huffpost--2020-03-11--How Unemployment Insurance Can Help With Coronavirus

Unemployment insurance is normally for workers who are laid off due to a bad economy , but some lawmakers are realizing they can use the program to help people stay healthy and keep from going broke in the process due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Democrats in the U.S. House are considering legislation that would expand eligibility for benefits as part of a broader package to reduce the inevitable economic damage caused by widespread illness and social distancing .
Federal rules require that claimants must be looking for work to remain eligible for benefits , but Washington state has relaxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency .
“ Workers that are asked to isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or public health official as a result of exposure to COVID-19 may receive unemployment benefits and work search requirements could be waived , so long as they have a return date with their employer , ” Washington state ’ s Employment Security Department announced Monday .
The state also will pay benefits to workers and waive related business taxes if a firm has to shut down temporarily because of an infected employee .
Washington state also approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the outbreak .
Given how the coronavirus outbreak will hurt the economy , one of the best ways to mitigate the consequences is to send people money .
Doing so will enable more to stay home and reduce the spread of infection .
And among social programs , economists say unemployment insurance has one of the biggest effects on the economy , since claimants tend to spend that money pretty quickly .
Washington state ’ s move conforms with federal requirements , according to Michele Evermore , an unemployment insurance expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said Congress should encourage other states to take similar steps by creating an incentive for them to waive work search requirements for unemployment compensation .
States will quickly run out of money if this epidemic spreads and a whole bunch of people go out on employment and then those funds run out , The point of work search requirements is to sure someone receiving unemployment compensation is still attached to the labor force and isn ’ t just getting paid not to work .
But public health experts say one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus is social distancing , which in many cases means avoiding economic activity like working or seeking employment .
Work search requirements can be more stringent in some states than others .
In Florida , for example , unemployment claimants have to provide a record of five job contacts each week , with phone numbers for each one .
She said Congress should also encourage states to get rid of waiting periods for benefits and undo other benefit cuts they ’ ve imposed over the past few years .
Lawmakers could also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds .
“ States will quickly run out of money if this epidemic spreads and a whole bunch of people go out on employment and then those funds run out , ” Cicilline said .
He added that unemployment insurance is a crucial benefit for “ people who are low-wage workers who might not have paid sick leave who need to stay home for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of their colleagues .
”

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Unemployment insurance is normally for workers who are laid off due to a bad economy, but some lawmakers are realizing they can use the program to help people stay healthy and keep from going broke in the process due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Democrats in the U.S. House are considering legislation that would expand eligibility for benefits as part of a broader package to reduce the inevitable economic damage caused by widespread illness and social distancing.
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The state of Washington, meanwhile, has already changed its unemployment policy in order to help people who are quarantined.
Federal rules require that claimants must be looking for work to remain eligible for benefits, but Washington state has relaxed this and other requirements in response to the emergency.
“Workers that are asked to isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or public health official as a result of exposure to COVID-19 may receive unemployment benefits and work search requirements could be waived, so long as they have a return date with their employer,” Washington state’s Employment Security Department announced Monday.
The state also will pay benefits to workers and waive related business taxes if a firm has to shut down temporarily because of an infected employee. Washington state also approved benefits for part-time workers who lose hours due to the outbreak.
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Given how the coronavirus outbreak will hurt the economy, one of the best ways to mitigate the consequences is to send people money. Doing so will enable more to stay home and reduce the spread of infection. And among social programs, economists say unemployment insurance has one of the biggest effects on the economy, since claimants tend to spend that money pretty quickly.
Washington state’s move conforms with federal requirements, according to Michele Evermore, an unemployment insurance expert with the National Employment Law Project. She said Congress should encourage other states to take similar steps by creating an incentive for them to waive work search requirements for unemployment compensation.
“States will quickly run out of money if this epidemic spreads and a whole bunch of people go out on employment and then those funds run out,” - Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.)
The point of work search requirements is to sure someone receiving unemployment compensation is still attached to the labor force and isn’t just getting paid not to work. But public health experts say one of the best ways to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus is social distancing, which in many cases means avoiding economic activity like working or seeking employment.
Work search requirements can be more stringent in some states than others. In Florida, for example, unemployment claimants have to provide a record of five job contacts each week, with phone numbers for each one.
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“Any state could waive those in an emergency,” Evermore said.
She said Congress should also encourage states to get rid of waiting periods for benefits and undo other benefit cuts they’ve imposed over the past few years. Lawmakers could also consider an infusion into state unemployment trust funds.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) told HuffPost money for states was one idea under consideration.
“States will quickly run out of money if this epidemic spreads and a whole bunch of people go out on employment and then those funds run out,” Cicilline said.
He added that unemployment insurance is a crucial benefit for “people who are low-wage workers who might not have paid sick leave who need to stay home for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of their colleagues.”
UPDATE: March 12 ― House Democrats unveiled legislation Wednesday night that includes $1 billion to help states administer their unemployment programs, with half of the total reserve for states that experience a spike in unemployment so long as they waive work-search and other requirements.


huffpost--2020-03-11--There Are Now Nearly 1,000 Coronavirus Cases Across The U.S.

With new deaths reported and the number of confirmed U.S. cases closing in on 1,000 , lawmakers and health officials set up containment zones and quarantine areas and sought to limit contact with those who might be infected .
In Washington state , the governor was expected to ban gatherings of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle metro area , home to some 4 million people .
Schools and houses of worship were shuttered in a New York City suburb where a cluster of cases could be the largest in the nation , and the governor sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaces and deliver food .
The virus has infected more than 800 people in the U.S. and killed at least 30 , with one state after another recording its first infections in quick succession .
For most people , the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough .
For some , especially the elderly and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
Most people recover in a matter of weeks , as has happened with three-quarters of those infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid to go to the supermarket .
They ’ re afraid to go to the cleaner , ” she said .
When her husband made a recent run to a post office , she told him to wear gloves .
Life in many places went on as usual , but many major events were canceled or postponed , including the Coachella music festival that draws tens of thousands to the California desert near Palm Springs every April .
The United Nations announced it would close its New York headquarters to the public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest resort operators in Las Vegas , MGM Resorts International , said it would close buffets at all of its Las Vegas Strip casinos as a precaution , although the casinos were staying open .
The ban on gatherings in Washington state would apply to sporting events such as Seattle Mariners baseball and Seattle Sounders soccer games , a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren ’ t authorized to discuss the matter publicly .
It could be just the beginning of disruptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports games will be played without fans in Ohio and California , and the NCAA said it would “ make decisions in the coming days ” about its men ’ s and women ’ s basketball tournaments after two conferences banned fans from their championships and the Ivy League cancelled its basketball tournaments altogether .
Baker said the state of emergency will give him greater authority to take such actions as shutting down large events , gaining access to buildings or stockpiling protective gear .
Santa Clara County in California , home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned on all gatherings of 1,000 people or more .
As many people considered whether it ’ s prudent to travel , the news that everyone on a flight from Italy may have been exposed had health officials urging those passengers to self-isolate .
A woman from suburban Houston flew home after testing positive to consult her own doctor , and now everyone on the two flights she took could be at risk .
Some airport workers are also dealing with the outbreak , with several Transportation Security Administration officers at Mineta San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were receiving medical care and all TSA employees who had contact with them over the past 14 days are being quarantined at home , the agency said .
In Oakland , California , restless passengers on a coronavirus-struck cruise ship awaited their turn to disembark .
After being forced to idle for days off the California coast , the ship docked Monday with about 3,500 passengers and crew , including at least 21 who tested positive for the virus .
Passengers from Canada and other countries were to be flown home , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California , Texas and Georgia for testing and 14-day quarantines , and others were still waiting to get off .

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As coronavirus cases crop up across the United States, some governors and other leaders are scrambling to slow its spread, banning large public gatherings, enforcing quarantines and calling National Guard troops.
With new deaths reported and the number of confirmed U.S. cases closing in on 1,000, lawmakers and health officials set up containment zones and quarantine areas and sought to limit contact with those who might be infected.
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In Washington state, the governor was expected to ban gatherings of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle metro area, home to some 4 million people. Schools and houses of worship were shuttered in a New York City suburb where a cluster of cases could be the largest in the nation, and the governor sent National Guard troops to help clean public spaces and deliver food.
The moves came as the battle to stop the virus from spreading intensified. More schools and universities, including UCLA, Yale and Stanford, have announced plans to send students home and move classes online.
The virus has infected more than 800 people in the U.S. and killed at least 30, with one state after another recording its first infections in quick succession.
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. For some, especially the elderly and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Most people recover in a matter of weeks, as has happened with three-quarters of those infected in China.
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For those in the middle of a quarantine, it’s an anxious time waiting for the threat to pass.
Judy Aqua, who’s in her 60s, is quarantining herself at home in New Rochelle, outside New York city, after possibly being exposed to someone with the virus.
“People are really afraid to go to the supermarket. They’re afraid to go to the cleaner,” she said. When her husband made a recent run to a post office, she told him to wear gloves.
Life in many places went on as usual, but many major events were canceled or postponed, including the Coachella music festival that draws tens of thousands to the California desert near Palm Springs every April.
The United Nations announced it would close its New York headquarters to the public and suspend all tours, and one of the biggest resort operators in Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International, said it would close buffets at all of its Las Vegas Strip casinos as a precaution, although the casinos were staying open.
The ban on gatherings in Washington state would apply to sporting events such as Seattle Mariners baseball and Seattle Sounders soccer games, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It could be just the beginning of disruptions to sports: Already, some college sports games will be played without fans in Ohio and California, and the NCAA said it would “make decisions in the coming days” about its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments after two conferences banned fans from their championships and the Ivy League cancelled its basketball tournaments altogether.
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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency as cases statewide jumped from 51 to 92. Of that number, 70 are now connected to a meeting held last month by biotech company Biogen at a hotel in downtown Boston.
Baker said the state of emergency will give him greater authority to take such actions as shutting down large events, gaining access to buildings or stockpiling protective gear. Santa Clara County in California, home to San Jose and Silicon Valley, has banned on all gatherings of 1,000 people or more.
Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled rallies in Cleveland because of worries about the virus.
As many people considered whether it’s prudent to travel, the news that everyone on a flight from Italy may have been exposed had health officials urging those passengers to self-isolate. A woman from suburban Houston flew home after testing positive to consult her own doctor, and now everyone on the two flights she took could be at risk.
Some airport workers are also dealing with the outbreak, with several Transportation Security Administration officers at Mineta San Jose International Airport testing positive. They were receiving medical care and all TSA employees who had contact with them over the past 14 days are being quarantined at home, the agency said.
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In Oakland, California, restless passengers on a coronavirus-struck cruise ship awaited their turn to disembark. After being forced to idle for days off the California coast, the ship docked Monday with about 3,500 passengers and crew, including at least 21 who tested positive for the virus. Passengers from Canada and other countries were to be flown home, while Americans were being sent to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia for testing and 14-day quarantines, and others were still waiting to get off.
“We’re trying to stay calm and were trying to stay positive, but it’s getting harder and harder. They can’t make up their minds how to keep us safe,” said passenger Beryl Ward, 77, of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
By Tuesday night, Princess Cruises said about 1,400 people had gotten off the ship. About 1,100 crew members were to remain aboard.


huffpost--2020-03-10--Grocery Shopping For A Quarantine: What To Buy And How Much

Author ’ s note : I live in Italy , which has just been put under “ lockdown ” for the next three weeks as a result of the coronavirus epidemic .
While I ’ m not under quarantine , circumstances have forced us all to consider that self-quarantine might be in our near future .
I ’ ve thought a lot about how to keep my family of three comfortable and nourished should that occur .
I ’ ve tried to maintain a level head and not panic while still being pragmatic and prepared .
Yet every time I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop as though it might be my last food run for two weeks .
A week ago , it might have seemed unthinkable .
But if the reality isn ’ t setting in yet , it should be .
As Italy imposes a nationwide lockdown to halt , or at least slow , the spread of novel coronavirus , the truth is that other countries may soon have to follow suit — including parts of the United States .
And as cases spread worldwide and more people are exposed to the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into imposed or voluntary quarantine — whether they test positive for coronavirus or not .
This typically entails two weeks that they are supposed to stay indoors ( or , at the most , in their own private yard or outdoor space ) without contact or exposure to anyone outside their four walls .
So if the order to self-quarantine does darken your door , and assuming you don ’ t want to order pizza or Thai food for 14 days of breakfast , lunch and dinner , what food do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week stint at home ?
( Consider that once you ’ re aware that you need to self-quarantine , it will already be too late to grocery shop . )
Take inventory of what you already have on hand .
“ [ Many ] households in the U.S. have enough food stashed in their freezers and pantries to get them through a week , ” Fuentes said .
“ Make a plan to eat what you have on hand first .
Then head to the store and buy the other staples that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That doesn ’ t mean rice and beans every day , ” she said , “ but maybe it means cooking enough rice for three different meals and incorporating it over several days.
” So , for example , if you cook a whole chicken and serve it with rice one night , use the carcass to make slow-cooker chicken and rice soup for lunch the next day , or freeze it for a few days later .
The freezer is your friend .
“ Frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritionally on par @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ and frozen broccoli , spinach and mixed vegetables can be steamed , sautéed or roasted , just as you would with fresh.
” For a dose of immune-boosting antioxidants , add frozen berries to smoothies , cereals or desserts .
Plan on using your fresh produce within the first five days , then switch to frozen when fresh supplies are exhausted .
Stocking up on frozen food is fine , but what about households , especially in densely populated cities , that don ’ t have a lot of freezer space ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to remove meat from its bulky packaging and store meal-sized portions in zipper-lock bags .
“ That also gives you an opportunity to add sauce or seasoning right there , to save time later.
” Be sure to label the bags , so you ’ re not pulling out a bag of frozen mystery meat and hoping for the best .
Fuentes recently saw panicked shoppers loading multi-packs of individual snacks into their carts ( right next to the month ’ s supply of toilet paper ) .
“ What are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Especially if you ’ ve got kids in the house , those snacks are going to disappear fast ” — not to mention their lack of nutritional value .
Keep it simple and stress-free .
Self-quarantine is stressful , dudes .
And while two weeks stuck in the house might conjure notion of baking fresh bread from scratch and whipping up elaborate soufflés , your patience may wear a lot thinner—a lot sooner—than you expect .
If you ’ re working from home while trying to keep antsy kids occupied , you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooking .
“ This is not the time to try new recipes , ” Fuentes said .
“ It ’ s the time for spaghetti and tomato sauce , for quick stir-fries , or for tossing everything into the slow cooker .
”

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Author’s note: I live in Italy, which has just been put under “lockdown” for the next three weeks as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. While I’m not under quarantine, circumstances have forced us all to consider that self-quarantine might be in our near future. I’ve thought a lot about how to keep my family of three comfortable and nourished should that occur. I’ve tried to maintain a level head and not panic while still being pragmatic and prepared. Yet every time I go to the grocery store, I shop as though it might be my last food run for two weeks.
A week ago, it might have seemed unthinkable. But if the reality isn’t setting in yet, it should be. As Italy imposes a nationwide lockdown to halt, or at least slow, the spread of novel coronavirus, the truth is that other countries may soon have to follow suit — including parts of the United States.
Advertisement
And as cases spread worldwide and more people are exposed to the virus, more and more individuals and families are going into imposed or voluntary quarantine — whether they test positive for coronavirus or not. This typically entails two weeks that they are supposed to stay indoors (or, at the most, in their own private yard or outdoor space) without contact or exposure to anyone outside their four walls.
So if the order to self-quarantine does darken your door, and assuming you don’t want to order pizza or Thai food for 14 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, what food do you need to have on-hand for a two week stint at home? (Consider that once you’re aware that you need to self-quarantine, it will already be too late to grocery shop.)
I spoke to Laura Fuentes, founder of MOMables.com, about meal-planning, nutrition and shopping in advance of a possible quarantine. The overarching message is: Plan ahead, but don’t panic.
Take inventory of what you already have on hand.
Before you rush out to Costco and start scooping bulk-wrapped juice boxes into your cart, take a deep breath, and take inventory.
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“[Many] households in the U.S. have enough food stashed in their freezers and pantries to get them through a week,” Fuentes said. “Make a plan to eat what you have on hand first. Then head to the store and buy the other staples that will get you through two weeks.”
Rice, pasta, oats, whole grains and canned vegetables are the most practical choices, she said. “Not only do they have a long shelf life, they’re great meal builders for breakfast, pasta night, chilis, soups and stews.”
Plan meals with common ingredients.
Fuentes also advises sitting down for 10 minutes or so and mapping out a 14-day meal plan that favors meals with the same ingredients. So consider meals built around rice, pasta, legumes and other long-shelf-life ingredients, enhanced with protein and vegetables.
“That doesn’t mean rice and beans every day,” she said, “but maybe it means cooking enough rice for three different meals and incorporating it over several days.” So, for example, if you cook a whole chicken and serve it with rice one night, use the carcass to make slow-cooker chicken and rice soup for lunch the next day, or freeze it for a few days later.
You can also easily incorporate dairy products without worrying about spoilage. “With the exception of fresh milk, dairy products like cheese and yogurt should have an expiration date of at least two weeks,” Fuentes said. “You can also freeze milk and consume it within five days after thawing out.”
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The freezer is your friend.
The biggest downside of a two-week shopping haul is the limited availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially into week two. Apples, oranges and pears will last the longest, as will rather pedestrian vegetables like onions, potatoes, squash and carrots. For everything else, Fuentes said, it’s time to cruise the frozen food aisle.
“Frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritionally on par with fresh,” she said, “and frozen broccoli, spinach and mixed vegetables can be steamed, sautéed or roasted, just as you would with fresh.” For a dose of immune-boosting antioxidants, add frozen berries to smoothies, cereals or desserts. Plan on using your fresh produce within the first five days, then switch to frozen when fresh supplies are exhausted.
Stocking up on frozen food is fine, but what about households, especially in densely populated cities, that don’t have a lot of freezer space? For space-saving and meal-prep shortcuts, Fuentes said to remove meat from its bulky packaging and store meal-sized portions in zipper-lock bags. “That also gives you an opportunity to add sauce or seasoning right there, to save time later.” Be sure to label the bags, so you’re not pulling out a bag of frozen mystery meat and hoping for the best.
Skip the junk food.
Speaking as someone who has already consumed the emergency stash of granola bars and chocolate chip cookies, take it from me: Junk food, like a star-crossed romance, isn’t made to last.
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Fuentes recently saw panicked shoppers loading multi-packs of individual snacks into their carts (right next to the month’s supply of toilet paper). “What are they thinking?” she said. “Especially if you’ve got kids in the house, those snacks are going to disappear fast” — not to mention their lack of nutritional value.
Instead, if you want to incorporate some cheats and treats into your 14-day routine, maybe plan on a frozen pizza night or spend a free afternoon making cookies with the kids.
Keep it simple and stress-free.
Self-quarantine is stressful, dudes. And while two weeks stuck in the house might conjure notion of baking fresh bread from scratch and whipping up elaborate soufflés, your patience may wear a lot thinner—a lot sooner—than you expect. If you’re working from home while trying to keep antsy kids occupied, you might not want to do a lot of cooking. “This is not the time to try new recipes,” Fuentes said. “It’s the time for spaghetti and tomato sauce, for quick stir-fries, or for tossing everything into the slow cooker.”


huffpost--2020-03-11--Campaigns Adjust To Politics During The Coronavirus Pandemic

When Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and former Vice President Joe Biden canceled their Ohio rallies on Tuesday , it seemed like the 2020 campaigns were suddenly getting serious about coronavirus precautions .
Sanders went back to Vermont and made no public remarks during a disappointing primary election night where nearly every state went for Biden .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , flanked by his wife , Dr. Jill Biden , delivers remarks in Philadelphia on March 10 .
It was another good primary day for Biden , but coronavirus concerns kept the celebration muted .
Campaigns at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the reality that shaking people ’ s hands , squeezing babies and going door-to-door may not be the best idea during a global pandemic .
“ We will still be dropping lit but we will not be asking you to answer your door , ” she told supporters in an email on Tuesday .
“ Having worked with the infectious disease folks at Clarkson Hospital through the early 1990 ’ s they taught me well .
We are instructing our staff in the same way I was taught ... .no handshakes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , we follow a strict , mandatory safety protocol ― elbow bumping instead of hand shaking , no more hugs , mandated hand washing and sanitizing , and no communal food , ” she wrote in a Medium post .
“ We are being particularly mindful of events where constituencies might be more vulnerable.
” Mermell acknowledged that her campaign was fortunate it was able to make these decisions , noting that many American workers don ’ t have paid leave policies or access to affordable health care .
In New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are having trouble collecting the signatures required to get on the ballot .
Petitions are due by April 2 .
State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried ( D ) told The New York Post that his campaign workers “ reported quite a few people refusing to sign petitions , saying things like they didn ’ t want to touch the pen.
” Other lawmakers said that campaign volunteers don ’ t want to go out and collect signatures because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 .
One lawmaker is now drafting legislation to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot in New York counties with at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus .
When a reporter asked Sen. James Inhofe ( R-Okla. ) whether he was taking any precautions against the coronavirus , he extended his hand and said , “ Wan na shake hands ?
” President Donald Trump continues to downplay the crisis and insist that everything is fine .
On the same day that Biden and Sanders canceled their rallies , Trump announced he would hold a “ large campaign event ” in Milwaukee on March 19 @

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When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden canceled their Ohio rallies on Tuesday, it seemed like the 2020 campaigns were suddenly getting serious about coronavirus precautions.
Sanders went back to Vermont and made no public remarks during a disappointing primary election night where nearly every state went for Biden.
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Biden gave a speech in Philadelphia, but there was no crowd and the place looked eerily empty.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, flanked by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, delivers remarks in Philadelphia on March 10. It was another good primary day for Biden, but coronavirus concerns kept the celebration muted. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Campaigns at all levels are just starting to adjust to the reality that shaking people’s hands, squeezing babies and going door-to-door may not be the best idea during a global pandemic.
Ann Ashford, a Democratic congressional candidate in Nebraska, said she is suspending knocking on doors for the foreseeable future.
“We will still be dropping lit but we will not be asking you to answer your door,” she told supporters in an email on Tuesday. “Having worked with the infectious disease folks at Clarkson Hospital through the early 1990’s they taught me well. We are instructing our staff in the same way I was taught....no handshakes and giving personal space.”
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Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) switched a town hall gathering scheduled for March 13 to an event where people call in.
Jesse Mermell, a Democrat running in Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district, said she is canceling or adjusting any event with more than 50 people.
“At existing events, we follow a strict, mandatory safety protocol ― elbow bumping instead of hand shaking, no more hugs, mandated hand washing and sanitizing, and no communal food,” she wrote in a Medium post. “We are being particularly mindful of events where constituencies might be more vulnerable.”
Mermell acknowledged that her campaign was fortunate it was able to make these decisions, noting that many American workers don’t have paid leave policies or access to affordable health care.
In New York, state legislative incumbents and their challengers are having trouble collecting the signatures required to get on the ballot. Petitions are due by April 2.
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State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D) told The New York Post that his campaign workers “reported quite a few people refusing to sign petitions, saying things like they didn’t want to touch the pen.” Other lawmakers said that campaign volunteers don’t want to go out and collect signatures because of the risk of contracting COVID-19.
One lawmaker is now drafting legislation to reduce the number of signatures required to get on the ballot in New York counties with at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus.
But not all politicians are adjusting their plans.
When a reporter asked Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) whether he was taking any precautions against the coronavirus, he extended his hand and said, “Wanna shake hands?”
At 85 years old, Inhofe is part of the population that public health officials warn is especially at risk in the pandemic.
President Donald Trump continues to downplay the crisis and insist that everything is fine. On the same day that Biden and Sanders canceled their rallies, Trump announced he would hold a “large campaign event” in Milwaukee on March 19.


huffpost--2020-03-11--A Few Coronavirus Facts To Keep In Mind When You're Panicking

It can be hard to keep calm with the barrage of news stories about COVID-19 and worries about vulnerable populations , sick leave and the health care system .
Not to mention , cold and flu season means we ’ re experiencing more anxiety-inducing sniffles , and we ’ re already seeing changes to some ways we live , work and travel .
But experts are correct that managing your anxiety can be beneficial .
One of the best ways to do that is to get some ( measured ) perspective about the situation .
Below , we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give your worried mind a fuller picture of what ’ s going on .
This isn ’ t to dismiss the very real problems we ’ re experiencing in this outbreak , but rather serves as a reminder of what else is happening with COVID-19 .
Many people who contract the disease will experience ‘ mild ’ symptoms You likely can ’ t get it from your food “ We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Food Safety and Inspection Service previously told HuffPost and mentioned in a statement .
The main ways the disease spreads are through people who are in close contact with the disease , respiratory droplets , and touching infected surfaces and then touching your face .
You also can ’ t get it from your pets Evidence shows that dogs and cats may test positive for coronavirus , but it ’ s unlikely they ’ re able to pass it on to their humans .
Go on and get those belly rubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll help your stress , too . )
It may go away once it gets warmer We still don ’ t know a lot about this virus yet since it ’ s new ― including a definitive conclusion on when the outbreak might end , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
No one can say for certain that the spread of the coronavirus will slow down or be less severe once spring or summer arrives .
However , some experts have said there ’ s a good chance it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past .
This may not be done or available for the public anytime soon , but it is projected to be ready in the next 12 to 18 months .
While this isn ’ t great news for an immediate fix , there is at least hope that researchers will develop more medicine to fight this off in the future .
One of the absolute best ways to help prevent it is simple Doctors recommend rubbing your hands together with warm water and soap for 20 seconds or longer .
( Need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brilliant app has you covered . )
Use common sense when deciding how often to wash. After using the bathroom , before you prepare food , after you ’ ve been in public places and after you ’ ve touched potentially dirty surfaces are usually good bets .
Additionally , avoid putting your hands on your face when they ’ re unwashed ( here ’ s how to do it ) since the virus can easily spread by touching areas like your eyes and nose .
Disinfectant wipes are also a great resource @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains the proper way to use them and the best ones to buy ) .
Finally , know that you have the power to help what ’ s happening right now If it helps to channel your panic into something productive , try thinking of the situation this way : Taking care of yourself right now is an actionable priority .
A lot of people will not be severely affected by this disease , but there are plenty of people who will .
This includes older adults and people with chronic medical conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .

ZOONO3 via Getty Images
Experts stress that preparation ― not panic ― is key when it comes to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Easier said than done, right?
It can be hard to keep calm with the barrage of news stories about COVID-19 and worries about vulnerable populations, sick leave and the health care system. Not to mention, cold and flu season means we’re experiencing more anxiety-inducing sniffles, and we’re already seeing changes to some ways we live, work and travel.
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With so much uncertainty, it’s completely normal to feel concerned or even scared right now.
But experts are correct that managing your anxiety can be beneficial. One of the best ways to do that is to get some (measured) perspective about the situation.
Below, we’ve rounded up some facts about COVID-19 to give your worried mind a fuller picture of what’s going on. This isn’t to dismiss the very real problems we’re experiencing in this outbreak, but rather serves as a reminder of what else is happening with COVID-19.
Check them out below (and read this expert guide on how to manage coronavirus anxiety if you’re struggling):
People do recover from COVID-19
Harvard Health reports that “most people who get sick will recover from COVID-19.”
As of publication, more than 66,000 people globally have recovered from the disease, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
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Many people who contract the disease will experience ‘mild’ symptoms
Experts say cases can range from mild to severe. Some may even be asymptomatic.
Symptoms could include “fever over 100.5, cough, malaise, and occasionally nausea, diarrhea. In more severe cases, shortness of breath, chest pain and pneumonia will be apparent,” Dr. Linda Anegawa, an internist with virtual health platform PlushCare, previously told HuffPost.
Doctors recommend treating the symptoms with medicines like Tylenol for fever, drinking lots of water and getting lots of rest.
You likely can’t get it from your food
“We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging,” a spokesperson from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service previously told HuffPost and mentioned in a statement. The main ways the disease spreads are through people who are in close contact with the disease, respiratory droplets, and touching infected surfaces and then touching your face. You also can’t get it from your pets
Evidence shows that dogs and cats may test positive for coronavirus, but it’s unlikely they’re able to pass it on to their humans. Go on and get those belly rubs or scratches in. (It’ll help your stress, too.)
It may go away once it gets warmer
We still don’t know a lot about this virus yet since it’s new ― including a definitive conclusion on when the outbreak might end, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No one can say for certain that the spread of the coronavirus will slow down or be less severe once spring or summer arrives. However, some experts have said there’s a good chance it can, based on similar diseases from the past.
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Scientists are working on a vaccine
This may not be done or available for the public anytime soon, but it is projected to be ready in the next 12 to 18 months. While this isn’t great news for an immediate fix, there is at least hope that researchers will develop more medicine to fight this off in the future.
One of the absolute best ways to help prevent it is simple
Wash. Your. Hands. End of story.
Doctors recommend rubbing your hands together with warm water and soap for 20 seconds or longer. (Need a song while you scrub? This brilliant app has you covered.) Use common sense when deciding how often to wash. After using the bathroom, before you prepare food, after you’ve been in public places and after you’ve touched potentially dirty surfaces are usually good bets.
Additionally, avoid putting your hands on your face when they’re unwashed (here’s how to do it) since the virus can easily spread by touching areas like your eyes and nose. Disinfectant wipes are also a great resource for keeping things clean (this guide explains the proper way to use them and the best ones to buy).
Let’s hope that this, at the very least, has encouraged people to practice better hygiene habits ― ones that should last longer than this disease outbreak.
Finally, know that you have the power to help what’s happening right now
If it helps to channel your panic into something productive, try thinking of the situation this way: Taking care of yourself right now is an actionable priority. A lot of people will not be severely affected by this disease, but there are plenty of people who will. This includes older adults and people with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
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Practicing good hygiene (as mentioned above), social distancing when you can, getting your flu shot if you haven’t already, and staying home if you’re sick are all ways you personally can make a difference.


huffpost--2020-03-11--House Democrats Torch Trump Administration's Coronavirus Response

In a fiery opening statement at a hearing featuring several high-ranking health officials , Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-N.Y. ) , chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform , said testing in the U.S. has been “ severely inadequate ” and plagued by delays , noting that South Korea is conducting some 10,000 tests per day ― more than the U.S. has completed in total .
“ We are operating in the dark , ” Maloney said .
“ My question is whether the administration and President Trump [ are ] exacerbating the crisis by downplaying it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve heard blatant misstatements that consistently diminish this crisis and negatively affect our preparations and response.
” The hearing began hours after The New York Times reported what it described as “ a series of missed chances by the federal government to ensure more widespread testing during the early days of the outbreak , when containment would have been easier.
” That included telling Dr. Helen Y. Chu , an infectious disease expert in Seattle , to stop testing for the virus after she discovered an outbreak in Washington state .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts and downplayed the severity , going as far as to say that “ one day it ’ s like a miracle , it will disappear.
” “ Yes it is , ” Fauci answered .
“ I can say we will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now .
How much worse they ’ ll get will depend on our ability to do two things : to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside and the ability to contain and mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are complacent and don ’ t do really aggressive containment and mitigation , the number could go way up and be involved in many , many millions , ” he said .
“ If we contain , we could flatten it.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at National Institutes of Health , and Dr. Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , at the start of Wednesday 's hearing concerning government response to the coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 people in the U.S. and the number of confirmed cases tops 1,000 , with large clusters in places like Seattle , Massachusetts and New York .
Globally , more than 110,000 people have been infected in more than 100 countries , with over 4,000 fatalities , according to the World Health Organization .
“ He said this in front of some of you , at a public hearing , at a press conference , ” Lynch said .
“ And I saw no one step up and say , ‘ No , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tests are not there , they ’ re not ready , they ’ re not ‘ beautiful , ’ they ’ re not available.
” “ We need you to step up , ” Lynch added .
“ Standing behind him and nodding silently , or an eye roll once in a while , is not going to get it.
” “ I don ’ t believe the administration has gotten the credit it deserves , especially with respect to the president ’ s early decision to cut off the border , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials time to prepare for this outbreak , ” Rep. James Comer ( R-Ky. ) said .
“ I ’ m not confident the last administration would have made that decision for fear of political incorrectness or whatever.
” Rep. Gerry Connolly ( D-Va. ) called out Republicans for saying “ sanctimoniously ” that they didn ’ t want to politicize the issue and pointed out the president ’ s efforts to cut public health funding , false assertions about the development of crisis and focus on the stock market rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lectured about politicization , and all of your words and sanctimony will not cover up the fact that this administration was not prepared for this crisis , ” Connolly said .
“ And it put lives at risk .
”

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House Democrats slammed President Donald Trump and his administration on Wednesday over the coronavirus outbreak, accusing the president of downplaying the threat and top officials of fumbling the response.
In a fiery opening statement at a hearing featuring several high-ranking health officials, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said testing in the U.S. has been “severely inadequate” and plagued by delays, noting that South Korea is conducting some 10,000 tests per day ― more than the U.S. has completed in total.
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“We are operating in the dark,” Maloney said. “My question is whether the administration and President Trump [are] exacerbating the crisis by downplaying it. Over and over again, we’ve heard blatant misstatements that consistently diminish this crisis and negatively affect our preparations and response.”
The hearing began hours after The New York Times reported what it described as “a series of missed chances by the federal government to ensure more widespread testing during the early days of the outbreak, when containment would have been easier.” That included telling Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle, to stop testing for the virus after she discovered an outbreak in Washington state.
Trump has repeatedly lied about the crisis, bungled facts and downplayed the severity, going as far as to say that “one day it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, did not mince words.
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“Is the worst yet to come?” Maloney asked him.
“Yes it is,” Fauci answered. “I can say we will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now. How much worse they’ll get will depend on our ability to do two things: to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country.”
Fauci stressed there’s no way to predict how many will be affected by the illness named COVID-19.
“If we are complacent and don’t do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions,” he said. “If we contain, we could flatten it.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at the start of Wednesday's hearing concerning government response to the coronavirus. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images
The virus has so far killed at least 30 people in the U.S. and the number of confirmed cases tops 1,000, with large clusters in places like Seattle, Massachusetts and New York. Globally, more than 110,000 people have been infected in more than 100 countries, with over 4,000 fatalities, according to the World Health Organization.
Fauci appeared alongside several other top government health officials, including Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary of preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) slammed health officials for not speaking up to correct Trump’s false statements, like when he told reporters last week that “anybody who wants a test gets a test.” Officials later acknowledged a test shortage.
“He said this in front of some of you, at a public hearing, at a press conference,” Lynch said. “And I saw no one step up and say, ‘No, the president wasn’t correct, the tests are not there, they’re not ready, they’re not ‘beautiful,’ they’re not available.”
“We need you to step up,” Lynch added. “Standing behind him and nodding silently, or an eye roll once in a while, is not going to get it.”
Fauci said he has never strayed from the science or held back from telling the White House what is happening from a public health standpoint.
Several Republicans came to the administration’s defense, blasting Democrats for “politicizing” the epidemic to make Trump look bad and emphasizing the administration’s steps to limit travel to countries hit hardest by the outbreak.
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“I don’t believe the administration has gotten the credit it deserves, especially with respect to the president’s early decision to cut off the border, which has undoubtedly given the CDC and health officials time to prepare for this outbreak,” Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said. “I’m not confident the last administration would have made that decision for fear of political incorrectness or whatever.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) called out Republicans for saying “sanctimoniously” that they didn’t want to politicize the issue and pointed out the president’s efforts to cut public health funding, false assertions about the development of crisis and focus on the stock market rather than people affected.
Connolly held up a photo of Trump’s visit to the CDC, where he wore a hat highlighting his reelection campaign slogan. “A campaign hat, in the middle of a crisis,” he said.
“We will not be lectured about politicization, and all of your words and sanctimony will not cover up the fact that this administration was not prepared for this crisis,” Connolly said. “And it put lives at risk.”
The hearing recessed early because Trump and Vice President Mike Pence called the witnesses to what Maloney described as an “emergency meeting.” She didn’t elaborate.
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huffpost--2020-03-11--New Coronavirus Can Live On Some Surfaces For Up To 3 Days, Tests Show

The new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days , tests by U.S. government and other scientists have found .
Their work , published Wednesday , suggests that the virus can spread through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it , in addition to direct person-to-person contact .
Since emerging in China late last year , the new virus has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide and caused more than 4,300 deaths ― far more than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar virus .
For this study , researchers used a nebulizer device to put samples of the new virus into the air , imitating what might happen if an infected person coughed or made the virus airborne some other way .
Workers wearing protective suits and respirators wait outside the Life Care Center in Kirkland , Wash. , to begin cleaning and disinfecting the facility near Seattle .
The nursing home is at the center of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state .
The found that viable virus could be detected up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to four hours on copper , up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel .
Similar results were obtained from tests they did on the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak , so differences in durability of the virus do not account for how much more widely the new one has spread , researchers say .
The tests were done by scientists from the National Institutes of Health , Princeton University and the University of California , Los Angeles , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Science Foundation .
The findings have not been reviewed by other scientists yet and were posted on a site where researchers can quickly share their work before publication .
“ It ’ s a solid piece of work that answers questions people have been asking , ” and shows the value and importance of the hygiene advice that public health officials have been stressing , said Julie Fischer , a microbiology professor at Georgetown University .
“ What we need to be doing is washing our hands , being aware that people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and keeping hands away from the face , she said .

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The new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days, tests by U.S. government and other scientists have found.
Their work, published Wednesday, suggests that the virus can spread through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it, in addition to direct person-to-person contact.
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Since emerging in China late last year, the new virus has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide and caused more than 4,300 deaths ― far more than the 2003 SARS outbreak caused by a genetically similar virus.
For this study, researchers used a nebulizer device to put samples of the new virus into the air, imitating what might happen if an infected person coughed or made the virus airborne some other way.
Workers wearing protective suits and respirators wait outside the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., to begin cleaning and disinfecting the facility near Seattle. The nursing home is at the center of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The found that viable virus could be detected up to three hours later in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
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Similar results were obtained from tests they did on the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, so differences in durability of the virus do not account for how much more widely the new one has spread, researchers say.
The tests were done by scientists from the National Institutes of Health, Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, with funding from the U.S. government and the National Science Foundation.
A cosmetics shop in Liverpool, northwest England, advertises free handwashing facilities inside. Health officials recommend frequent hand washing to help prevent the virus' spread. PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
The findings have not been reviewed by other scientists yet and were posted on a site where researchers can quickly share their work before publication.
“It’s a solid piece of work that answers questions people have been asking,” and shows the value and importance of the hygiene advice that public health officials have been stressing, said Julie Fischer, a microbiology professor at Georgetown University.
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huffpost--2020-03-11--An Outbreak Of Coronavirus Along The Border Could Be Deadly And Devastating

The U.S. government has advised Americans to wash their hands obsessively , avoid close contact with others and stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , which has infected more than 1,000 people in the country .
But thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the United States can ’ t follow these instructions since the Trump administration has forced them to wait for their court dates in overcrowded and unsanitary camps and shelters near the border .
Without the government ’ s help , volunteer doctors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrambling to take preventative measures to stave off a coronavirus outbreak .
But if the disease enters these congested environments , it could “ spread like wildfire ” and lead to deaths , said Helen Perry , the executive director of the nonprofit Global Response Management who has been coordinating medical efforts in Matamoros .
Since January 2019 , the Trump administration has turned back almost 60,000 asylum-seekers under a program known as “ Remain in Mexico.
” On Wednesday , the Supreme Court overrode a lower court ’ s decision to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of people to live for months in dangerous Mexican border towns where crime is rife and medical resources are scarce .
The shelters and tent camps in border cities such as Matamoros , Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez are playgrounds for viral illnesses like COVID-19 .
In Matamoros , roughly 2,000 people live in tents packed together along the Rio Grande .
They are constantly in groups , eating together and waiting to use portable showers and toilets .
Their only access to water is from big containers brought in by volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel their trips across the border to aid the asylum-seekers , immigrants are being cut off from their only access to health care .
Dr. Hannah Janeway , who helps run the Refugee Health Alliance , said so many volunteers have canceled trips to Tijuana that there are three weeks between March and April when the Refugee Health Alliance won ’ t have enough U.S. doctors and nurses to staff the medical clinic .
On Tuesday , Perry said seven volunteers had canceled ― the equivalent of a full medical team that cycles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez , thousands of immigrants are crowded into shelters run mostly by religious organizations , some of which are simply large open spaces where people sleep in tents .
Since hundreds of people are forced to share a single bathroom in some cases , they aren ’ t able to wash their hands often and there is no privacy , Janeway said .
Perry ’ s team in Matamoros is in the process of trying to move kids and adults with general infections or health conditions such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp , where they can have separate bathrooms and volunteers who can bring them food and water every day .
They are also setting up makeshift sinks for hand-washing and trying to stock up on vitamin D supplements to help boost people ’ s immune systems .
Another important aspect of preventing an outbreak is education .
Immigrants who have just fled life-threatening situations are not laser-focused on the disease , so volunteers in both Tijuana and Matamoros have been putting up posters and passing out fliers reminding people to wash their hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a hotline that immigrants can call if they have questions or feel sick .
If an outbreak happens , Perry said they will try to isolate people with the coronavirus and make sure those in critical care have access to emergency services .
U.S. volunteers have been trying to work with the Mexican government and other local aid organizations , but they said the medical systems in these border cities are already overwhelmed .
Meanwhile , the U.S. government has not given doctors or nurses any resources or guidance about a potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told HuffPost that agents are referring anyone with coronavirus-like symptoms to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but did not answer questions about what CBP is doing to protect immigrants forced to wait along the U.S.-Mexico border .
Given the Trump administration ’ s track record of putting immigrants in life-threatening situations , volunteers aren ’ t hopeful they will get any government assistance .
In U.S. border patrol stations , immigrants are often crammed together and forced to sleep on the floor , with little or no access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , six immigrant children died in U.S. custody , many from treatable illnesses such as the flu or respiratory issues .
And in December , immigration officials blocked doctors from giving flu vaccines to detained kids .
Ideally , no asylum-seeker with health issues should be stuck in Mexico , especially given a potential coronavirus outbreak , Janeway said .
But she doesn ’ t think the government will allow them to cross the border .
While “ Remain in Mexico ” is supposed to make an exception for severe health concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parasitic infections have been repeatedly turned away .

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The U.S. government has advised Americans to wash their hands obsessively, avoid close contact with others and stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,000 people in the country. But thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the United States can’t follow these instructions since the Trump administration has forced them to wait for their court dates in overcrowded and unsanitary camps and shelters near the border.
Without the government’s help, volunteer doctors in Mexican border towns told HuffPost they are scrambling to take preventative measures to stave off a coronavirus outbreak. But if the disease enters these congested environments, it could “spread like wildfire” and lead to deaths, said Helen Perry, the executive director of the nonprofit Global Response Management who has been coordinating medical efforts in Matamoros.
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“The potential for a devastating outbreak in those circumstances is really great,” said Dr. Ranit Mishori, a senior medical advisor at Physicians for Human Rights, adding that these migrants face a perfect storm of factors. “They’re marginalized, they have no access to care and they’re so vulnerable. People can absolutely die.”
Elias, 2, a Honduran asylum-seeking child, plays near the tent where he lives after being relocated from the plaza near the Gateway International Bridge in Matamoros, Mexico, on Dec. 7, 2019. Veronica Cardenas / Reuters
Since January 2019, the Trump administration has turned back almost 60,000 asylum-seekers under a program known as “Remain in Mexico.” On Wednesday, the Supreme Court overrode a lower court’s decision to block the program, which has forced tens of thousands of people to live for months in dangerous Mexican border towns where crime is rife and medical resources are scarce.
The shelters and tent camps in border cities such as Matamoros, Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez are playgrounds for viral illnesses like COVID-19. In Matamoros, roughly 2,000 people live in tents packed together along the Rio Grande. They are constantly in groups, eating together and waiting to use portable showers and toilets. Their only access to water is from big containers brought in by volunteers.
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“You can’t just tell someone, ‘Hey, just don’t come out of your tent for a couple days,’” Perry said. “The thought that there’s going to be any kind of quarantine is pretty limited.”
“They’re marginalized, they have no access to care and they’re so vulnerable. People can absolutely die.” - Dr. Ranit Mishori, professor of family medicine at Georgetown University
There are currently only seven known cases of the coronavirus in Mexico, and the biggest threat of infection comes from American volunteers, physicians told HuffPost.
But as more doctors and nurses cancel their trips across the border to aid the asylum-seekers, immigrants are being cut off from their only access to health care. Dr. Hannah Janeway, who helps run the Refugee Health Alliance, said so many volunteers have canceled trips to Tijuana that there are three weeks between March and April when the Refugee Health Alliance won’t have enough U.S. doctors and nurses to staff the medical clinic. On Tuesday, Perry said seven volunteers had canceled ― the equivalent of a full medical team that cycles through the camp on a weekly basis.
In the event of a coronavirus outbreak, which medical experts told HuffPost is a real possibility, these tent camps and shelters don’t have the infrastructure or the staffing to treat thousands of people, especially those with underlying health conditions who may require critical care.
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“A lot of these shelters are kind of on the outskirts of the city. It’s not a quick ride to any hospitals,” said Janeway, who is volunteering in Tijuana. “Any potential [health] complication could be deadly.”
In Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, thousands of immigrants are crowded into shelters run mostly by religious organizations, some of which are simply large open spaces where people sleep in tents. Since hundreds of people are forced to share a single bathroom in some cases, they aren’t able to wash their hands often and there is no privacy, Janeway said.
While the majority of these immigrants aren’t elderly people, the group most likely to die from the coronavirus, many struggle with malnourishment and serious health issues that put them at a higher risk than the general population.
Volunteer doctors and nurses are doing what they can to prevent and prepare for a coronavirus outbreak given the difficult circumstances.
Perry’s team in Matamoros is in the process of trying to move kids and adults with general infections or health conditions such as asthma to the far edges of the camp, where they can have separate bathrooms and volunteers who can bring them food and water every day. They are also setting up makeshift sinks for hand-washing and trying to stock up on vitamin D supplements to help boost people’s immune systems.
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Another important aspect of preventing an outbreak is education. Immigrants who have just fled life-threatening situations are not laser-focused on the disease, so volunteers in both Tijuana and Matamoros have been putting up posters and passing out fliers reminding people to wash their hands and minimize touching. Perry is setting up a hotline that immigrants can call if they have questions or feel sick.
Migrants, most of them asylum-seekers sent back to Mexico from the U.S. under the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program, occupy a makeshift encampment in Matamoros, Mexico, on Oct. 28, 2019. Loren Elliott / Reuters
If an outbreak happens, Perry said they will try to isolate people with the coronavirus and make sure those in critical care have access to emergency services. U.S. volunteers have been trying to work with the Mexican government and other local aid organizations, but they said the medical systems in these border cities are already overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has not given doctors or nurses any resources or guidance about a potential outbreak. A Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson told HuffPost that agents are referring anyone with coronavirus-like symptoms to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but did not answer questions about what CBP is doing to protect immigrants forced to wait along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Given the Trump administration’s track record of putting immigrants in life-threatening situations, volunteers aren’t hopeful they will get any government assistance. In U.S. border patrol stations, immigrants are often crammed together and forced to sleep on the floor, with little or no access to soap, toothbrushes or showers. Last year, six immigrant children died in U.S. custody, many from treatable illnesses such as the flu or respiratory issues. And in December, immigration officials blocked doctors from giving flu vaccines to detained kids.
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Ideally, no asylum-seeker with health issues should be stuck in Mexico, especially given a potential coronavirus outbreak, Janeway said. But she doesn’t think the government will allow them to cross the border. While “Remain in Mexico” is supposed to make an exception for severe health concerns, lawyers said clients with heart conditions and parasitic infections have been repeatedly turned away.


huffpost--2020-03-11--'Daily Show' Drops Mock Trailer For Trump Coronavirus Disaster Movie 'Pandumbic'

The fake trailer recaps the president ’ s blunders in his response to the COVID-19 outbreak , showing several incidents @ @ @ @ @ misinformation , undermined the severity of the outbreak , was fact-checked by health authorities and @ @ @ @ @ of medical professionals ― even as the virus continued to spread rapidly within the United @ @

The fake trailer recaps the president’s blunders in his response to the COVID-19 outbreak, showing several incidents in which the president shared misinformation, undermined the severity of the outbreak, was fact-checked by health authorities and acted inappropriately given the advice of medical professionals ― even as the virus continued to spread rapidly within the United States.


huffpost--2020-03-27--Country Singer Joe Diffie Tests Positive For COVID-19

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) — A publicist for Joe Diffie says the country singer has tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ a statement to The Associated Press from Diffie that said he is under the care @ @ @ @ @ receiving treatment .
“ My family and I are asking for privacy at this time @ @ @ @ @ the statement .
“ We want to remind the public and all my fans to @ @ @ @ @ careful during this pandemic.
” The Grand Ole Opry member and Grammy winner is known @ @ @ @ @ ’ 90s including , “ Honky Tonk Attitude , ” “ Prop Me Up Beside @ @ @ @ @ John Deere Green , ” “ Third Rock From The Sun ” and “ Pickup @ @ @ @ @ , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough @ @ @ @ @ to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health @ @ @ @ @ more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A publicist for Joe Diffie says the country singer has tested positive for COVID-19.
Scott Adkins released a statement to The Associated Press from Diffie that said he is under the care of medical professionals and is receiving treatment.
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“My family and I are asking for privacy at this time,” Diffie said in the statement. “We want to remind the public and all my fans to be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic.”
The Grand Ole Opry member and Grammy winner is known for his hits in the ’90s including, “Honky Tonk Attitude,” “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox,” “John Deere Green,” “Third Rock From The Sun” and “Pickup Man.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


huffpost--2020-03-27--What You Need To Know About At-Home Coronavirus Tests

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic , health officials have assured us that more tests are on the way .
But week after week , it ’ s become abundantly clear that we still don ’ t have the number we need to properly assess the spread of the virus .
To address the lag , at-home COVID-19 test kits have popped up from diagnostic startups like EverlyWell , Nurx , and myLAB Box .
But a recent FDA warning advising against the use of at-home tests has left the companies in limbo , and they ’ re now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines and figure out how to get the tests to market .
The at-home kits are , in theory , very simple .
You sign up online and undergo a screening based on COVID-19 diagnostic guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
If you qualify , a test kit — which costs anywhere from $ 135 to $ 190 — is shipped to your home .
Then , you open the kit , swab your nose , put it in a vial and overnight it to a certified lab .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they improve access to testing and keep those who would otherwise spread the virus at home .
Sheldon Campbell , a professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine and associate director of Yale Medicine ’ s Clinical Microbiology Lab , said the at-home kits may be particularly helpful for people who live in rural areas and have little to no options when it comes to getting tested for COVID-19 .
It ’ s not easy for people to swab themselves .
Swabbing your nasal passage is downright uncomfortable .
( If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flu , you know what I ’ m talking about .
Not fun . )
It ’ s easier when someone else ( ideally , a trained health care professional ) does this for you , according to Dwayne Breining , the executive director of Northwell Health Labs .
Breining said you have to push the swab brush “ into the nose and back toward the ear , as far as you can go back , until you actually hit something ” — the back of what ’ s known as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If it takes a day to mail you the swab , a day to mail it back , a day to send it to the lab and a day to test and get the results back to you ; how much does that mean for whether you ’ re infectious now ?
” Campbell asked .
“ These complex laboratory-developed tests are like making a soufflé ; everything has to work just right or it falls flat.
” - Sheldon Campbell , professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security .
“ The consequence [ of a false negative ] is you end up with a lot of people walking around thinking that they have a negative result , ” Breining said .
These people would go on spreading the virus with a “ false sense of security ” that they don ’ t have the disease , he added .
“ It ’ s better to have a doctor you know and who knows you order the test and tell you what to do with the results than to have somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history tell you from a telehealth script , ” Campbell said .
The kits work best when used by a health care professional .
“ You could have somebody observing and coaching the patient [ virtually ] as they take the swab , ” he advised .
Another solution is to hire a team of health care workers who can go out on the road and collect swabs in person , he suggested .
“ You really want to be right at the absolutely highest percentage that you can possibly be , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not going to get that by swabbing yourself at home .

bortonia via Getty Images At-home coronavirus tests may seem like a good idea and could work in theory, but experts are extremely cautious about recommending them. Here's why.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, health officials have assured us that more tests are on the way. But week after week, it’s become abundantly clear that we still don’t have the number we need to properly assess the spread of the virus.
A few weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration acknowledged the devastating lag in testing and announced that private companies could begin making their own tests. We’ve since seen an uptick in testing, but the country continues to lack widespread screenings.
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To address the lag, at-home COVID-19 test kits have popped up from diagnostic startups like EverlyWell, Nurx, and myLAB Box. But a recent FDA warning advising against the use of at-home tests has left the companies in limbo, and they’re now scrambling to make sense of the new guidelines and figure out how to get the tests to market.
Infectious disease experts say we need to drastically scale up testing to blunt the spread of COVID-19. But are at-home kits the answer?
Here’s how the at-home kits work.
The at-home kits are, in theory, very simple. You sign up online and undergo a screening based on COVID-19 diagnostic guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you qualify, a test kit — which costs anywhere from $135 to $190 — is shipped to your home. Then, you open the kit, swab your nose, put it in a vial and overnight it to a certified lab.
The specimen is evaluated and results are sent digitally within a day or two. If you test positive, some companies offer a telehealth session to review your next steps.
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Those experiencing more severe symptoms are encouraged to go straight to the emergency room, but for people who develop a more mild illness, the at-home test seems like a good solution.
The folks behind the at-home tests claim they improve access to testing and keep those who would otherwise spread the virus at home. Sheldon Campbell, a professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine and associate director of Yale Medicine’s Clinical Microbiology Lab, said the at-home kits may be particularly helpful for people who live in rural areas and have little to no options when it comes to getting tested for COVID-19.
But Campbell, along with other health experts, have a few major concerns about the at-home kits.
It’s not easy for people to swab themselves.
The first red flag, health experts said, is the step where you have to swab yourself.
Swabbing your nasal passage is downright uncomfortable. (If you’ve ever been nasal-swabbed for the flu, you know what I’m talking about. Not fun.) It’s easier when someone else (ideally, a trained health care professional) does this for you, according to Dwayne Breining, the executive director of Northwell Health Labs.
Breining said you have to push the swab brush “into the nose and back toward the ear, as far as you can go back, until you actually hit something” — the back of what’s known as the nasopharynx.
People’s eyes will water, they’ll want to sneeze, fall into a coughing fit, and generally recoil — making it challenging to get a good self-swab.
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“Most people won’t have an easy time causing themselves discomfort or pain,” Breining said. Without a good sample from the very back of your nasopharynx, you run the risk of not being able to produce an accurate test. And according to Breining, a good specimen “means everything.”
The specimen could get compromised.
When a test kit travels from point A (your home) to point B (the lab), the room for error is a bit higher. The specimen is typically protected by special gels and packaging, but there’s a risk of interfering with the swab quality.
Campbell said the FDA is now asking the at-home testing companies to run a shipping study to validate the test results and ensure they aren’t affected through shipping.
“These complex laboratory-developed tests are like making a soufflé; everything has to work just right or it falls flat,” Campbell said.
Another concern of Campbell’s: People who actually have COVID-19 may test negative for a period of time after they’re exposed to the virus and before they show symptoms.
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“If it takes a day to mail you the swab, a day to mail it back, a day to send it to the lab and a day to test and get the results back to you; how much does that mean for whether you’re infectious now?” Campbell asked.
Because people in this in-between zone are likely to go out and spread the virus to others, Campbell has “real concerns with this approach.”
“These complex laboratory-developed tests are like making a soufflé; everything has to work just right or it falls flat.” - Sheldon Campbell, professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine
They may provide false negatives and false security.
Due to these issues, test kits — even when conducted in a health care setting — can produce a false negative (or a test that shows a person’s negative for coronavirus when, in fact, they’re positive).
According to Breining, this can happen in up to one-third of all diagnostic test kits. When patients swab themselves, the number of false negatives could easily be higher — and that can put the country in even more danger.
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“The consequence [of a false negative] is you end up with a lot of people walking around thinking that they have a negative result,” Breining said. These people would go on spreading the virus with a “false sense of security” that they don’t have the disease, he added.
Breining says he’s very open to the opportunity to get more people tested, but doing it in a way that could potentially give people false results is very dangerous.
“The only thing worse than no answer is the wrong answer,” Campbell said.
At-home diagnostics don’t account for your entire health history.
Another concern is that these diagnostic companies don’t know people’s entire health history. Yes, there may be a screening evaluating a person’s health, but the company cannot get a comprehensive look at a person’s entire health history unless they explicitly share it.
Because so many underlying health conditions ― like hypertension and lung disease ― can increase a person’s risk of COVID-19, it’s critical to have a full, accurate assessment of a person’s health.
“It’s better to have a doctor you know and who knows you order the test and tell you what to do with the results than to have somebody who doesn’t know your medical history tell you from a telehealth script,” Campbell said.
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The kits work best when used by a health care professional.
All of this doesn’t mean these tests are entirely a wash. They just probably shouldn’t be used the way they are marketed right now ― meaning on your own.
If they’re done by a health care professional, they actually can be helpful. “The stumbling block is really the specimen quality,” Breining reiterated, and a trained health care professional is more likely to get a good swab.
Everywell has halted the release of its consumer at-home kits and allocated the first batch (of about 30,000 kits) to hospitals and health care systems where trained health care personnel can administer the tests. Ideally, more of the at-home diagnostic labs will follow suit.
If and when people start swabbing themselves, Breining recommended doing it over a telehealth call.
“You could have somebody observing and coaching the patient [virtually] as they take the swab,” he advised. Another solution is to hire a team of health care workers who can go out on the road and collect swabs in person, he suggested.
In the meantime, Breining recommends heading to an in-person testing facility if you suspect you have a severe case of COVID-19.
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“You really want to be right at the absolutely highest percentage that you can possibly be,” Breining said. At this point, you’re not going to get that by swabbing yourself at home.


huffpost--2020-03-27--Major Cruise Lines Sliced Out Of Bailout Despite Push From Trump

Ben Margot/ASSOCIATED PRESS The Grand Princess plies the waters of San Francisco Bay .
The ship docked in Oakland on March 9 with passengers and crew members who tested positive for coronavirus .
Major cruise line companies won ’ t benefit from the massive bailout program passed by the Senate despite a push to protect them by President Donald Trump , The Wall Street Journal reported .
The companies are controversial because they incorporate overseas and fly under foreign flags to dodge American safety , health and environmental regulations .
In addition , they hire largely foreign crews to duck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also played a significant role in the spread of coronavirus .
All the major cruise operators are incorporated outside the U.S .
The companies don ’ t pay U.S. federal income taxes .
Democrats , labor leaders and environmentalists battled to exclude them from the U.S. payouts , according to the Journal .
Trump vowed from the start to help the companies .
“ We ’ re working with them very , very strongly , ” he said at a press briefing early in March .
“ We want them to travel.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans that travel on the ships was dangerous .
Under new language inserted at the last minute into the stimulus package for businesses , money was restricted to cruise companies incorporated in the U.S. whose workforce is more than 50 % American .
Companies must be certified as “ created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States ” as well as having “ significant operations in ” and a majority of employees based in America .
That carves out major operators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Royal Caribbean Cruises , noted the Journal .
Trump reiterated his earlier wishes to aid cruise ship companies on Thursday .
But he conceded that it ’ s “ very tough to make a loan to a company when they ’ re based in a different country.
” Cruise ships with their crowded living situation have proved to be an incubator for the new coronavirus .
Several Americans tested positive for the illness on the Carnival ship Diamond Princess that was quarantined last month off Japan .
A number of U.S. passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned American passengers , were treated or quarantined at U.S. military bases .
The first coronavirus fatality in California was a man who traveled on the Grand Princess , also operated by Carnival .
Passengers and crew members on a subsequent cruise also tested positive , and the ship eventually docked in Oakland , California .
Two passengers have since died , USA Today reported .
Last week , after a Canadian passenger tested positive on an earlier cruise of the Swiss-based MSC Meraviglia , 3,800 passengers on the ship — including more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — disembarked in Miami with absolutely no screening .
On Thursday , 13 ill crew members from two Costa cruise ships were evacuated to Miami for treatment .
Meanwhile , at least 77 people — 30 passengers and 47 crew members — aboard a Holland America ship ( another Carnival operation ) off Fort Lauderdale , Florida , have reported flu-like symptoms .
Cases of coronavirus in Florida are now surging , with Miami-Dade and neighboring Broward County reporting more than 1,100 cases , nearly half of the statewide total , the Miami @ @ @

The Grand Princess plies the waters of San Francisco Bay. The ship docked in Oakland on March 9 with passengers and crew members who tested positive for coronavirus. Ben Margot/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Major cruise line companies won’t benefit from the massive bailout program passed by the Senate despite a push to protect them by President Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The companies are controversial because they incorporate overseas and fly under foreign flags to dodge American safety, health and environmental regulations. In addition, they hire largely foreign crews to duck U.S. pay rates and unions. They have also played a significant role in the spread of coronavirus.
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All the major cruise operators are incorporated outside the U.S. The companies don’t pay U.S. federal income taxes. Democrats, labor leaders and environmentalists battled to exclude them from the U.S. payouts, according to the Journal.
Trump is a close friend of Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison, whose company was a key sponsor of Trump’s “Apprentice” reality TV show.
Under new language inserted at the last minute into the stimulus package for businesses, money was restricted to cruise companies incorporated in the U.S. whose workforce is more than 50% American.
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Companies must be certified as “created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States” as well as having “significant operations in” and a majority of employees based in America. That carves out major operators like Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises, noted the Journal.
Trump reiterated his earlier wishes to aid cruise ship companies on Thursday. But he conceded that it’s “very tough to make a loan to a company when they’re based in a different country.”
Cruise ships with their crowded living situation have proved to be an incubator for the new coronavirus. Several Americans tested positive for the illness on the Carnival ship Diamond Princess that was quarantined last month off Japan. A number of U.S. passengers who tested positive, along with other returned American passengers, were treated or quarantined at U.S. military bases.
The first coronavirus fatality in California was a man who traveled on the Grand Princess, also operated by Carnival. Passengers and crew members on a subsequent cruise also tested positive, and the ship eventually docked in Oakland, California. Two passengers have since died, USA Today reported.
Last week, after a Canadian passenger tested positive on an earlier cruise of the Swiss-based MSC Meraviglia, 3,800 passengers on the ship — including more than 100 who sailed with the Canadian — disembarked in Miami with absolutely no screening.
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On Thursday, 13 ill crew members from two Costa cruise ships were evacuated to Miami for treatment. Meanwhile, at least 77 people — 30 passengers and 47 crew members — aboard a Holland America ship (another Carnival operation) off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have reported flu-like symptoms.