows the Great Pyramids lit up with blue light and a laser projection with the message “ Stay Home ” outside the Egyptian capital of Cairo .
Newly married Tyler and Caryn Suiters embrace following their marriage ceremony performed by the Rev .
Andrew Merrow in an otherwise empty St. Mary ’ s Episcopal Church on April 18 in Arlington , Virginia .
Merrow and his wife , Cameron Merrow , were the only other attendees at the ceremony due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic .
A person saws padlocks installed on a street lamp on the Pont des Arts at sunset on April 23 as the lockdown in Paris continues due to the coronavirus outbreak .
A ship makes its way up the Bosporus on April 19 as cars cross a nearly empty July 15 Martyrs ’ Bridge during a two-day lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Istanbul .
Cinemagoers watch a movie sitting in their cars on April 20 at a newly opened drive-in cinema in front of the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany .

With the news continuing to revolve around the coronavirus pandemic, it’s easy to miss great images that fly under the radar. We’ve got you covered.
We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of April 18 to 24. Check them out below. Above: Star trails are seen during the Lyrids meteor shower over Michaelskapelle on April 21 in Niederhollabrunn, Austria. The clear skies created by the new moon coincide with the Lyrids, an annual display caused by the Earth passing through a cloud of debris from a comet called C/1861 Thatcher.
Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
Spaced eight feet apart, U.S. Air Force Academy cadets celebrate their graduation as a team of F-16 Thunderbirds fly over the academy on April 18 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After senior cadets spent more than a month on lockdown in the academy’s dorms due to the coronavirus pandemic, Saturday’s graduation, which was moved up by six weeks, marked the first time a military academy graduated a class early since World War II.
Carlos Osorio / Reuters
Health care workers clap and wave on April 19 as Toronto police and the city’s front-line responders pay tribute to health care workers along University Avenue as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in the Canadian city.
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Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters
Larize Nel, a volunteer lies next to Mapimpi, an orphaned rhino, on April 17 amid the spread of COVID-19 at a sanctuary for rhinos orphaned by poaching, in Mookgopong, Limpopo province, South Africa.
Social Media / Reuters
The Fort Myers Police Department makes a heart out of police cars on April 16 to thank health workers at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, Florida, in this picture obtained from social media.
Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters
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Reku Matsui, 8, and Yaya Matsui, 12, pose for a photograph while holding pictures that they drew during the COVID-19 outbreak, as they stand on the balcony of their home in Tokyo on April 19. “I miss being with my grandmother and my grandfather. Also, I want to go to my grandmother’s house,” said Reku, who drew a picture of himself standing in between his two smiling grandparents. Yaya, who drew a picture of herself and a friend said “what I want to do the most right now is hang out with my friends.”
KHALED DESOUKI via Getty Images
A picture taken on April 18 shows the Great Pyramids lit up with blue light and a laser projection with the message “Stay Home” outside the Egyptian capital of Cairo.
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Newly married Tyler and Caryn Suiters embrace following their marriage ceremony performed by the Rev. Andrew Merrow in an otherwise empty St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on April 18 in Arlington, Virginia. Merrow and his wife, Cameron Merrow, were the only other attendees at the ceremony due to social distancing guidelines implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Stephane Cardinale - Corbis via Getty Images
A person saws padlocks installed on a street lamp on the Pont des Arts at sunset on April 23 as the lockdown in Paris continues due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Burak Kara via Getty Images
A ship makes its way up the Bosporus on April 19 as cars cross a nearly empty July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge during a two-day lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Istanbul.
Lars Baron via Getty Images
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Cinemagoers watch a movie sitting in their cars on April 20 at a newly opened drive-in cinema in front of the former Phoenix West blast furnace in Dortmund, Germany.
Matt King via Getty Images
A detail of the racehorse Snitz after winning Race 2 at Catanach’s Sprint during Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 18 in Sydney.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images


huffpost--2020-04-24--Navy Says Captain Ousted For Coronavirus Warning Should Be Reinstated: Reports

Defense Secretary Mark Esper reportedly received the recommendation Friday .
It came from the chief of naval operations , Admiral Michael M. Gilday , and the acting Navy secretary , James McPherson .
The Associated Press also confirmed the news .
Esper ’ s department previously said that it expected to announce the results from its investigation into Crozier ’ s ouster later on Friday .
Gilday and McPherson ’ s recommendation comes after acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly resigned in early April after widespread outrage over his comment calling Crozier “ stupid ” for pleading with top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailors off the USS Theodore Roosevelt .
At the time , more than 100 sailors in his 4,000-member crew were sick with COVID-19 and unable to follow social distancing protocols in their tight quarters .
Though the outbreak was spreading , only 24 % of the crew had been tested for the virus at the time .
“ We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die .
If we do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a letter leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle .
He was relieved of his command of the ship by April 2 .
When Crozier departed the ship for the last time , the sailors on board cheered for him and chanted his name .
Days later , Modly excoriated Crozier in front of his former crew .
In leaked audio of his speech that ultimately forced his resignation , Modly said , “ If he didn ’ t think ... that this information wasn ’ t going to get out into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we live in , then he was too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of a ship like this.
” Clarification : Language previously stating that Crozier was “ fired ” has been amended to say he was relieved of his command of the ship .
He remained in the Navy .

Defense Secretary Mark Esper reportedly received the recommendation Friday. It came from the chief of naval operations, Admiral Michael M. Gilday, and the acting Navy secretary, James McPherson.
The Associated Press also confirmed the news.
Esper’s department previously said that it expected to announce the results from its investigation into Crozier’s ouster later on Friday.
Gilday and McPherson’s recommendation comes after acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly resigned in early April after widespread outrage over his comment calling Crozier “stupid” for pleading with top Navy officials to more swiftly move his sailors off the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
At the time, more than 100 sailors in his 4,000-member crew were sick with COVID-19 and unable to follow social distancing protocols in their tight quarters. Though the outbreak was spreading, only 24% of the crew had been tested for the virus at the time.
“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors,” he wrote in late March in a letter leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. He was relieved of his command of the ship by April 2.
When Crozier departed the ship for the last time, the sailors on board cheered for him and chanted his name.
Days later, Modly excoriated Crozier in front of his former crew. In leaked audio of his speech that ultimately forced his resignation, Modly said, “If he didn’t think ... that this information wasn’t going to get out into the public, in this information age that we live in, then he was too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of a ship like this.”
Clarification: Language previously stating that Crozier was “fired” has been amended to say he was relieved of his command of the ship. He remained in the Navy.


huffpost--2020-04-24--A Simple Way To Move Your Body That Will Instantly Relieve Stress

But know this : However much or little you are moving , you are doing just fine .
There is no guidebook for coping with this endless bombardment of headlines , bad news , sluggishness and disruption in your routine .
You are no less worthy if you ’ re not exercising .
The Best Kind Of Stretch For Your Body And Mind Wu said static stretches in particular — the kind where you “ take a muscle to its end of available motion and hold it there for a prolonged period of time so you can increase the length @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleviate emotional stresses that often manifest in physical pain .
Other Stretching Exercises To Try In addition to a static stretch , there are a few other moves you can attempt .
Try some of these below — remembering to breathe and be gentle with yourself — and figure out which ones you like best .
Soon enough , you ’ ll see that incorporating just a few of these movements into your day can work wonders .
This neck-relief stretch is especially helpful for anyone who looks at screens all day ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We hold a lot of tension in our head muscles and our neck , ” Wu said .
This neck side-bend can help relieve much of that , and you don ’ t even have to leave your desk to perform it .
Another stretch you can do without getting up from your chair , this move helps relieve tension all over .
The more you sit , the tighter your hip flexors will be , Wu said , so consider prioritizing this one if you find yourself seated often .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on your back ( here ’ s a tutorial ) .

It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
The world is currently very scary and weird. We’re all acutely aware that exercise can help us get out of a mental funk during the coronavirus pandemic, but sometimes nothing sounds worse than a home workout.
But know this: However much or little you are moving, you are doing just fine. There is no guidebook for coping with this endless bombardment of headlines, bad news, sluggishness and disruption in your routine. You are no less worthy if you’re not exercising.
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So how can you reap the mental benefit of exercise when you just can’t fathom working up a sweat? There is one move you can do that requires very little effort ― stretching.
Stretching — not even yoga, just stretching — can be a really simple and successful way to move your body and incrementally improve your mood (plus your body aches) while isolating at home.
“Stretching can keep you balanced,” Kelvin Gary, a fitness expert and founder and head coach at Body Space Fitness, told HuffPost, adding that being inside all day and having to look at a computer screen can negatively affect your physical and mental health.
Stretching, he said, “can help you keep better posture and alignment in your spine. It helps you feel physically better, which, in turn, keeps you from getting into a degraded mental space.”
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Your mind and your body are intimately connected; there’s evidence that while the brain is in charge of telling the body how and when to move, the body’s movements can affect the way the brain thinks and feels.
“You can definitely hold emotional stress in your [muscle] tissues,” said Karena Wu, a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy who practices at ActiveCare Physical Therapy.
valentinrussanov via Getty Images Being inside all day and having to look at a computer screen can negatively affect your physical and mental health.
The Best Kind Of Stretch For Your Body And Mind
Wu said static stretches in particular — the kind where you “take a muscle to its end of available motion and hold it there for a prolonged period of time so you can increase the length of the soft tissue” — can alleviate emotional stresses that often manifest in physical pain.
This exercise can also have a calming effect on your mind. “You’re focusing on a stretching activity and on yourself — you’re living in the present, and you’re not thinking about all the other things you have to do,” Wu said.
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Gary also emphasized the benefits of these longer-held stretches, adding that they can have meditative effects, even if you’re not meditating in the traditional sense. With static stretches, he said, it’s crucial to breathe continuously, and especially through those points of tension.
“Having the focus on the breath gets your nervous system to chill out and become focused,” Gary said, adding that the process can relax your entire system.
Rather than holding a stretch for 30 seconds, Gary advises his clients to perform five long inhales and exhales while holding the stretch. He suggests slowly counting up to five with every inhale and slowly counting down to one with every exhale.
“This deepens the stretch and works the component of meditation that helps with focus,” he said — the exact type of “present moment” exercise that Wu described.
When you hit an especially tough point in a stretch, the breathing component will also help by relaxing the body even further, Gary added.
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Willie B. Thomas via Getty Images Rather than holding a stretch for 30 seconds, perform five long inhales and exhales while holding the stretch.
Put Stretching On The Calendar
Gary, who was formerly in corporate finance, learned the painful effects of a sedentary lifestyle firsthand. When he first committed to moving more throughout his day, he set up calendar reminders for every two hours.
If you’re struggling to get your movements in, he suggests giving scheduling a try. Stretching can be possible no matter how your day looks, especially because you don’t have to break a sweat to reap its benefits.
“You can talk on the phone and still be stretching, you can turn the camera off on Zoom for a second and stretch, too,” he said.
There’s plenty of evidence that taking breaks throughout the day actually improves your productivity and sense of well-being. Making those breaks stretch breaks only increases those benefits.
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Other Stretching Exercises To Try
In addition to a static stretch, there are a few other moves you can attempt. Try some of these below — remembering to breathe and be gentle with yourself — and figure out which ones you like best. Soon enough, you’ll see that incorporating just a few of these movements into your day can work wonders.
Scalene Stretch
This neck-relief stretch is especially helpful for anyone who looks at screens all day (read: most of us). “We hold a lot of tension in our head muscles and our neck,” Wu said. This neck side-bend can help relieve much of that, and you don’t even have to leave your desk to perform it.
Pectoralis Major Doorway Stretch
If you’ve got a doorway, you’ve got a stretching studio. Maybe it’s not obvious that your pec muscles need relief. But according to Gary, the tightness in these muscles often results in back and shoulder pain, and this type of stretch can help.
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Seated Piriformis Figure 4 Stretch
Another stretch you can do without getting up from your chair, this move helps relieve tension all over. The more you sit, the tighter your hip flexors will be, Wu said, so consider prioritizing this one if you find yourself seated often. You might also try this stretch while lying on your back (here’s a tutorial).
Quad Stretch
Both experts recommend this one as well. You can really do this stretch anywhere; if you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, soothe some of your body’s stiffness, being sure to trade off between sides.
Leg Swings
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huffpost--2020-04-23--House Passes Another Coronavirus Relief Bill To Help Small Businesses

WASHINGTON ― After weeks of bitter negotiations , Republicans and Democrats in Congress passed a nearly $ 500 billion coronavirus relief package on Thursday that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program , which supports small businesses , and provide emergency money for hospitals .
The package now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature .
The House passed the bill 388-5 , with all but four Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor of it .
The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by “ unanimous consent , ” meaning Senators agreed not to hold up the measure by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , lawmakers weren ’ t so lucky .
A small group of Republicans made it clear earlier this week that they were opposed to the bill and would request a formal vote , requiring at least half of the chamber ’ s members to be present for passage .
Over the course of about an hour and a half , lawmakers took turns coming to the House floor to vote in groups of 40 .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) told representatives she wanted to avoid the usual crowds during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to observe social distancing guidelines by quickly coming to the House chamber , inserting their voting card and then immediately leaving .
During debate of the relief package , a number of Republicans could be spotted in the House chamber without masks ― and an even greater number of lawmakers seemed to take the recommended 6 foot distance between people as a mere suggestion .
The bill itself would provide $ 310 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program , $ 60 billion in economic disaster loans for small businesses , $ 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more for coronavirus testing .
The original funding dedicated to the Paycheck Protection Program , which was established in the $ 2.2 coronavirus relief bill that passed four weeks ago , ran dry after only two weeks ― and most Republicans support emergency loans for small businesses .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said two weeks ago he wouldn ’ t go above $ 250 billion , but he eventually caved to Pelosi ’ s demands for more small business money and funding for hospitals and testing .
( Industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional PPP money to last more than a week . )
The bipartisan committee is tasked with specifically overseeing how the money Congress has appropriated to the crisis will be spent .
But Republicans are interpreting the creation of the committee as a sign that Democrats just want to criticize the Trump administration .
“ I heard the Speaker say we need to move in a bipartisan manner , ” Rep. Louie Gohmert ( R-Texas ) said on the House floor .
“ I believe she meant that .
But then I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same thing about impeachment a year ago.
” Gohmert then went on to argue that people are “ social animals , ” and because of isolation , there had been more suicides in Knox County , Tennessee , than deaths in that area due to coronavirus .
Coronavirus has now killed about as many people in the U.S. in two months as there are suicides in the U.S. every year ― roughly 50,000 ― and coronavirus deaths increased tenfold in the past month with little sign of slowing down .
Rep. Jim Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the creation of a new oversight committee , arguing that there were already eight committees with jurisdiction to look at how relief money is being spent .
“ The ninth is political , ” Jordan said .
“ The ninth is looking out for Joe Biden .
The ninth is to go after President Trump .
This is just a continuation of the attack the Democrats have had on the president for the past four years.
” Instead , the only lawmakers who expressed frustration with the legislation ― known in Congress as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already passed three other bills and Democratic leadership had promised a larger measure for the fourth ― came from the Democratic side .
“ The only folks they have urgency around are folks like Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House and Shake Shack , ” Ocasio-Cortez said , referring to two restaurants that received loans from the original program even though they ’ re collectively worth more than $ 2 billion .
“ Those are the ones getting assistance in this bill .
You are not trying to fix this bill for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight to fund hospitals , fighting to fund testing .
That is what we ’ re fighting for in this bill .
It is unconscionable .

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WASHINGTON ― After weeks of bitter negotiations, Republicans and Democrats in Congress passed a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief package on Thursday that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, which supports small businesses, and provide emergency money for hospitals. The package now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The House passed the bill 388-5, with all but four Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor of it. The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by “unanimous consent,” meaning Senators agreed not to hold up the measure by requiring a recorded vote.
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In the House, lawmakers weren’t so lucky. A small group of Republicans made it clear earlier this week that they were opposed to the bill and would request a formal vote, requiring at least half of the chamber’s members to be present for passage.
Over the course of about an hour and a half, lawmakers took turns coming to the House floor to vote in groups of 40. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told representatives she wanted to avoid the usual crowds during a vote, and most lawmakers were happy to observe social distancing guidelines by quickly coming to the House chamber, inserting their voting card and then immediately leaving.
But there were also lawmakers who took the coronavirus-related precautions less seriously.
During debate of the relief package, a number of Republicans could be spotted in the House chamber without masks ― and an even greater number of lawmakers seemed to take the recommended 6 foot distance between people as a mere suggestion.
Republicans, who have generally supported Trump’s widely derided response to the coronavirus crisis, largely avoided criticizing the actual legislation the House passed on Thursday.
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The bill itself would provide $310 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program, $60 billion in economic disaster loans for small businesses, $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion more for coronavirus testing. The original funding dedicated to the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established in the $2.2 coronavirus relief bill that passed four weeks ago, ran dry after only two weeks ― and most Republicans support emergency loans for small businesses.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said two weeks ago he wouldn’t go above $250 billion, but he eventually caved to Pelosi’s demands for more small business money and funding for hospitals and testing. (Industry experts still don’t expect the additional PPP money to last more than a week.)
Instead of going after Democrats for adding more money to the small business program ― or providing funding for hospitals and testing ― Republicans criticized the creation of a select committee on the coronavirus crisis.
The bipartisan committee is tasked with specifically overseeing how the money Congress has appropriated to the crisis will be spent. But Republicans are interpreting the creation of the committee as a sign that Democrats just want to criticize the Trump administration.
“I heard the Speaker say we need to move in a bipartisan manner,” Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said on the House floor. “I believe she meant that. But then I can’t forget that she said the same thing about impeachment a year ago.”
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Gohmert then went on to argue that people are “social animals,” and because of isolation, there had been more suicides in Knox County, Tennessee, than deaths in that area due to coronavirus.
Coronavirus has now killed about as many people in the U.S. in two months as there are suicides in the U.S. every year ― roughly 50,000 ― and coronavirus deaths increased tenfold in the past month with little sign of slowing down.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) also took offense at the creation of a new oversight committee, arguing that there were already eight committees with jurisdiction to look at how relief money is being spent.
“The ninth is political,” Jordan said. “The ninth is looking out for Joe Biden. The ninth is to go after President Trump. This is just a continuation of the attack the Democrats have had on the president for the past four years.”
The resolution to establish the special committee was adopted along party lines, 212-182.
While four of the five members who voted against the relief package were Republicans ― Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) ― none of them came to the floor to speak.
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Instead, the only lawmakers who expressed frustration with the legislation ― known in Congress as “Phase 3.5,” because Congress has already passed three other bills and Democratic leadership had promised a larger measure for the fourth ― came from the Democratic side.
The co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who nonetheless voted for the bill, said Thursday that the next installment of congressional action needed a “bold paycheck guarantee that stops mass unemployment, an essential workers package, and state and local government funding.”
“Every minute, Madam Speaker, is a death, a family devastated, a business shuttered,” Jayapal continued. “We must think and deliver better.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was the only Democrat to vote against the bill, said it was a joke that Republicans were pretending to want to urgently help small businesses.
“The only folks they have urgency around are folks like Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Shake Shack,” Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to two restaurants that received loans from the original program even though they’re collectively worth more than $2 billion. “Those are the ones getting assistance in this bill. You are not trying to fix this bill for mom and pop. We had to fight to fund hospitals, fighting to fund testing. That is what we’re fighting for in this bill. It is unconscionable.
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With the exception of those five members ― and Justin Amash (I-Mich.), who voted present ― Republicans and Democrats were overwhelmingly supportive of the bill, and intimated their support for additional aid in the future.
Pelosi, who largely wrote the bill through negotiations with McConnell, said Congress was still in the “mitigation” phase of combating coronavirus and that additional action would be needed. And Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said essential workers whose lives are on the line “deserve a government that strives to meet that very same level of dedication.”


huffpost--2020-04-24--Parents Worry New School Waivers Could Unravel Special Ed Protections. Districts Say They're Necessa

Parents Worry New School Waivers Could Unravel Special Ed Protections. Districts Say They're Necessary.

“ What do you think schools are going to do ?
They ’ re not going to meet [ the law ’ s requirements ] .
Some are not going to even try , ” said Miriam Rollin , director of the Education Civil Rights Alliance at the National Center for Youth Law .
“ That ’ s potentially creating irreparable harm for kids with disabilities and it ’ s not fair .
It ’ s not right.
” About 7 million children , 14 % of all public school students , received special education services under IDEA in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these students are laid out in precise legal documents , called individualized education programs .
Written in collaboration between districts and parents , the IEPs detail the modifications necessary to meet each student ’ s needs .
IDEA includes dozens of mandates around how these documents should be devised .
Jurupa Unified School District serves about 19,000 students , 11 % of whom have IEPs .
During California ’ s coronavirus lockdown , the district is aiming to provide its students with disabilities with about one-third of the services they would normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ― the federal law forbidding discrimination based on disability , which is also up for waivers ― school districts are required to provide kids with disabilities with an education analogous to that of their peers .
But current circumstances , where most families are conducting school via remote learning , mean that districts will inevitably run afoul of some students ’ legally binding IEPs .
Students with disabilities may normally receive a range of supports , from minor add-ons like modified instruction to more substantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-on-one aide .
Some of these services are naturally getting watered down , if they ’ re still being offered at all .
“ We certainly care about our special education kids but right now everybody is behind , ” said Duchon .
“ We ’ re doing really as much as we can remotely and hoping really there ’ s a waiver and some coverage , so we don ’ t get sued .
... California is a very litigious state.
” Civil rights groups and parents of these students say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicament schools are in ― they ’ re not looking to sue over a service that it would be impossible to offer virtually and understand that it would be irresponsible to send out one-on-one aides during social distancing .
But they say that doesn ’ t mean districts can ’ t do their best to serve a student ’ s needs , without the intervention of waivers .
A range of civil rights groups ― from the NAACP to the Muslim Caucus Education Collective ― sent a letter to DeVos in early April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most vulnerable students , like those with disabilities , the letter said learning loss in these next few months could be irreparable .
Absolving school districts of their responsibilities , particularly for children whose educational progress is especially tenuous , is not the solution , the groups argued .
“ There ’ s a reason why we have all of these provisions in IDEA .
They ’ re pretty specific , and the reason for that specificity is the schools weren ’ t doing that on their own , ” said Rollin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a promise of ‘ Hey , we ’ ll really do what ’ s right for kids with disabilities , ’ I ’ m sorry , but I don ’ t believe that promise.
” A letter they sent to the Education Department in late March asks for waivers that last until 45 days after in-person instruction resumes .
It urges the department to take action specifically in the areas of timelines ( as the law has a multitude of timeliness requirements for evaluations and testing ) , procedures ( like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Off the top of her head , Karina Becerra-Murillo , who runs special education services at Jurupa Unified School District , can tick off a list of situations in which the district could be held legally liable for its distance learning efforts .
If a physical or occupational therapist provides instructions on at-home activities to a parent , for example , and then the parent accidentally hurts the student .
“ There are a lot of groups out there , a lot of parent groups , stirring the pot on this , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becerra-Murillo said .
“ We have always done the best we can to support our students , regardless of whether or not we have a waiver.
” Farnsworth , a member of a military family who has moved around the country , has seen both conscientious districts and lazy ones .
There are some districts that would always go above and beyond , she said .
It ’ s the rest of the schools that worry her .
The public education community is typically distrustful of the secretary , particularly when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing , she famously suggested that enforcing IDEA , a federal law , might be best left to the states .
On this issue now , Sasha Pudelski , advocacy director of the School Superintendents Association , is optimistic that DeVos may hand over the reins to seasoned career staff at the department ’ s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services .
Concerns have circulated that DeVos might try to include support for voucher programs in her report , which opponents say could reduce funding for public schools .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her assumed lack of knowledge of IDEA , having too much input on this report , frankly , ” said Pudelski , whose organization is pushing for the waivers .
“ I think this is going to be a very reasonable report , and I ’ m very worried about how , because her name is associated with it , it will be perceived politically.
” Statements like that are not enough to assuage Rollin ’ s worries .
She fears that opening the door to these waivers could lead to a slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections .
Over the past few weeks , she said , she ’ s heard enough stories about districts doing right by students with disabilities to know it ’ s possible to educate these kids fairly and appropriately even under the most difficult of circumstances .

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is expected to make a recommendation to Congress regarding potential temporary IDEA waivers within days. Joshua Roberts / Reuters
The leaders of Jurupa Unified School District in Southern California are terrified of getting sued for running afoul of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the sprawling federal law that requires schools to provide disabled students with an equal education. They are already anticipating deep budget shortfalls, after a state revenue nosedive. Potential lawsuits could deplete the district’s strapped coffers.
That’s why superintendent Elliott Duchon is hoping that Congress grants schools temporary waivers under the law. The March coronavirus relief legislation granted Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos 30 days to make a recommendation to Congress regarding potential temporary IDEA waivers for states and school districts amid the nation’s widespread school closures.
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But even as school administrators and school leadership groups are advocating for enhanced flexibility, parents and civil rights groups worry that DeVos’ recommendations, set to be released soon, could unravel key protections for students with disabilities and give schools cover to stop providing even basic services.
“What do you think schools are going to do? They’re not going to meet [the law’s requirements]. Some are not going to even try,” said Miriam Rollin, director of the Education Civil Rights Alliance at the National Center for Youth Law. “That’s potentially creating irreparable harm for kids with disabilities and it’s not fair. It’s not right.”
About 7 million children, 14% of all public school students, received special education services under IDEA in the 2017-18 school year. The provisions made for these students are laid out in precise legal documents, called individualized education programs. Written in collaboration between districts and parents, the IEPs detail the modifications necessary to meet each student’s needs. IDEA includes dozens of mandates around how these documents should be devised.
Jurupa Unified School District serves about 19,000 students, 11% of whom have IEPs. During California’s coronavirus lockdown, the district is aiming to provide its students with disabilities with about one-third of the services they would normally receive. Under laws like IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ― the federal law forbidding discrimination based on disability, which is also up for waivers ― school districts are required to provide kids with disabilities with an education analogous to that of their peers.
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But current circumstances, where most families are conducting school via remote learning, mean that districts will inevitably run afoul of some students’ legally binding IEPs. Students with disabilities may normally receive a range of supports, from minor add-ons like modified instruction to more substantial services like occupational therapy or a full-time one-on-one aide. Some of these services are naturally getting watered down, if they’re still being offered at all.
“We certainly care about our special education kids but right now everybody is behind,” said Duchon. “We’re doing really as much as we can remotely and hoping really there’s a waiver and some coverage, so we don’t get sued. ... California is a very litigious state.”
Civil rights groups and parents of these students say that fear is misguided. They understand the predicament schools are in ― they’re not looking to sue over a service that it would be impossible to offer virtually and understand that it would be irresponsible to send out one-on-one aides during social distancing. But they say that doesn’t mean districts can’t do their best to serve a student’s needs, without the intervention of waivers.
A range of civil rights groups ― from the NAACP to the Muslim Caucus Education Collective ― sent a letter to DeVos in early April warning against potential flexibilities. For the most vulnerable students, like those with disabilities, the letter said learning loss in these next few months could be irreparable. Absolving school districts of their responsibilities, particularly for children whose educational progress is especially tenuous, is not the solution, the groups argued.
“There’s a reason why we have all of these provisions in IDEA. They’re pretty specific, and the reason for that specificity is the schools weren’t doing that on their own,” said Rollin. “If you take away those requirements, with a promise of ‘Hey, we’ll really do what’s right for kids with disabilities,’ I’m sorry, but I don’t believe that promise.”
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Groups like the National Association of State Directors of Special Education and the Council of Administrators of Special Education see it differently.
A letter they sent to the Education Department in late March asks for waivers that last until 45 days after in-person instruction resumes. It urges the department to take action specifically in the areas of timelines (as the law has a multitude of timeliness requirements for evaluations and testing), procedures (like data collection) and fiscal management.
“Federal laws were not written anticipating a global pandemic that has closed a large majority of schools across the country,” says the letter.
Off the top of her head, Karina Becerra-Murillo, who runs special education services at Jurupa Unified School District, can tick off a list of situations in which the district could be held legally liable for its distance learning efforts. If a physical or occupational therapist provides instructions on at-home activities to a parent, for example, and then the parent accidentally hurts the student.
“There are a lot of groups out there, a lot of parent groups, stirring the pot on this, for lack of a better word,” Becerra-Murillo said. “We have always done the best we can to support our students, regardless of whether or not we have a waiver.”
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Vicki Farnsworth, an Oregon parent of a 12-year-old child with autism, is sympathetic to the schools’ arguments. “Obviously, a lot of our children’s IEPs, especially the support services, aren’t going to be able to be given during this time,” she said.
But in some cases, without the fear of consequences, “there will be schools that don’t even try,” she said.
Farnsworth, a member of a military family who has moved around the country, has seen both conscientious districts and lazy ones. There are some districts that would always go above and beyond, she said. It’s the rest of the schools that worry her.
“Waivers are there to protect the system, not the people,” she said, noting that dealing with her son’s instruction via distance learning has only illuminated for her how few supports he was receiving in the first place.
DeVos is expected to make her recommendations to Congress in a matter of days.
The public education community is typically distrustful of the secretary, particularly when it comes to special education. During her confirmation hearing, she famously suggested that enforcing IDEA, a federal law, might be best left to the states. On this issue now, Sasha Pudelski, advocacy director of the School Superintendents Association, is optimistic that DeVos may hand over the reins to seasoned career staff at the department’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Concerns have circulated that DeVos might try to include support for voucher programs in her report, which opponents say could reduce funding for public schools.
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“I don’t see Secretary DeVos, given her assumed lack of knowledge of IDEA, having too much input on this report, frankly,” said Pudelski, whose organization is pushing for the waivers. “I think this is going to be a very reasonable report, and I’m very worried about how, because her name is associated with it, it will be perceived politically.”
In an earlier statement on the waivers issue, a spokesperson for DeVos said, “The Department takes seriously its responsibility to protect the rights of all students. We are working to provide schools with the flexibilities they will need to serve students throughout this national emergency.”
Statements like that are not enough to assuage Rollin’s worries. She fears that opening the door to these waivers could lead to a slow whittling down of the law’s protections. Over the past few weeks, she said, she’s heard enough stories about districts doing right by students with disabilities to know it’s possible to educate these kids fairly and appropriately even under the most difficult of circumstances.
“It’s all scary and possible,” said Rollin, of a potential chipping away at the disability rights law. “The secretary of education is now going to be responsible for sending to Congress potential waivers for IDEA, for a law she apparently didn’t even know existed.”