huffpost--2020-03-16--Online Classes And A Shaky Job Market: College Students Face Uncertain Futures

HuffPost spoke with a dozen students who are figuring out what to do from here .
Schools are offering classes online , but how do you pursue a dance degree online ?
What about a theater degree ?
How do you do a science lab while sitting in your childhood bedroom and staring at a computer screen ?
Students are heartbroken at missing out on little moments that make college special ― the annual dinner for the school newspaper , a trip for a class , senior traditions and last chances to be with friends before graduating .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will having to go entirely online affect their professional opportunities ?
What will the economy look like when they ’ re trying to get jobs ?
And for some students , where should they go when they don ’ t have a safe place to return to on such short notice ?
What if their home doesn ’ t have a Wi-Fi connection ?
Hope Schmalzried , a senior at Stanford University , described the feeling as “ that weight between feeling really upset and mournful , and you don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your friends again , versus , this is an international crisis .
It ’ s whole countries locked down and there are a lot of populations at risk .
And so it ’ s like balancing that emotional dichotomy has been really sobering.
” “ I never thought I was going to go to college .
No one in my family ’ s ever been .
I ’ m the only one of my siblings that even graduated high school .
So I never thought that college was in the cards .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t really know what I did or how I got here , and I ’ m about to graduate and I ’ m about to get that taken away from me .
So that kind of sucks.
” “ We were running our routine full-out Tuesday and by 24 hours later , I found out that we ’ re not going .
I mean , it ’ s heartbreaking .
I know that it could be worse , but that would have been the last time I performed with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dancing with since I was six years old .
And just to have it all come to an end .
When we told everyone ― that was probably the hardest moment was seeing everyone cry.
” Sophomore Amanda Salazar at New York ’ s Baruch College said The Ticker , the student-run newspaper where she ’ s an editor , is trying to figure out how it will go online-only .
The paper ’ s traditions , including a trip to Boston , have all been canceled .
“ We were planning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crimson and just doing some sightseeing .
That was canceled , and I ’ m hoping we get reimbursed because we already bought the tickets .
And every year we have a Ticker dinner .
It ’ s basically our gala of the year where we give out awards people who are leaving positions , pass the torch down to the people who are taking positions .
That ’ s going to be canceled.
” Kelly Rose Nunziata is pursuing a master of public administration degree at Columbia University in New York .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for work she was doing with the country ’ s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources , but her trip has been called off .
More devastating , said Nunziata , would be losing out on graduation .
Kayla Shull is a graduate nursing student at Seattle University and isn ’ t sure if she ’ ll be able to do her clinical placement this spring ― meaning she might not fulfill the requirements to get her nurse practitioner license .
“ If we lose this spring quarter clinical placement , the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the quarter after we graduate ― so it would be summer of 2021 ― is a big possibility .
So we would walk for graduation , but we would not be able to sit for boards until we have those hours under our license .
… I wouldn ’ t be able to take my boards on time , which means that I wouldn ’ t be able to start practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner when I want or when they expected us to start practicing , which would ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I would have to wait and I couldn ’ t get a job .
I ’ d still be working as a nurse , still getting paid pretty cheaply , and I have tons of student loans I need to start paying back.
” “ Students are in a low information environment and being given contradictory advice from professors , administrators , the news and the government .
Consistently , there are two responses I ’ ve seen from fellow students : ‘ Oh God , we ’ re going to die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we should be going about life as usual.
’ ” If you ask 10 professors where to turn for information , you get 11 different responses .
Nobody wants to talk about what future semesters look like , and it feels like we ’ re all supposed to pretend like life is normal until spring break despite in-person classes being canceled so the school doesn ’ t look bad.
” Emerson College student Mallory Shofi moved out of her dorm on Sunday after the Boston school , along with other area universities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Classes will move online .
“ I think the hardest part about this is a lot of classes can ’ t transfer into an online format easily .
One of my classes this semester is a science with a lab and my professor is racking her brain trying to figure how to do this lab component online .
And although most of the professors at my university have done online , there are still several who haven ’ t .
So it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those students still get quality education from those who have never taught online.
” Raag Agrawal , a senior at Columbia University , said he ’ s disappointed not to be able to attend classes in person , where he ’ s able to develop relationships with other students and professors .
But he ’ s also worried about how students from lower-income backgrounds may be affected with online-only education .
Victor Lopez-Carmen is a first-year student at Harvard Medical School .
( The university , at large , has faced some criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled its coronavirus response . )
He said that it ’ s hard to get the same quality education through distance-learning .
“ It ’ s both disappointing and understandable because we want to prioritize the health of the people around us and our patients .
And objectively speaking , we do present an increase in potential exposure to our patients if we stay .
… So the risk is high here , and I understand the decision .
At the same time , for so many of us here , being in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
And the fact that our classes have become online when in-person exposure , the discussions we have together when we ’ re sitting at tables and all of the accessory experiences that we have just being here , are just so vital .
So there ’ s a lot of anxiety about what will become of our education now that our medical school is essentially virtual.
” Shull , the graduate nursing student at Seattle University , said she ’ s disappointed that she will be getting an online-only education even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― a sentiment that was common among students .
“ My classmates and I feel like we ’ re hemorrhaging money for an online program that we could have done for way cheaper .
… I don ’ t feel like I ’ m getting a well-rounded education , especially in something like becoming a nurse practitioner , where you have to be hands-on with a lot of things because you ’ re working with patients .
So I think that ’ s my biggest fear is that I ’ m not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” N ’ Kengé Robertson graduated from Michigan State University last year with an education degree , but she ’ s still at the school for her final internship year .
She works at a school where many students get free and reduced lunch and depend on the school as a safe space .
She said she ’ s worried for people ― whether in college or in grade school ― who will be losing that place while institutions are shut down .
“ Home for me is Tucson , Arizona .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bay Area to be with my older brother because I already had a ticket there for spring break , and I don ’ t really have the finances to change it .
… But for me it ’ s quite complicated because I come from two Native American tribes and there are a bunch of ceremonies .
There ’ s a ceremony this next weekend in South Dakota , because I ’ m Dakota from the Crow Creek Sioux tribe .
And one of the chiefs asked me if I could come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Arizona because I ’ m from the Yaqui tribe , and my family really wants me to be there .
I ’ m considering the dangers because reservations aren ’ t as prepared as a lot of other communities .
And I ’ m coming from hospitals .
I spent all day in a hospital yesterday , seeing patients , and if I were to be a vector for this , in my community , I think it would be pretty devastating .
”

College students across the country have headed home in recent days as their campuses have shut down to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Students who thought they’d be saying goodbye for a week of spring break instead said goodbye for the year, or maybe more.
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Young people studying abroad have had to pack up and come back from what was supposed to be the experience of a lifetime.
And being able to walk across the stage at graduation seems unlikely to happen this spring.
HuffPost spoke with a dozen students who are figuring out what to do from here. Schools are offering classes online, but how do you pursue a dance degree online? What about a theater degree? How do you do a science lab while sitting in your childhood bedroom and staring at a computer screen?
Students are heartbroken at missing out on little moments that make college special ― the annual dinner for the school newspaper, a trip for a class, senior traditions and last chances to be with friends before graduating.
But there are also more pressing concerns. How will having to go entirely online affect their professional opportunities? What will the economy look like when they’re trying to get jobs?
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And for some students, where should they go when they don’t have a safe place to return to on such short notice? What if their home doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection?
Many students are also grappling with guilt at being disappointed with what’s happening while knowing that they’re in a far more fortunate place than others.
Hope Schmalzried, a senior at Stanford University, described the feeling as “that weight between feeling really upset and mournful, and you don’t know when you’re going to see your friends again, versus, this is an international crisis. It’s whole countries locked down and there are a lot of populations at risk. And so it’s like balancing that emotional dichotomy has been really sobering.”
Missing Out On Milestones
With the end of face-to-face classes and with remote learning to begin on April 6, some Williams College seniors spent last Friday on campus taking photos in their caps and gowns in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Gillian Jones/The Berkshire Eagle via AP
Mackenzie Diggs, a senior at Ball State University in Indiana, said she would feel “devastated” if graduation is canceled.
“I never thought I was going to go to college. No one in my family’s ever been. I’m the only one of my siblings that even graduated high school. So I never thought that college was in the cards. And somehow I just ended up here. I don’t really know what I did or how I got here, and I’m about to graduate and I’m about to get that taken away from me. So that kind of sucks.”
Gillian Wanosky, a junior at West Virginia University, is trying to figure out how to continue her dance major, and her dance team’s trip to nationals has been canceled.
“We were running our routine full-out Tuesday and by 24 hours later, I found out that we’re not going. I mean, it’s heartbreaking. I know that it could be worse, but that would have been the last time I performed with my best friend who I’ve been dancing with since I was six years old. And just to have it all come to an end. When we told everyone ― that was probably the hardest moment was seeing everyone cry.”
Sophomore Amanda Salazar at New York’s Baruch College said The Ticker, the student-run newspaper where she’s an editor, is trying to figure out how it will go online-only. The paper’s traditions, including a trip to Boston, have all been canceled.
“We were planning on visiting the Boston Globe and the Harvard Crimson and just doing some sightseeing. That was canceled, and I’m hoping we get reimbursed because we already bought the tickets. And every year we have a Ticker dinner. It’s basically our gala of the year where we give out awards people who are leaving positions, pass the torch down to the people who are taking positions. That’s going to be canceled.”
Kelly Rose Nunziata is pursuing a master of public administration degree at Columbia University in New York. She was supposed to go to Iceland for work she was doing with the country’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, but her trip has been called off. More devastating, said Nunziata, would be losing out on graduation.
“I have a feeling graduation’s going to get canceled and that’s like really crushing, especially for my family. … Like my grandfather helped me pay for this degree, and he’s not going to get to see me graduate from Columbia, which would’ve been amazing.”
Uncertainty Around Professional Plans
Colleges and universities nationwide, including at New York's Columbia University, have largely shut down and are conducting classes online. Mark Lennihan/Associated Press
Kayla Shull is a graduate nursing student at Seattle University and isn’t sure if she’ll be able to do her clinical placement this spring ― meaning she might not fulfill the requirements to get her nurse practitioner license.
“If we lose this spring quarter clinical placement, the possibility of us having to do clinical placements in the quarter after we graduate ― so it would be summer of 2021 ― is a big possibility. So we would walk for graduation, but we would not be able to sit for boards until we have those hours under our license. … I wouldn’t be able to take my boards on time, which means that I wouldn’t be able to start practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner when I want or when they expected us to start practicing, which would’ve been the fall of 2021. … So I would have to wait and I couldn’t get a job. I’d still be working as a nurse, still getting paid pretty cheaply, and I have tons of student loans I need to start paying back.”
Alex Adams, a senior political science major at Florida State University, won’t be able to actually visit graduate schools before making a decision.
“I’ve been applying to graduate schools this semester and so I wanted to use my spring break to tour some of those institutions. Those tours have been canceled, so I won’t actually be able to do that.”
Nunziata, the Columbia University student studying for a master’s in public administration, said there’s deep anxiety about entering into the job search in an economy that will be struggling to recover.
“One thing that we’re really worried about is our job search. We are all leaving with soul-crushing amounts of student loans and we were kind of, well like, you know, fingers-crossed, hoping to have a job when you graduate. But if that didn’t happen, sometime in the summer we were expecting [to find one] ― and now it seems like the economy is tanking.”
Garrett Davis is a student at Green River Community College, about 30 miles outside of Seattle. The state has been hit hard by COVID-19, and Davis said it’s been hard getting reliable information.
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“Students are in a low information environment and being given contradictory advice from professors, administrators, the news and the government. Consistently, there are two responses I’ve seen from fellow students: ‘Oh God, we’re going to die,’ and ‘This is overblown we should be going about life as usual.’” If you ask 10 professors where to turn for information, you get 11 different responses. Nobody wants to talk about what future semesters look like, and it feels like we’re all supposed to pretend like life is normal until spring break despite in-person classes being canceled so the school doesn’t look bad.”
Academic Challenges
Emerson College student Mallory Shofi moved out of her dorm on Sunday after the Boston school, along with other area universities, shut down as part of the efforts to to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Classes will move online. Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Megan Parker, a senior at the University of Akron in Ohio, said her professor is having trouble figuring out how to teach a science lab course online.
“I think the hardest part about this is a lot of classes can’t transfer into an online format easily. One of my classes this semester is a science with a lab and my professor is racking her brain trying to figure how to do this lab component online. And although most of the professors at my university have done online, there are still several who haven’t. So it’s going to be interesting to see how those students still get quality education from those who have never taught online.”
Raag Agrawal, a senior at Columbia University, said he’s disappointed not to be able to attend classes in person, where he’s able to develop relationships with other students and professors. But he’s also worried about how students from lower-income backgrounds may be affected with online-only education.
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“I have the resources and ability to have a desk and study and be well-fed. But I think distance-learning ... majorly affects students who are low-income or don’t have the access [to online resources]. … I think this is just going to exacerbate a lot of the disparities you see in colleges in terms of achievement.”
Victor Lopez-Carmen is a first-year student at Harvard Medical School. (The university, at large, has faced some criticism from students for the way it has handled its coronavirus response.) He said that it’s hard to get the same quality education through distance-learning.
“It’s both disappointing and understandable because we want to prioritize the health of the people around us and our patients. And objectively speaking, we do present an increase in potential exposure to our patients if we stay. … So the risk is high here, and I understand the decision. At the same time, for so many of us here, being in Harvard Medical School is a dream come true. And the fact that our classes have become online when in-person exposure, the discussions we have together when we’re sitting at tables and all of the accessory experiences that we have just being here, are just so vital. So there’s a lot of anxiety about what will become of our education now that our medical school is essentially virtual.”
Shull, the graduate nursing student at Seattle University, said she’s disappointed that she will be getting an online-only education even though she paid for the on-campus experience ― a sentiment that was common among students.
“My classmates and I feel like we’re hemorrhaging money for an online program that we could have done for way cheaper. … I don’t feel like I’m getting a well-rounded education, especially in something like becoming a nurse practitioner, where you have to be hands-on with a lot of things because you’re working with patients. So I think that’s my biggest fear is that I’m not going to feel prepared to be a practitioner.”
Problems Moving Home
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with some other schools, faced protests by students upset about the lack of exemptions to stay on campus because they didn't have safe or available homes to return to. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
N’Kengé Robertson graduated from Michigan State University last year with an education degree, but she’s still at the school for her final internship year. She works at a school where many students get free and reduced lunch and depend on the school as a safe space. She said she’s worried for people ― whether in college or in grade school ― who will be losing that place while institutions are shut down.
“I feel like [many policies don’t] count those that actually need school as a safe space. So being an educator, and being anti-racist educator, I started to look into things like, how are we bending for the disabled, the elderly, students that do come from those poor environments, who actually depend on school for their day-to-day basic needs? How are we going to fix that issue?”
Lopez-Carmen, the Harvard Medical School student, moved off-campus and will be staying with his brother.
“Home for me is Tucson, Arizona. But I’m going to go to the Bay Area to be with my older brother because I already had a ticket there for spring break, and I don’t really have the finances to change it. … But for me it’s quite complicated because I come from two Native American tribes and there are a bunch of ceremonies. There’s a ceremony this next weekend in South Dakota, because I’m Dakota from the Crow Creek Sioux tribe. And one of the chiefs asked me if I could come. There’s another ceremony back in Arizona because I’m from the Yaqui tribe, and my family really wants me to be there. I’m considering the dangers because reservations aren’t as prepared as a lot of other communities. And I’m coming from hospitals. I spent all day in a hospital yesterday, seeing patients, and if I were to be a vector for this, in my community, I think it would be pretty devastating.”
Agrawal, the senior at Columbia University, is worried about heading home because it’s close to New Rochelle, New York, the first place in the U.S. to declare a containment zone.


huffpost--2020-03-26--A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Migrant Farmworkers Would Wreak Havoc On America's Food Supply.

In the coming weeks , thousands more laborers will arrive in other growing centers across the nation , from Washington ’ s Yakima Valley to the coastal plains of North Carolina and Georgia .
These workers and their advocates say that many of the farmers who employ them have provided virtually no information on how they can protect themselves , their co-workers and their families from the coronavirus — creating the potential for a massive public-health and food-security crisis .
The precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are virtually impossible to carry out on many farms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space for social distancing , but labor camps and transportation tend to be unsanitary and crowded .
Depending on the size of the farm , a single housing unit can hold 200 workers or more .
There are no federal guidelines governing what a farmer should do if they don ’ t have space to quarantine sick workers or how those who may have the virus can access affordable health care .
Earlier this month , Elenes conducted an informal survey through private UFW social media channels , asking how many workers had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their employers .
Ninety percent of the 277 respondents said they had received no information at all .
Thinking the result was a fluke , he repeated the poll — and got the same response .
One respondent said he was told by his employer , “ En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
” Translation : “ Flies can ’ t get into mouths that are closed.
” So far , the empty grocery shelves consumers are seeing stem from short-term stocking issues rather than real food shortages , said Sylvia Partida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health .
“ But that can change pretty quickly if you find that the backbone of our agricultural industry becomes affected and you do not have individuals that are harvesting , planting and working on animal production .
Then you will see true shortages and interruptions in our food supply.
” American agriculture is a huge economic engine , generating more than 5 % of gross domestic product in 2017 .
U.S. farms alone contributed nearly $ 133 billion of that .
California is easily the biggest producer , with crops and livestock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , followed by Iowa , Nebraska , Texas , and Minnesota .
Farmworkers are generally hired to pick fruits , vegetables and tree nuts — the so-called specialty crops that constitute the most recognizable foods that wind up on our dinner tables .
While commodity crops — like corn , soybeans , rice and wheat — account for most of the value in American agriculture , specialty crops represent as much as 30 % of the value of all U.S. crop production , according to USDA estimates .
For decades , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided mostly by migrant workers — undocumented or otherwise — from Mexico and Central America .
While wages for workers under the H-2A visa program are somewhat higher and employers cover the cost of housing and international travel , farmworker wages are generally low and they have few rights when it comes to things like job security , paid time off and sick leave .
Just last year the National Council of Agricultural Employers ( unsuccessfully ) sought an injunction in federal court to prevent wages paid for farmworkers in the H-2A program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Center for Farmworker Health , said she ’ s heard from some employers who say they ’ re not getting the information they need to prepare .
Workers will soon arrive in North Carolina , Maine , Virginia , New Jersey , Michigan and other communities , and there ’ s an opportunity for federal agencies to issue safety protocols and give employers access to protective equipment .
But so far , she said , “ there is no coordinated effort ” from either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of farmworkers are covered by union contracts , and these kinds of precautions are very much the exception .
As tobacco planting season gets underway in North Carolina , Elizabeth Freeman , director of the North Carolina Farmworker Health Program , a federally funded organization that links farmworkers with health care providers , said worried farmers have told her they have nowhere to isolate sick workers .
A housing operator contacted Freeman to say he was expecting 61 workers to arrive at his camp in the next few days .
They will all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathrooms , a shared kitchen and beds close together .
He has no extra space to quarantine anyone .
Beate Ritz , a physician and expert in occupational epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health , is particularly concerned about infection control among seasonal workers who live in unhygienic conditions .
The diabetes rate among farmworkers is “ really high , ” she noted , which makes them more vulnerable to the coronavirus .
On top of that , pesticides can affect the immune system .
“ So if their immune systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed to insecticides and herbicides , that ’ s a double whammy , ” said Ritz .
And if workers do fall ill , they have disturbingly little access to medical care .
Many farmworkers , especially those in isolated rural areas , depend on programs like Elizabeth Freeman ’ s in North Carolina to find a nearby doctor and often need help getting to appointments .
Now , though , mobile clinics and in-person outreach at labor camps are being shut down , which means workers are more dependent than ever on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For years , farmworkers have been among the most vulnerable of immigrant groups , vilified for stealing American jobs and often exploited by employers .
Now , they are the linchpin guaranteeing the stability of our food supply .
It ’ s been all too easy for people to ignore their precarious existence , said Beate Ritz : “ But think about what the vulnerable do for you , and how you then become vulnerable because you ’ re not taking care of them .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Every day, throughout California’s major agricultural regions, thousands of farmworkers are still piling into dusty vans and buses to be driven to fields and orchards. There, they move through rows of lettuce and onions, strawberries and spinach, often in dense groups, to tend and harvest the food that Americans depend on.
In the coming weeks, thousands more laborers will arrive in other growing centers across the nation, from Washington’s Yakima Valley to the coastal plains of North Carolina and Georgia. These workers and their advocates say that many of the farmers who employ them have provided virtually no information on how they can protect themselves, their co-workers and their families from the coronavirus — creating the potential for a massive public-health and food-security crisis.
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There are some 2.4 million farmworkers in the U.S. Of those, anywhere between 47 and 70% are undocumented. Roughly another 200,000 come seasonally on an H-2A guestworker visa, which was thrown into disarray last week when the U.S. closed its embassy and consulates in Mexico.
The precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are virtually impossible to carry out on many farms. Fields and orchards provide plenty of space for social distancing, but labor camps and transportation tend to be unsanitary and crowded. Depending on the size of the farm, a single housing unit can hold 200 workers or more. There are no federal guidelines governing what a farmer should do if they don’t have space to quarantine sick workers or how those who may have the virus can access affordable health care.
Farm workers thin lettuce crops work in in San Luis, Arizona. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Workers are petrified,” said Armando Elenes, secretary treasurer of the United Farm Workers, the nation’s largest farmworkers union. “The majority of them don’t have health care, have little or no sick pay and don’t have a safety net.”
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Earlier this month, Elenes conducted an informal survey through private UFW social media channels, asking how many workers had been provided information about the coronavirus by their employers. Ninety percent of the 277 respondents said they had received no information at all. Thinking the result was a fluke, he repeated the poll — and got the same response. One respondent said he was told by his employer, “En boca cerrada no entran moscas.” Translation: “Flies can’t get into mouths that are closed.”
Reyna Lopez Osuna, executive director of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste in Oregon, which represents about 7,000 workers, has heard the same thing from her members. “Site supervisors aren’t giving additional training or instructions for disinfection protocols or social distancing,” she said. In addition, workers aren’t being told they should quarantine themselves for 14 days if they feel sick, even though this information is essential for infection control.
On March 17, Elenes and and UFW President Teresa Romero emailed major non-union growers and farm bureaus across the country. The message urged them to ensure the safety of workers through several measures, including extended sick pay and sick leave, offering day care and flexibility to accommodate school closures, and training workers on best practices for avoiding infection.
As this article went to press, not one grower or trade association had responded to the letter. Separate calls by FERN and HuffPost to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the largest grower trade group, and the Western Growers, which represents produce and nut farmers in four states, including California, were not returned.
There is no scientific evidence to date that the coronavirus can or has been spread through food, though experts are warning people to wash all fresh fruits and vegetables. The more urgent concern is that if a large number of farmworkers get sick, there will be no one to harvest America’s food.
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So far, the empty grocery shelves consumers are seeing stem from short-term stocking issues rather than real food shortages, said Sylvia Partida, CEO of the National Center for Farmworker Health. “But that can change pretty quickly if you find that the backbone of our agricultural industry becomes affected and you do not have individuals that are harvesting, planting and working on animal production. Then you will see true shortages and interruptions in our food supply.”
Deplorable Housing Conditions
American agriculture is a huge economic engine, generating more than 5% of gross domestic product in 2017. U.S. farms alone contributed nearly $133 billion of that. California is easily the biggest producer, with crops and livestock worth more than $50 billion in 2018, followed by Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, and Minnesota. Farmworkers are generally hired to pick fruits, vegetables and tree nuts — the so-called specialty crops that constitute the most recognizable foods that wind up on our dinner tables. While commodity crops — like corn, soybeans, rice and wheat — account for most of the value in American agriculture, specialty crops represent as much as 30% of the value of all U.S. crop production, according to USDA estimates.
For decades, the agriculture business has run on cheap labor provided mostly by migrant workers — undocumented or otherwise — from Mexico and Central America. While wages for workers under the H-2A visa program are somewhat higher and employers cover the cost of housing and international travel, farmworker wages are generally low and they have few rights when it comes to things like job security, paid time off and sick leave. Just last year the National Council of Agricultural Employers (unsuccessfully) sought an injunction in federal court to prevent wages paid for farmworkers in the H-2A program from rising.
Deplorable housing conditions are also a common complaint. Federal guidelines only require dormitories for foreign guestworkers to include at least 40 square feet per person — about the size of a large closet. A 2018 Department of Labor investigation discovered that 22 workers in Monterey County, California, were forced to share a single bathroom “infested with insects,” and that the drinking water was contaminated with nitrates and unfit for human consumption.
A migrant farmworkers' dorm room in central North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Andrew Lichtenstein via Getty Images
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Even so, it’s a tough time to ask farmers to spend money on things like extra housing to allow for social distancing and quarantine for the sick. Seven weeks ago, the USDA forecast the highest U.S. net farm income since 2013. Since then the virus has driven down prices for corn, soybeans and other commodities. Estimated milk prices for 2020 have dropped by nearly $3 billion.
A new report from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition estimates that farmers who sell to key local and regional markets such as schools, food hubs, restaurants, farmers markets and other institutions face a $688.7 million decline in sales, as well as “a payroll decline of up to $103.3 million, and a total loss to the economy of up to $1.32 billion” just from March to May this year.
“We lost anywhere from 30 to 50% of our marketplace to the stop in food service, restaurants, travel, hotels,” said Jack Vessey, owner of Vessey & Company, a 10,000-acre produce farm in California’s Imperial Valley. Even an uptick in orders from stores last week — likely from people stocking their pantries — wasn’t enough to cover these losses, he said.
Partido, with the National Center for Farmworker Health, said she’s heard from some employers who say they’re not getting the information they need to prepare. Workers will soon arrive in North Carolina, Maine, Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan and other communities, and there’s an opportunity for federal agencies to issue safety protocols and give employers access to protective equipment. But so far, she said, “there is no coordinated effort” from either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Department of Labor.
In North Carolina, at least, the state Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month published guidance for growers on how to safely manage their workforce. The recommendations included, among other things, housing people with symptoms “in a separate room with a separate bathroom from people who are not sick”; and ensuring access to things like “alcohol-based hand sanitizer, tissues, and lined trash cans.”
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According to Armando Elenes, some of the UFW’s union farmers are expanding worker protections. (Most already provide health care at no cost.) Oregon’s Beef Northwest is waiving the requirement that workers be employed a minimum of 90 days before they are eligible for sick pay, for instance, and Swanton Berry Farm near Santa Cruz, California, assured its employees they’d still get paid if they become ill.
Charles Muranaka, executive vice president of Muranaka Farm, a UFW grower in Ventura County, California, is sharing safety precautions with his workers in Spanish, both in handouts and in meetings with individual crews. “We’ve adjusted how we harvest our fields to maintain six-foot distance,” said Muranaka, whose farm employs just over 100 workers to harvest green onions, leeks, parsley, kale and other vegetables.
But only a fraction of farmworkers are covered by union contracts, and these kinds of precautions are very much the exception. As tobacco planting season gets underway in North Carolina, Elizabeth Freeman, director of the North Carolina Farmworker Health Program, a federally funded organization that links farmworkers with health care providers, said worried farmers have told her they have nowhere to isolate sick workers. A housing operator contacted Freeman to say he was expecting 61 workers to arrive at his camp in the next few days. They will all be housed in a unit with six bathrooms, a shared kitchen and beds close together. He has no extra space to quarantine anyone.
Farm laborers, especially those who are undocumented, often rely on special clinics for medical treatment. Most have been shut down due to the coronavirus. (Mark Crosse/Fresno Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Fresno Bee via Getty Images
A Public Health Disaster Waiting To Happen
The farmworker situation is an urgent public health concern, said Amy Liebman, director of environmental and occupational health at Migrant Clinicians Network, a global nonprofit that supports those delivering health care to migrant workers, said.
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Beate Ritz, a physician and expert in occupational epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health, is particularly concerned about infection control among seasonal workers who live in unhygienic conditions. The diabetes rate among farmworkers is “really high,” she noted, which makes them more vulnerable to the coronavirus. On top of that, pesticides can affect the immune system. “So if their immune systems are already compromised and then they are exposed to insecticides and herbicides, that’s a double whammy,” said Ritz.
And if workers do fall ill, they have disturbingly little access to medical care. Many farmworkers, especially those in isolated rural areas, depend on programs like Elizabeth Freeman’s in North Carolina to find a nearby doctor and often need help getting to appointments. Now, though, mobile clinics and in-person outreach at labor camps are being shut down, which means workers are more dependent than ever on their employers if they get sick.
For years, farmworkers have been among the most vulnerable of immigrant groups, vilified for stealing American jobs and often exploited by employers. Now, they are the linchpin guaranteeing the stability of our food supply. It’s been all too easy for people to ignore their precarious existence, said Beate Ritz: “But think about what the vulnerable do for you, and how you then become vulnerable because you’re not taking care of them.”
This story was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, a nonprofit investigative news organization.
Liza Gross is an independent journalist who writes frequently about the intersection between science and society, specializing in environmental and public health.
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Esther Honig is a bilingual journalist based in Mexico City and Colorado. Previously, she worked as a reporter for NPR member stations in Colorado, Ohio, and Missouri.


huffpost--2020-03-27--The 20 Funniest Tweets From Women This Week

The ladies of Twitter never fail to brighten our days with their brilliant and succinct wit .
Each week , @ @ @ @ @ musings of 280 characters or less .
Scroll through this week ’ s great tweets @ @ @ @ @ visit our “ Funniest Tweets From Women ” page for past roundups .

The ladies of Twitter never fail to brighten our days with their brilliant and succinct wit. Each week, HuffPost Women rounds up hilarious musings of 280 characters or less.
Scroll through this week’s great tweets from women below. Then visit our “Funniest Tweets From Women” page for past roundups.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Taylor Swift Just Did An Incredible Thing To Save Nashville Landmark Amid Coronavirus

After donating thousands of dollars to individual fans facing financial hardships during the global health crisis , the pop star is stepping up her game to save a beloved business in her hometown of Nashville , Tennessee .
As small businesses around the country close amid state-ordered lockdowns , Swift reached out with direct help for Grimey ’ s New & Preloved Music , which has served Nashville music lovers for 20 years .
The record store and concert venue shuttered earlier this month in response to the mayor ’ s stay-at-home order , leaving many of its employees in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quietly offered staffers “ direct relief ” and paid for three months ’ worth of health care for all employees , giving the music landmark a fighting chance during unprecedented times .
“ We were very surprised , and I would have to say amazed , that Taylor Swift reached out to us through her publicist to offer some relief during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Doyle Davis , Grimey ’ s co-owner , told Rolling Stone .
“ I didn ’ t even know we were on her radar , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent tornadoes that struck Nashville and middle Tennessee , and now she ’ s trying to help a beloved small business in her city.
” Doyle called the singer ’ s donations a “ huge deal ” for the business , which he feared might go the way of many other small businesses being devastated by the economic collapse caused by the pandemic .
“ Now I have some peace of mind as we apply for [ Small Business Administration ] loans to pay rent , vendors , and other expenses , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms .
Swift helps give us a real shot at coming back on the other side of this.
” Swift has a long history of generosity .
She created her own foundation to help Tennessee recover from 2010 flooding and has made sizeable contributions to causes that include disaster relief , education and LGBTQ equality .
The Grammy winner revealed on her Instagram stories earlier this month that she ’ s been contributing unspecified amounts to the World Health Organization and Feeding America during the coronavirus crisis .
She also finds ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days , many fans have come forward to tell how Swift reached out via social media after seeing posts about their struggles on Tumblr , where the singer regularly communicates with her fanbase .
Swift has donated $ 3,000 to 20 fans to help them make rent and pay other bills , according to Rolling Stone .
And for others , Swift urged her massive following not to be complacent and to stay home amid the pandemic .
“ Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things aren ’ t being taken seriously enough right now , ” she said on her Instagram stories .
“ I ’ m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening .
This is the time to cancel plans , ” Swift wrote , adding : “ Don ’ t assume that because you don ’ t feel sick that you aren ’ t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this .
”

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Taylor Swift’s endgame? Helping as many people as she can during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After donating thousands of dollars to individual fans facing financial hardships during the global health crisis, the pop star is stepping up her game to save a beloved business in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.
As small businesses around the country close amid state-ordered lockdowns, Swift reached out with direct help for Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, which has served Nashville music lovers for 20 years.
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The record store and concert venue shuttered earlier this month in response to the mayor’s stay-at-home order, leaving many of its employees in financial jeopardy.
Enter Swift, who quietly offered staffers “direct relief” and paid for three months’ worth of health care for all employees, giving the music landmark a fighting chance during unprecedented times.
“We were very surprised, and I would have to say amazed, that Taylor Swift reached out to us through her publicist to offer some relief during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Doyle Davis, Grimey’s co-owner, told Rolling Stone. “I didn’t even know we were on her radar, but she really stepped up to help after the recent tornadoes that struck Nashville and middle Tennessee, and now she’s trying to help a beloved small business in her city.”
A general view of Grimey's in Nashville, Tennessee. Rick Diamond via Getty Images
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Doyle called the singer’s donations a “huge deal” for the business, which he feared might go the way of many other small businesses being devastated by the economic collapse caused by the pandemic.
“Now I have some peace of mind as we apply for [Small Business Administration] loans to pay rent, vendors, and other expenses,” Doyle said. “This assistance from Ms. Swift helps give us a real shot at coming back on the other side of this.”
Swift has a long history of generosity. She created her own foundation to help Tennessee recover from 2010 flooding and has made sizeable contributions to causes that include disaster relief, education and LGBTQ equality.
The Grammy winner revealed on her Instagram stories earlier this month that she’s been contributing unspecified amounts to the World Health Organization and Feeding America during the coronavirus crisis.
She also finds ways to make a difference for individuals. In recent days, many fans have come forward to tell how Swift reached out via social media after seeing posts about their struggles on Tumblr, where the singer regularly communicates with her fanbase.
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Swift has donated $3,000 to 20 fans to help them make rent and pay other bills, according to Rolling Stone.
OHHHHH MY FUCKINGGGGFFF SHUT HP SHUT UPS BUT IP SHUT UP THIS CANT BE HAPPENING I CANT STOP SHAKONT I CANT STOP CRUING WHAT THE FUCK TULORLRL pic.twitter.com/8wKUbDfS2x — samantha (@manthapaige13) March 25, 2020
SHE CALLED ME BUDDY THE FIRST TIME WE MET TOO I AM HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BREAK DOWN pic.twitter.com/pyVKWHruEk — samantha (@manthapaige13) March 25, 2020
And for others, Swift urged her massive following not to be complacent and to stay home amid the pandemic.
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“Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren’t being taken seriously enough right now,” she said on her Instagram stories.


huffpost--2020-04-01--Adam Schlesinger, Songwriter For 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend', Dies From Coronavirus At 52

Songwriter Adam Schlesinger died Wednesday from complications of the coronavirus .
He was 52 .
Schlesinger ’ s attorney of @ @ @ @ @ , told Variety that the songwriter had been “ very sick and heavily sedated ” @ @ @ @ @ hospital for more than a week at the time of his death .
Schlesinger was @ @ @ @ @ Stacy ’ s Mom ” — a 2003 hit for Fountains of Wayne , the @ @ @ @ @ well as the songs for the CW musical-comedy show “ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , ” for @ @ @ @ @ Awards .
He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1996 for composing the title @ @ @ @ @ film “ That Thing You Do.
” Schlesinger was nominated for two Tonys in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ of the Johnny Depp film “ Cry-Baby.
” Most recently , Schelesinger was working with @ @ @ @ @ adaptation of her memoir , “ The Bedwetter , ” as well as a musical @ @ @ @ @ “ The Nanny ” with “ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ” star Rachel Bloom .

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Songwriter Adam Schlesinger died Wednesday from complications of the coronavirus. He was 52.
Schlesinger’s attorney of 25 years, Josh Grier, told Variety that the songwriter had been “very sick and heavily sedated” in an upstate New York hospital for more than a week at the time of his death.
Schlesinger was best known for composing “Stacy’s Mom” — a 2003 hit for Fountains of Wayne, the band he co-founded — as well as the songs for the CW musical-comedy show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” for which he won three Emmy Awards.
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He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1996 for composing the title song to the Tom Hanks film “That Thing You Do.”
Schlesinger was nominated for two Tonys in 2008 for a stage musical version of the Johnny Depp film “Cry-Baby.”
Most recently, Schelesinger was working with Sarah Silverman on a stage adaptation of her memoir, “The Bedwetter,” as well as a musical adaptation of the TV show “The Nanny” with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Seattle-Area Nursing Home Faces $611,000 Fine Over COVID-19 Response

State regulators and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted an inspection of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on March 16 , finding serious infractions that they said placed residents in immediate danger .
Authorities said Life Care had at least partially fixed the most serious problems by the time they conducted follow-up inspection in last weekend .
In a letter to Life Care on Wednesday , CMS proposed a fine of $ 611,000 , but said that could be adjusted up or down based on how Life Care continues to correct remaining problems .
Life Care , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately return an email seeking comment .
The federal regulators said the most serious problems concerned a failure to rapidly identify and manage sick residents during an outbreak of respiratory illness that began by mid-February ; a failure to notify the Washington Department of Health about the increasing rate of respiratory infections among residents ; and a failure to have a backup plan in the absence of Life Care ’ s primary clinician , who fell ill. CMS notified Life Care on March 18 that it had 23 days to remedy violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be terminated as a Medicare provider .
The agency on Wednesday extended that period , saying Life Care must fix all remaining issues by Sept. 16 .
Among the remaining issues is whether Life Care has a medical director coordinating care at the facility and whether it is properly protecting patient records .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including pneumonia and death .

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SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities have proposed a $611,000 fine for a Seattle-area nursing home connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths.
State regulators and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted an inspection of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on March 16, finding serious infractions that they said placed residents in immediate danger.
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Authorities said Life Care had at least partially fixed the most serious problems by the time they conducted follow-up inspection in last weekend. In a letter to Life Care on Wednesday, CMS proposed a fine of $611,000, but said that could be adjusted up or down based on how Life Care continues to correct remaining problems.
Life Care, which can appeal the fine, did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
The federal regulators said the most serious problems concerned a failure to rapidly identify and manage sick residents during an outbreak of respiratory illness that began by mid-February; a failure to notify the Washington Department of Health about the increasing rate of respiratory infections among residents; and a failure to have a backup plan in the absence of Life Care’s primary clinician, who fell ill.
CMS notified Life Care on March 18 that it had 23 days to remedy violations that placed residents at immediate jeopardy before it would be terminated as a Medicare provider. The agency on Wednesday extended that period, saying Life Care must fix all remaining issues by Sept. 16.
Among the remaining issues is whether Life Care has a medical director coordinating care at the facility and whether it is properly protecting patient records.
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huffpost--2020-04-02--The Funniest Things Left On Grocery Store Shelves Right Now

Stroll the aisles of your local grocery store right now and you ’ re bound to get frustrated by all the things that aren ’ t in stock : Eggs ?
Good luck .
Bread ?
Eh , maybe , though even then , it might only be something like Hawaiian sweet rolls .
Pre-packaged romaine lettuce ?
You better grab the last one before it goes , my friend .
Luckily , going to the supermarket in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic isn ’ t without comic relief .
For every item people have grabbed with gusto , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of something people refuse to eat , even given the circumstances .
( Desperate times call for desperate measures ― but apparently , those measures don ’ t include eating vegan steak . )
Below , our readers share the funniest things they ’ ve seen left on the shelves of their local markets .
( Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity ) .
1 .
“ Noodles made of chickpeas .
I bought the only box on the shelf because I was really craving spaghetti .
They were so gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norris 4 .
“ I had to take this pic because I was like , ‘ Are people more afraid of food labeled veggie than starving in a quarantine pandemic ?
’ ” ― Robin Brabson-Christopher 6 .
“ All the dried pasta was gone except angel hair .
It was very funny because that was just what I was after that day .
I told my mom that her favorite pasta is very unpopular.
” ― Amy Hauck 11 .
“ Apparently , I am the only person in my town who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touched the store has kept it in stock just for me all these years.
” ― Nan Murat 12 .
“ It ’ s been a couple of weeks , but just before everything shut down in New York , people had panic-bought all the toilet paper and all the flushable wipes .
However , the shelf at my local Walmart was not yet completely bare .
They still had plenty of Dude Wipes stocked on the shelf .
Manly man butt wipes are apparently where everyone draws the line in a pandemic.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of old Halloween candy stuffed into the toilet paper section .
At a distance , it looked like the toilet paper had been restocked .
When I got closer , I was like , ‘ What the heck ?
Hey , customers , wipe your butt with this !
’ Employees nearby started cackling .
Apparently Stater Bros. is going with ‘ trick ’ this year.
” ― Jen White 23 .
“ In the meat section , the only thing available was either gristly blade steak or enormous porterhouse steaks .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nothing in between , literally.
” ― Jennifer Anderson 25 .
“ Literally all the foods I eat , like WHITE PIZZAS .
Come on , guys , don ’ t you have style ?
White pizzas are delish , but they ’ re all alone in their freezer.
” ― Emily Bienek

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Stroll the aisles of your local grocery store right now and you’re bound to get frustrated by all the things that aren’t in stock: Eggs? Good luck. Bread? Eh, maybe, though even then, it might only be something like Hawaiian sweet rolls. Pre-packaged romaine lettuce? You better grab the last one before it goes, my friend.
Luckily, going to the supermarket in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic isn’t without comic relief. For every item people have grabbed with gusto, there’s usually a little pile of something people refuse to eat, even given the circumstances. (Desperate times call for desperate measures ― but apparently, those measures don’t include eating vegan steak.)
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I only buy vegan food so at least I don’t have to worry about the grocery store not having it.
Nobody is touching that. — Jason (@ItsNOSAJ) April 2, 2020
Below, our readers share the funniest things they’ve seen left on the shelves of their local markets. (Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity).
1. “Noodles made of chickpeas. I bought the only box on the shelf because I was really craving spaghetti. They were so gross. Ruined my meal.” ― Jennifer Norris
2. “The cereal aisle was basically empty except for Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat and Special K.” ― Jaclyn Bruner
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3. “Frozen kale pizza at Trader Joe’s.” ― Emily C Piaseczny
4. “I had to take this pic because I was like, ‘Are people more afraid of food labeled veggie than starving in a quarantine pandemic?’” ― Robin Brabson-Christopher
Robin Brabson-Christopher The frozen section at Robin Brabson-Christopher's local market was well-stocked with faux meat.
5. “In Waitrose, a posh supermarket in England, the only things left in the frozen section last week were ice cream and frozen lobster.” ― Natasha Delcourt
6. “All the dried pasta was gone except angel hair. It was very funny because that was just what I was after that day. I told my mom that her favorite pasta is very unpopular.” ― Amy Hauck
7. “Pretty much everything that our family eats: gluten-free, no sugar or artificial sweeteners and vegetarian. 😂 (We live in the south.)” ― Danessa Rofkahr
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8. “There’s plenty of cauliflower pizza. The rest of the frozen pizza case is empty.” ― Patty Koehnen
9. “Hot Tamales Peeps. 🤢” ― Ashlee O’Haver
HuffPost Life Hot Tamale Peeps aren't for everyone. (Or anyone?)
10. “Turnips!” ― Gail Ferraro
11. “Apparently, I am the only person in my town who buys flax milk. I’m touched the store has kept it in stock just for me all these years.” ― Nan Murat
12. “It’s been a couple of weeks, but just before everything shut down in New York, people had panic-bought all the toilet paper and all the flushable wipes. However, the shelf at my local Walmart was not yet completely bare. They still had plenty of Dude Wipes stocked on the shelf. Manly man butt wipes are apparently where everyone draws the line in a pandemic.” ― Stephanie
Stephanie No one wanted any Dude Wipes in one New Yorker's local Walmart store.
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13. “‘International’ aka Asian section is fully stocked. Y’all missing out on such good food.” ― Colleen Salisbury
14. “No one in New England wants Manhattan Clam Chowder.” ― Mandy Jean
15. “Beets. ALL OF THE BEETS.” ― Maria Coppock
16. “Boxes of old Halloween candy stuffed into the toilet paper section. At a distance, it looked like the toilet paper had been restocked. When I got closer, I was like, ‘What the heck? Hey, customers, wipe your butt with this!’ Employees nearby started cackling. Apparently Stater Bros. is going with ‘trick’ this year.” ― Jen White
17. “Empty freezer case except for 6 or 10 lb. buckets of these beauties.” ― Danny Rayhorn
Danny Rayhorn The frozen section in Danny Rayhorn's local market was mostly decimated except for pork chitterlings.
18. “Frozen Hawaiian pizza ... that answers the age-old question!” ― Lorna Watson ”
19. “Canned veggies were decimated except for lima beans.” ― Anna Ayers Dethmers
20. “Not only is there is a lot of Corona beer, it has been marked way down.” ― Finca Chipacay
21. “In the South people bought all of the Duke’s mayo and left the Hellmann’s.” ― Audra Renee
The Washington Post via Getty Images Oh, hell no, no one wants the Hellmann's.
22. “A lone pint of pistachio ice cream.” ― Olivia Haslup
23. “In the meat section, the only thing available was either gristly blade steak or enormous porterhouse steaks. The cheapest cut, and the most expensive. Nothing in between, literally.” ― Jennifer Anderson
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24. “Cauliflower crackers and chocolate hummus.” ― Barb Gottschalk
25. “Literally all the foods I eat, like WHITE PIZZAS. Come on, guys, don’t you have style? White pizzas are delish, but they’re all alone in their freezer.” ― Emily Bienek
26. “Our city has two enormous international markets. Both have a ‘regular grocery store’ section and then massive international sections organized by country. Regular grocery store section is cleaned out of pasta, rice, etc. The Italy section is fully stocked with pasta.” ― Christine Muller-Held
27. “One can of soup: cream of bacon. I didn’t even know it existed.” ― Pam Jefford Folsom
28. “I had to take a picture! Everyone took the stress relief tea. Made me lol.” ― Julie Gemar-Stimac
Julie Gemar-Stimac Stress relief tea is understandably in high demand.
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huffpost--2020-04-02--104-Year-Old Celebrates Birthday By Recovering From Coronavirus

It was the best birthday gift a 104-year-old could ask for : recovery from the coronavirus .
When William “ Bill ” Lapschies of Portland , Oregon , was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month , his family feared the World War II vet might not live to reach the milestone birthday .
Lapschies , who lives in an assisted living facility , was one of 16 people there to come down with the illness caused by the coronavirus last month , according to Oregon Public Broadcasting .
Two of the residents have died , but Lapschies managed to survive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine .
On Wednesday , he turned the big 1-0-4 and was deemed recovered enough that his family and friends were able to celebrate with him ― observing proper social distancing , of course .
Under the circumstances , he was happy to celebrate the big day .
“ Pretty good .
I made it , ” Lapschies told local station KOIN TV before adding that he was “ good for a few more.
” “ It seemed like he just made this wonderful recovery , ” Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like shocked that he was kind of sitting in his wheelchair waving at us through the window and we were like , ‘ He ’ s gon na make it !
’ ” Lapschies ’ family members believe he may be the oldest person to survive the illness and want his recovery to bring hope to others in an uncertain time .
“ We ’ re hoping this goes out to all the people out there who are sick and have this problem , if Bill can survive this at 104 , anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , ” Lapschies ’ son-in-law Jim Brown told local station KATU TV .

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It was the best birthday gift a 104-year-old could ask for: recovery from the coronavirus.
When William “Bill” Lapschies of Portland, Oregon, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month, his family feared the World War II vet might not live to reach the milestone birthday.
Lapschies, who lives in an assisted living facility, was one of 16 people there to come down with the illness caused by the coronavirus last month, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
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Two of the residents have died, but Lapschies managed to survive the illness in part because his doctors treated him with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.
On Wednesday, he turned the big 1-0-4 and was deemed recovered enough that his family and friends were able to celebrate with him ― observing proper social distancing, of course.
Staff wheeled Lapschies out onto a small patio surrounded by balloons.
Under the circumstances, he was happy to celebrate the big day.
“Pretty good. I made it,” Lapschies told local station KOIN TV before adding that he was “good for a few more.”
Lapschies’ daughter Carolee Brown is happy with the turn of events.
“It seemed like he just made this wonderful recovery,” Brown told the station. “We were like shocked that he was kind of sitting in his wheelchair waving at us through the window and we were like, ‘He’s gonna make it!’”
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Lapschies’ family members believe he may be the oldest person to survive the illness and want his recovery to bring hope to others in an uncertain time.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Democratic National Convention Postponed Until August

The Democratic National Committee is postponing its presidential nominating convention to August 17 , according to a Democratic official briefed @ @ @ @ @ was scheduled to kick off in Milwaukee on July 13 .
The new date is @ @ @ @ @ National Convention .
The move comes after former Vice President Joe Biden , who currently @ @ @ @ @ , called for the convention to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
On @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Brian Williams that it was “ hard to envision ” the convention being @ @ @ @ @ and said Democratic candidates and officials should “ listen to the scientists , ” who @ @ @ @ @ gatherings .
Biden hasn ’ t been alone in urging the Democratic Party to take @ @ @ @ @ people from gathering for political purposes .
On Wednesday , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. @ @ @ @ @ opponent in the Democratic primary , called on Wisconsin Democrats to delay the upcoming primary @ @ @ @

SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
The Democratic National Committee is postponing its presidential nominating convention to August 17, according to a Democratic official briefed on the decision. It was scheduled to kick off in Milwaukee on July 13.
The new date is a week before the Republican National Convention.
The move comes after former Vice President Joe Biden, who currently leads in the delegate total, called for the convention to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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On Tuesday, Biden told MSNBC’s Brian Williams that it was “hard to envision” the convention being held in July as scheduled and said Democratic candidates and officials should “listen to the scientists,” who continue to advise against large gatherings.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Gov. Andrew Cuomo Teases Brother Chris For Living In A Basement During Quarantine

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) featured CNN anchor and younger brother Chris Cuomo at his daily press conference Thursday to talk , via video , about the latter ’ s coronavirus diagnosis and ... tease him a little about living in a basement .
The brothers Cuomo gave viewers both an entertaining and informative chat to watch after the governor updated New Yorkers on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in the state and his administration ’ s response to it .
At the start of Thursday ’ s exchange , the governor , 62 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking fit and fine .
Many people are asking about you .
So , how are you feeling ?
” “ I ’ m doing pretty well , all things considered , ” Chris Cuomo replied .
“ This is very tough .
I get it now .
I ’ ve now become part of this group of people who have this virus and they ’ re reaching out .
...
Constant virus , constant fever .
And it ’ s tough.
” He then went on to quip about how the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw a dig at his older brother : “ You look like you ’ ve been cutting your own hair , which some people are good at .
Some people are not.
” The younger Cuomo went on to say that now that he knows “ the fight that I ’ m in for , I ’ m more comfortable.
” “ I ’ ve learned why it takes people out .
You got to rest .
Your body has a fever because it ’ s fighting the virus .
You got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s “ lucky ” to have his wife , Cristina , as part of his support system because others are “ fighting this alone.
” He also stressed that “ we ’ re in a real fight and we really do have to remember our connections to each other because otherwise there ’ d be no way through.
” In one , he said , his older brother “ was waving a wand and saying , ‘ I wish I could wave my wand and make this go away.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , ” The Cuomos continued to joke , with the governor at one point saying he ’ d “ refrain from any rebuttal ” because you “ never hit a brother when he ’ s down and you ’ re literally in a basement.
” Chris Cuomo later critiqued his brother ’ s desire to always be clean ― even while fishing ― and seemed to be unaware that the governor had been having daily briefings .
The governor , while smiling , said : “ I have been .
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of like the way you have a show , I have a briefing .
You have ‘ Cuomo Primetime.
’ I have Cuomo all the time .
That ’ s the difference.
” The pair ended their exchange with heartfelt words for one another ( the governor had similarly shared kind thoughts about his brother on Wednesday ) .
Andrew Cuomo applauded his brother for carrying on with his show , saying that “ not many people would have stood up the way that you ’ ve stood up.
” “ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ..
I ’ ve never been prouder of you than I am right now , ” he said .

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) featured CNN anchor and younger brother Chris Cuomo at his daily press conference Thursday to talk, via video, about the latter’s coronavirus diagnosis and ... tease him a little about living in a basement.
The brothers Cuomo gave viewers both an entertaining and informative chat to watch after the governor updated New Yorkers on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in the state and his administration’s response to it.
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Chris Cuomo, 49, announced on Tuesday he’d been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, telling fans that he was “feeling well” and would still anchor his nightly show, “Cuomo Prime Time,” from home.
I asked Chris to join us this morning.
Christopher is fighting hard.
I’m so proud of him for showing New York what this vicious virus looks like and for demystifying it.
Love you, little brother. #NewYorkTough pic.twitter.com/NjSWEbBnU9 — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 2, 2020
At the start of Thursday’s exchange, the governor, 62, told his brother that he was “looking fit and fine. Many people are asking about you. So, how are you feeling?”
“I’m doing pretty well, all things considered,” Chris Cuomo replied. “This is very tough. I get it now. I’ve now become part of this group of people who have this virus and they’re reaching out. ... Constant virus, constant fever. And it’s tough.”
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He then went on to quip about how the virus has wreaked havoc on his hair and threw a dig at his older brother: “You look like you’ve been cutting your own hair, which some people are good at. Some people are not.”
The younger Cuomo went on to say that now that he knows “the fight that I’m in for, I’m more comfortable.”
“I’ve learned why it takes people out. You got to rest. Your body has a fever because it’s fighting the virus. You got to chill,” he said, adding that he’s “lucky” to have his wife, Cristina, as part of his support system because others are “fighting this alone.”
He also stressed that “we’re in a real fight and we really do have to remember our connections to each other because otherwise there’d be no way through.”
.@ChrisCuomo updates his brother New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo about his health as he fights coronavirus in his basement, saying he had a fever dream that the governor came to him in a ballet outfit, and was waving a wand trying to make his coronavirus disappear. pic.twitter.com/hBDFR07a8n — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) April 2, 2020
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The pair then discussed the dreams Chris Cuomo has been having while fighting the virus.
In one, he said, his older brother “was waving a wand and saying, ‘I wish I could wave my wand and make this go away.’ Then you spun around and you danced away,”
While laughing, the governor thanked his brother for sharing the story and quipped: “Obviously the fever has affected your mental capacity.”
The Cuomo saga continues - very silly but it wiped the tears away for the moment, thanks guys @NYGovCuomo @ChrisCuomo pic.twitter.com/ENU0HI0IBr — 🦋Servem🦋 (@hobbsmonica10) April 2, 2020
The Cuomos continued to joke, with the governor at one point saying he’d “refrain from any rebuttal” because you “never hit a brother when he’s down and you’re literally in a basement.”
Chris Cuomo later critiqued his brother’s desire to always be clean ― even while fishing ― and seemed to be unaware that the governor had been having daily briefings.
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“I love these press conferences. I think you should have one everyday,” the younger Cuomo said.
The governor, while smiling, said: “I have been. I know you haven’t noticed. Sort of like the way you have a show, I have a briefing. You have ‘Cuomo Primetime.’ I have Cuomo all the time. That’s the difference.”
The pair ended their exchange with heartfelt words for one another (the governor had similarly shared kind thoughts about his brother on Wednesday). Andrew Cuomo applauded his brother for carrying on with his show, saying that “not many people would have stood up the way that you’ve stood up.”
“I’ve always been proud of you. ,.. I’ve never been prouder of you than I am right now,” he said.
Chris Cuomo echoed those sentiments, telling the governor: “I’ve never seen you work harder than now,” and “I’m very proud of you, big brother.”
The governor added, one more time, that you “never hit a brother when he’s down in the basement.”
The duo previously had drawn attention as the pandemic intensified earlier this month for their lively exchanges on Chris Cuomo’s show, often joking with one another to the delight of audiences.


huffpost--2020-04-02--Dolly Parton To Donate $1 Million Toward Coronavirus Research At Tennessee Hospital

Ever the kindhearted superstar , Dolly Parton is finding gracious ways to spend her time and money during the coronavirus pandemic .
The country music icon on Wednesday revealed plans to donate $ 1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , Tennessee , where “ exciting advancements ” in coronavirus research were being made .
The announcement came one day before Thursday ’ s premiere of “ Goodnight With Dolly , ” a weekly children ’ s video series in which she reads different kids books as “ a welcomed distraction during a time of unrest.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credited her “ good friend ” Dr. Naji Abumrad at Vanderbilt with his research on COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Their friendship dates back to 2014 when Parton was treated at the hospital after being involved in a car accident .
And Abumrad ’ s son , Radiolab host Jad Abumrad , interviewed Parton for “ Dolly Parton ’ s America , ” a nine-part podcast series that debuted to great acclaim last year .
Appearing on “ The Today Show ” Thursday to promote “ Goodnight with Dolly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been working on a “ bridge treatment to save lives ” as research into a vaccine for COVID-19 continues to progress .
`` I just felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand . ''
@ DollyParton explains why she donated $ 1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for coronavirus research .
pic.twitter.com/QdIYYRmJwj — TODAY ( @ TODAYshow ) April 2 , 2020 “ Right now we need this , ” she told “ The Today Show.
” “ Anybody that can afford it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than we ’ ve got time right now , so we need to find this treatment .
So I just felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand.
” While fears over the coronavirus may be preventing her from taking the stage , Parton is also slated to pay tribute to her longtime pal Kenny Rogers , who died March 20 , next week as part of a CMT special .
“ CMT Giants Kenny Rogers : A Benefit For MusiCares , ” which airs April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performances from a bevy of stars , including Gavin DeGraw , Lady Antebellum and Lionel Richie .

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Ever the kindhearted superstar, Dolly Parton is finding gracious ways to spend her time and money during the coronavirus pandemic.
The country music icon on Wednesday revealed plans to donate $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where “exciting advancements” in coronavirus research were being made. The announcement came one day before Thursday’s premiere of “Goodnight With Dolly,” a weekly children’s video series in which she reads different kids books as “a welcomed distraction during a time of unrest.”
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In an Instagram post Wednesday, Parton credited her “good friend” Dr. Naji Abumrad at Vanderbilt with his research on COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Their friendship dates back to 2014 when Parton was treated at the hospital after being involved in a car accident. And Abumrad’s son, Radiolab host Jad Abumrad, interviewed Parton for “Dolly Parton’s America,” a nine-part podcast series that debuted to great acclaim last year.
Appearing on “The Today Show” Thursday to promote “Goodnight with Dolly,” Parton said the elder Abumrad had been working on a “bridge treatment to save lives” as research into a vaccine for COVID-19 continues to progress.
"I just felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand." @DollyParton explains why she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for coronavirus research. pic.twitter.com/QdIYYRmJwj — TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 2, 2020
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“Right now we need this,” she told “The Today Show.” “Anybody that can afford it ― we’ve got more money than we’ve got time right now, so we need to find this treatment. So I just felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand.”
While fears over the coronavirus may be preventing her from taking the stage, Parton is also slated to pay tribute to her longtime pal Kenny Rogers, who died March 20, next week as part of a CMT special.
“CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit For MusiCares,” which airs April 8, will feature video interviews and performances from a bevy of stars, including Gavin DeGraw, Lady Antebellum and Lionel Richie.


huffpost--2020-04-02--FBI Reports Staggering 3.7 Million Firearm Background Checks In March

The number of checks last month ― the most since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System launched in 1998 ― marks a 41 % increase from the same time period last year .
Individuals seeking to purchase a gun are required to submit to a federal background check when buying from a federally licensed firearms dealer , which includes major chains like Walmart and Cabela ’ s , as well as mom and pop stores and some individual retailers .
The background check figures appear to confirm reports from gun retailers across the country who say they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks tied to coronavirus concerns .
Michael Weeks , owner of the Georgia Gun Store in Gainesville , Georgia , told HuffPost last month that he ’ s seen the biggest increase in sales since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting , when a gunman killed 20 children and six faculty members , as well as his mother and himself , in Newtown , Connecticut .
Gun sales surged across the country in the months after the massacre amid fears that the federal government would enact stricter gun control measures .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 % increase in background checks last month compared to December 2012 ― the month that saw the most checks within a year of the Sandy Hook shooting .
“ All of our distributors are several days if not a week behind on getting merchandise out of the warehouse , ” Weeks said .
“ It ’ s like Black Friday every day almost.
” Gun retailers and experts told HuffPost the recent surge in sales was likely caused by several factors , including fears that demand would drive prices up , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores and the potential for lawlessness amid the crisis .
“ Fear , especially uncertainty , d rives gun purchasing for a lot of people , ” Lacey Wallace , an assistant professor of criminal justice at Penn State Altoona told HuffPost last month .
“ The number one reason people buy and own guns is for personal protection so when you ’ re seeing everything in the news about things getting shut down , the virus spreading ... that ’ s going to bring in a lot of the uncertainty.
” Ammo.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday that it had seen a 792 % increase in revenue when looking at the time period of Feb. 23 to March 31 compared to the previous 39-day time period of Jan. 16 to Feb. 22 .
Though gun safety groups have warned that an increase in gun sales could drive up deadly domestic violence incidents , suicides and accidental deaths , the federal government has deemed gun retailers “ essential ” as stay-at-home orders to curb the contagion spread across the country .
However , the federal guidance doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential .
“ Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion , ” according to an advisory issued March 28 by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs .
Governors in at least 37 states have issued stay-at-home orders .
Some states did not list firearms retailers as essential , causing some confusion about whether they could remain open .
The federal guidance issued last week prompted New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy ( D ) on Monday to reverse the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its stay-at-home order .
“ It wouldn ’ t be my definition , but that ’ s the definition at the federal level and I didn ’ t get a vote on that , ” Murphy said during a press briefing .
The gun shops may reopen “ by appointment only and under limited hours .
”

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The FBI reported a staggering 3.7 million firearm background checks last month, the strongest indicator yet of a massive spike in gun sales amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of checks last month ― the most since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System launched in 1998 ― marks a 41% increase from the same time period last year.
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Individuals seeking to purchase a gun are required to submit to a federal background check when buying from a federally licensed firearms dealer, which includes major chains like Walmart and Cabela’s, as well as mom and pop stores and some individual retailers.
The background check figures appear to confirm reports from gun retailers across the country who say they’ve seen a surge in sales in recent weeks tied to coronavirus concerns.
Michael Weeks, owner of the Georgia Gun Store in Gainesville, Georgia, told HuffPost last month that he’s seen the biggest increase in sales since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, when a gunman killed 20 children and six faculty members, as well as his mother and himself, in Newtown, Connecticut.
Gun sales surged across the country in the months after the massacre amid fears that the federal government would enact stricter gun control measures. The FBI’s latest report shows a 34% increase in background checks last month compared to December 2012 ― the month that saw the most checks within a year of the Sandy Hook shooting.
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“All of our distributors are several days if not a week behind on getting merchandise out of the warehouse,” Weeks said. “It’s like Black Friday every day almost.”
Gun retailers and experts told HuffPost the recent surge in sales was likely caused by several factors, including fears that demand would drive prices up, the possibility that the government would shut down stores and the potential for lawlessness amid the crisis.
“Fear, especially uncertainty, drives gun purchasing for a lot of people,” Lacey Wallace, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Penn State Altoona told HuffPost last month. “The number one reason people buy and own guns is for personal protection so when you’re seeing everything in the news about things getting shut down, the virus spreading ... that’s going to bring in a lot of the uncertainty.”
Many retailers reported an even higher increase in ammunition sales.
Ammo.com, an online retailer of ammunition, said Wednesday that it had seen a 792% increase in revenue when looking at the time period of Feb. 23 to March 31 compared to the previous 39-day time period of Jan. 16 to Feb. 22. Though gun safety groups have warned that an increase in gun sales could drive up deadly domestic violence incidents, suicides and accidental deaths, the federal government has deemed gun retailers “essential” as stay-at-home orders to curb the contagion spread across the country. However, the federal guidance doesn’t mandate states to list gun retailers as essential.
“Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion,” according to an advisory issued March 28 by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs.
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Governors in at least 37 states have issued stay-at-home orders. Some states did not list firearms retailers as essential, causing some confusion about whether they could remain open.
The federal guidance issued last week prompted New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Monday to reverse the state’s decision to shutter gun stores as part of its stay-at-home order.


huffpost--2020-03-25--G-7 Meeting Flops After Mike Pompeo Demands COVID-19 Be Called The 'Wuhan Virus'

Meeting by video conference because of the outbreak , the ministers agreed on the need for joint efforts to halt the spread of the virus , known as COVID-19 .
But U.S. and European diplomats said the ministers were unable to agree on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s call for COVID-19 to be identified by name as the “ Wuhan virus.
” As a result , just a day after G-7 finance ministers and central bankers issued a joint communique referring to “ COVID-19 , ” the foreign ministers opted against releasing a group statement .
U.S , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers ’ statement to reject suggestions of G-7 disunity and said the foreign ministers had never intended to release their own communique .
European officials said Pompeo had insisted on identifying COVID-19 as the “ Wuhan virus ” even though the World Health Organization and others have cautioned against giving it a geographic name because of its global nature .
In recent weeks , Pompeo has stepped up his use of “ Wuhan virus , ” accusing China of putting the world at risk by not revealing more details about the outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wuhan .
President Donald Trump had until very recently frequently referred to COVID-19 as the “ China virus ” or the “ Chinese virus , ” but since the beginning of this week has steered away from those terms as critics have said they foster discriminatory sentiments and behavior against Asians and Asian Americans .
In a solo news conference after the meeting , Pompeo again referred to the “ Wuhan virus , ” saying it was “ the most pressing agenda item.
” He said all the foreign ministers had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency , as is necessary all around the world.
” He did not deny there had been disagreements over what to call the virus , but said all the ministers had acknowledged that China had not been forthcoming about its details early on and was now trying to shift the narrative about it .
“ Every one of the nations that was at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the disinformation campaign that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in to try and deflect from what has really taken place here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers were not nearly as emphatic in their own comments about the meeting , with at least one leaving open the suggestion that China is not the only country trying to use the outbreak to advance political points .
French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian said in a statement that he had “ underscored the need to combat any attempt to exploit the crisis for political purposes and expressed the view that the unity of all in order to effectively combat the pandemic must now take precedence over any other considerations.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by the German publication Der Spiegal .
German officials said they were more concerned about what would come from a virtual summit of the Group of 20 nations leaders that is supposed to be held on Thursday at the request of Saudi Arabia .
U.S. officials meanwhile downplayed the disagreement among the foreign ministers and pointed to the G-7 finance ministers ’ statement from Tuesday that did not mention either “ Wuhan ” or “ China ” in relation to the virus and instead referred to it repeatedly as COVID-19 .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 leading industrialized democracies sparred Wednesday over whether to call out China as the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
Meeting by video conference because of the outbreak, the ministers agreed on the need for joint efforts to halt the spread of the virus, known as COVID-19. But U.S. and European diplomats said the ministers were unable to agree on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s call for COVID-19 to be identified by name as the “Wuhan virus.”
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As a result, just a day after G-7 finance ministers and central bankers issued a joint communique referring to “COVID-19,” the foreign ministers opted against releasing a group statement. U.S, officials pointed to Tuesday’s finance ministers’ statement to reject suggestions of G-7 disunity and said the foreign ministers had never intended to release their own communique.
European officials said Pompeo had insisted on identifying COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus” even though the World Health Organization and others have cautioned against giving it a geographic name because of its global nature. In recent weeks, Pompeo has stepped up his use of “Wuhan virus,” accusing China of putting the world at risk by not revealing more details about the outbreak, which was first reported in the city of Wuhan.
President Donald Trump had until very recently frequently referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus” or the “Chinese virus,” but since the beginning of this week has steered away from those terms as critics have said they foster discriminatory sentiments and behavior against Asians and Asian Americans.
In a solo news conference after the meeting, Pompeo again referred to the “Wuhan virus,” saying it was “the most pressing agenda item.” He said all the foreign ministers had “committed to fighting (it) with transparency, as is necessary all around the world.” He did not deny there had been disagreements over what to call the virus, but said all the ministers had acknowledged that China had not been forthcoming about its details early on and was now trying to shift the narrative about it.
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“Every one of the nations that was at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the disinformation campaign that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in to try and deflect from what has really taken place here,” Pompeo said.
Other foreign ministers were not nearly as emphatic in their own comments about the meeting, with at least one leaving open the suggestion that China is not the only country trying to use the outbreak to advance political points.
French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian said in a statement that he had “underscored the need to combat any attempt to exploit the crisis for political purposes and expressed the view that the unity of all in order to effectively combat the pandemic must now take precedence over any other considerations.”
The disagreement over the virus terminology was first reported by the German publication Der Spiegal. German officials said they were more concerned about what would come from a virtual summit of the Group of 20 nations leaders that is supposed to be held on Thursday at the request of Saudi Arabia.
U.S. officials meanwhile downplayed the disagreement among the foreign ministers and pointed to the G-7 finance ministers’ statement from Tuesday that did not mention either “Wuhan” or “China” in relation to the virus and instead referred to it repeatedly as COVID-19.