| Why does the coronavirus affect people differently? Yahoo News Explains Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:10 PM PDT  Coronavirus patients are showing a wide range of symptoms and the exact reason why is still a mystery — but we do have some clues as to what factors can influence the severity of the disease.
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| Does Iran's coronavirus crisis raise the risk of war? Posted: 04 Apr 2020 06:14 AM PDT  Iran is experiencing on of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus in the world. Will the instability cause the country's leaders to lash out against America?
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| Italy's virus deaths plunge to lowest since March 19 Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:29 PM PDT  Italian officials said Sunday they may soon have to consider easing restrictions after seeing the daily coronavirus death toll plunge to its lowest in over two weeks. The 525 official COVID-19 fatalities reported by the civil protection service were the Mediterranean country's lowest since 427 deaths were registered on March 19. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," Italy's ISS national health institute director Silvio Brusaferro told reporters.
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| Biden says removal of Navy captain who sounded alarm on coronavirus 'close to criminal' Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:18 AM PDT  "I think the guy should ... have a commendation rather than be fired," Biden said.
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| Televangelist Kenneth Copeland 'blows wind of God' at coronavirus and claims pandemic is 'destroyed' in sermon Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:46 PM PDT  American televangelist Kenneth Copeland, who recently claimed that the coronavirus pandemic will be "over much sooner you think" because "Christian people all over this country praying have overwhelmed it," has summoned the "wind of God" to destroy the novel coronavirus during a recent sermon.Before blowing at the camera, he said: "I blow the wind of God on you. You are destroyed forever, and you'll never be back. Thank you, God. Let it happen. Cause it to happen."
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| An Illinois man allegedly shot his wife then himself over coronavirus fears Posted: 05 Apr 2020 01:19 PM PDT  Experts predicted the stresses of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns could lead to an uptick in domestic violence.
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| Virus raises specter of gravest attacks in modern US times Posted: 05 Apr 2020 07:29 AM PDT  America's surgeon general raised the specter of the gravest attacks against the nation in modern times to steel an anxious country Sunday for the impending and immeasurable sorrow he said would touch untold numbers of families in the age of the coronavirus. The blunt assessments show just how much has changed in the weeks since President Donald Trump's predictions that the virus would soon pass, and his suggestions that much of the economy could be up and running by Easter, April 12. The nation's top doctor, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, said Americans should brace for levels of tragedy reminiscent of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
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| Oil prices decline $3 a barrel as market remains uncertain on supply outlook Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:44 PM PDT  Global benchmark oil prices traded as much as $3 a barrel lower as the market opened for Monday's trading session, reflecting fears of oversupply after Saudi Arabia and Russia postponed to Thursday a meeting about a potential pact to cut production. Late last week, prices had surged, with both U.S. and Brent contracts posting their largest weekly percentage gains on record due to hopes that OPEC and its allies would strike a global deal to cut crude supply worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has cut demand and a month-long price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has left the market awash in crude.
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| Face masks: How the Trump administration went from 'no need' to 'put one on' to fight coronavirus Posted: 04 Apr 2020 11:58 AM PDT  Just a little over a month after saying there was no need for the community at large to wear masks in public, the CDC has changed its mind, recommending that all Americans should wear some sort of face covering when venturing outside.
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| Trump: U.S. approaching period ‘that is going to be very horrendous’ Posted: 04 Apr 2020 07:38 PM PDT  President Trump on Saturday said that the United States is approaching a time that will be "very horrendous" for the nation amid the growing coronavirus outbreak across the country.
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| Iran to restart 'low-risk' economic activities soon Posted: 05 Apr 2020 09:24 AM PDT  Iran said Sunday it will allow "low-risk" economic activities to resume from April 11 as its daily coronavirus infection rates slowed for a fifth straight day. "Restarting these activities does not mean we have abandoned the principle of staying at home," President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting of Iran's anti-coronavirus task force. The president, whose country has been battered by US economic sanctions, did not specify what qualified as "low risk" activities, but said bans would remain on schools and large gatherings.
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| Biden informs Sanders he'll begin vetting VP candidates, asks Obama for Cabinet selection advice Posted: 04 Apr 2020 07:52 AM PDT  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is still in the running for the Democratic presidential nomination, but his competitor, former Vice President Joe Biden, has his sights set on the next step of his campaign.Biden said Friday he informed Sanders he will begin the process of vetting potential Cabinet and vice presidential candidates, telling donors at a virtual fundraising event that he plans on launching a committee to select a running mate sometime in mid-April. Former primary challengers like Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are often mentioned as possibilities.Biden has emerged as the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic nomination after a slate of decisive primary victories, but he gave Sanders — whom he considers a friend — a heads up about the decision because he didn't "want him to think I'm being presumptuous." But Biden said the process takes time, so he wants to get a head start.The former vice president also said he's asked his old boss, former President Barack Obama, for advice on Cabinet selections, though he said the conversation was more focused on how to begin the process rather than any individual candidates. Read more at NBC News and Politico.More stories from theweek.com 5 funny cartoons about social distancing 5 brutally funny cartoons about Trump's TV ratings boast The race for a coronavirus vaccine
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| Thousands of applicants, zero loans: Trump's small businesses lending program is a failure to launch Posted: 04 Apr 2020 02:07 PM PDT  One day after the launch of a $350B loan program designed to rescue millions of small businesses, technical glitches continue to cripple the process.
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| 'I'm worried that I have infected 1000 people in the last three days': Amazon workers reveal all the reasons why they're afraid to go to work Posted: 05 Apr 2020 10:06 AM PDT  Amazon workers claim the company is not doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout their facilities and the communities they serve.
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| Police in Russia shoved a man into a van and forced him to abandon his dog in a park for violating the city's lockdown order Posted: 05 Apr 2020 10:16 AM PDT  At the end of March, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin closed all restaurants, cafe, bars, and parks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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| Coronavirus 'could wipe out Brazil's indigenous people' Posted: 05 Apr 2020 04:10 PM PDT  Respiratory illnesses are already the main cause of death for the country's native communities.
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| 'We'll meet again': Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit to defeat coronavirus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:02 PM PDT  Queen Elizabeth told the British people on Sunday that they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute in the face of lockdown and self-isolation, invoking the spirit of World War Two in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation. In what was only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign, Elizabeth called upon Britons to show the resolve of their forbears and demonstrate they were as strong as generations of the past. "We will meet again", she pointedly said in a direct reference to the most famous British song from the war years of the 1940s, when she was a teenager.
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| UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hospitalized with virus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 01:27 PM PDT  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital Sunday for tests, his office said, because he is still suffering symptoms, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. The prime minister's Downing St. office said it was a "precautionary step" and Johnson remains in charge of the government. Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing St. residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 — the first known head of government to fall ill with the virus.
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| Coronavirus: Germany and France accuse US of taking face masks as international tensions rise Posted: 04 Apr 2020 05:56 AM PDT  Germany and France have accused the US of taking face masks already ordered by Europe as the coronavirus pandemic continued to cause rising international tensions.Politicians in Berlin and Paris both said America had been using unfair means to undermine their own attempts to secure personal protective equipment.
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| Wrong Candidates for Aid, Wrong Time Posted: 04 Apr 2020 02:30 PM PDT  Imagine if FDR had offered a multi-million-dollar aid package to Germany before the Nazi surrender on May 7, 1945. Or if Truman had air-dropped food, medicine, and cash on Japanese cities before Emperor Hirohito announced his country's surrender on August 15, 1945. Such scenarios would have been impossible then, but today, pundits and politicians are advocating sending aid to Iran, a sworn enemy of the U.S., to combat the coronavirus. They are also urging the release of aid for the Palestinians, whose leaders range from hostile (Fatah) to terrorist (Hamas).Eight U.S. senators are proposing a massive aid package for Palestinians in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the Fatah-controlled (and PLO-dominated) Palestinian Authority (the so-called West Bank), and many pundits are urging the Trump administration to end sanctions against Iran. Both of these proposals would, in effect, aid and empower our enemies, and therefore undermine rather than serve U.S. interests at a critical moment.In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Tom Udall, Jeff Merkley, Tom Carper, and Sherrod Brown are demanding that the U.S. provide $75 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza. In a March 26 letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the senators, all Democrats, gave him until April 3 to specify how the State Department will ensure that the money "mandated by the FY 2020 Appropriations Act" will be used to "provide the Palestinian people with access to adequate medicine, medical equipment, personnel, and other resources to combat the threat of a major coronavirus health crisis" in the West Bank and Gaza.But providing aid to the Palestinians means handing $75 million to the PA and Hamas. What do the senators think Palestinian leaders will do with that money? Judging from a long historical record, they are likely to use it to continue their fight against Israel — launching rockets and digging tunnels to smuggle weaponry and murderers into Israel, paying stipends to the families of terrorists caught or killed in the act — and to line their own pockets.Israel has already provided aid to the Palestinians to combat the coronavirus. It delivered 20 tons of disinfectant to the West Bank, as well as test kits and training for Palestinian health-care workers. It sent 200 test kits to Gaza and offered more direct aid to Hamas on the condition that Hamas return the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Instead, Hamas launched rockets into Israel. Israel's good-will efforts have not been reciprocated. There is little reason to think that U.S. humanitarian aid would be used for the stated purpose.While Israeli missile companies like Inovytec convert their production lines to make ventilators, Hamas's money is used to make more missiles. As Michael Milstein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center in Tel Aviv, put it, "Hamas is doing almost nothing for the people of Gaza. . . . All the money needed today to confront the coronavirus is going towards rockets."Iran has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Some of our allies (especially Germany, France, and the U.K.) are requesting that the U.S. dial back its "maximum pressure" campaign on the Iranian regime by easing economic sanctions. Many pundits in the U.S. are demanding the same.Such demands ignore the fact that Iran (following China's lead) is engaged in a disinformation campaign that seeks to convince the world that the coronavirus originated in the U.S. as a biological weapon. An Iranian "researcher," Amir Mousavi, appeared on RT, the Russian government–run TV network, wearing a face mask, accusing the U.S. of having "waged biological wars before." He told his Russian interviewer that "scientists in Iranian labs — with the help of Russia, China, and Cuba — are laboring to study the possibility" that the U.S. created the coronavirus. He added that Chinese leader Xi Jinping went beyond considering it a "possibility" and "officially accused the United States." Similarly, he said, "research centers in Russia — and even some American institutions — have begun to raise doubts on whether this virus is natural or made in a lab."The New York Times has been particularly enthusiastic about aiding Iran in order to create "good will" toward the U.S. On March 24, the Times ran an opinion piece advocating aid to Iran in the form of "financial and medical resources—from food and medicine to cash transfers—to [help it] carry out an effective nationwide quarantine and other measures to curb the outbreak." The following day, a Times editorial claimed that "demonstrating compassion in times of crisis is good foreign policy, and in this case may actually help achieve the goals the Trump administration is pursuing."But the U.S. already did offer medical aid to Iran, and that offer was rebuffed. And we have recent indications of how the mullahs use cash transfers. Of the massive windfall Iran received from President Obama's ill-conceived JCPOA, much went to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, while billions went straight into Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's private bank account, according to former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.We cannot trust the Iranian regime to use millions of dollars in humanitarian aid from the West on the public-health crisis at hand. We know that the Iranian regime seeks to continue to build its nuclear program; that it has launched missiles at American forces in the region; and that it oppresses the Iranian people, suppressing all dissent within the country, in order to stay in power. Judging from history and recent events, we can also assume that Iran's leaders would siphon off some of the money to pad their personal fortunes.Even as the U.S. maintains sanctions on the Iranian regime, our European allies are finding ways to fund it. The Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), a system devised by European nations to sidestep sanctions and continue trade with Iran, is already up and running.The U.S. is coping with nationwide shortages of ventilators, personal protective equipment, and coronavirus tests. Any supplies we can spare should be sent to allies, not to enemies. And as the effects of an economic shutdown grow ever more grave, on top of our $22 trillion debt, we should not be sending cash to regimes that have shown no regard for the suffering of their own people.Common sense tells us that aid to a foe should come only after victory over that foe. There should be no Marshall Plan for Iran as long as the present regime continues on its belligerent track. Similarly, we should not be aiding Palestinian leaders who, to varying degrees, act against U.S. interests. The generosity of the American people requires that our enemies cease to behave as such. This is our quid pro quo.
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| Trump and Pence Say There Are Signs U.S. Outbreak ‘Stabilizing’ Posted: 05 Apr 2020 05:04 PM PDT |
| Flight attendants are still working during coronavirus lockdowns and they worry that they're spreading the virus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 11:10 AM PDT  Some flight attendants are worried that they may be spreading coronavirus because of travel and lack of personal protective equipment.
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| Two children hospitalized after eating THC candy from a food bank Posted: 04 Apr 2020 04:32 PM PDT  At least five children ate candy containing high THC doses after the Utah Food Bank distributed it as part of their food donations, police said.
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| The search for 2 Kennedy family members has been called off, turning 'from rescue to recovery' a day after they went missing in a canoe Posted: 04 Apr 2020 07:16 AM PDT  Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and her 8-year-old son Gideon disappeared from a family gathering in the Chesapeake Bay.
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| UAE to boost strategic stockpile, waive visa fines over coronavirus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 07:33 AM PDT  The United Arab Emirates will reinforce its stockpile of strategic goods and will waive residency visa fines for the rest of the year in response to the coronavirus outbreak, its vice president said on Sunday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai, the region's tourism and business hub, did not say what goods were included in the stockpile or give further details on the visa fine waiver. Dubai imposed a two-week lockdown on Saturday night, tightening an overnight curfew that the whole of the UAE has been under for 10 days.
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| Everything You Need to Know About Wearing a Mask Posted: 03 Apr 2020 06:15 PM PDT  President Trump announced Friday—somewhat reluctantly—that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now recommending that Americans voluntarily wear cloth face coverings in public. The suggestion comes after weeks of federal guidance that ordinary citizens should not wear masks, and its lukewarm tone doesn't do much to answer the question on many minds: Do I need to wear a mask?As U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said at Friday's briefing: "It has been confusing to the American people."To clear up some of that confusion, it's important to note that not all masks are created equal. They generally fall into three categories: * Respirators: These are the convex N95 masks, approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that filter out 95 percent of large and small particles in the air. They are often constructed from layers of polypropylene, made to fit snugly, and have an expiration date. * Surgical masks: These are loose-fitting, pleated, disposable masks, often in blue or white, that you might recognize from TV medical dramas. Approved by the FDA, they are splash-resistant and act as a two-way barrier to large particles. * Cloth masks: These are unregulated masks that can even be homemade and serve simply as an extra barrier with no guarantees.From the start of the coronavirus crisis, until Friday's briefing, the federal government had been saying that the average person did not need to wear a mask. There were two main reasons for this: * Supply issues: Because people began hoarding masks even before COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., there was a massive shortage and medical facilities were having trouble restocking. Authorities wanted to preserve N95 masks for health-care workers who were most likely to be in contact with infected patients, and surgical masks for others in the hospital setting, including sick patients. * Transmission risk: In the very early days of the pandemic, there was a widespread belief that there was little risk of someone without symptoms transmitting the new coronavirus. Therefore, health officials didn't think someone who didn't feel ill needed to wear a mask. But a growing body of research has shown that asymptomatic people are indeed contagious, sparking the push for more widespread mask usage.Even though the understanding of how COVID-19 is spread has evolved, the CDC does not want you to go out and get a surgical mask or N95 mask if you are healthy; those still must be reserved for medical personnel. Instead, the agency is advising use of what it calls "simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others." So it's clear the CDC is not saying a cloth mask will protect you from getting coronavirus from someone sneezing near you in the grocery store; they are saying that a mask could stop the spread of the infection from someone who is unknowingly carrying the virus. Experts outside the government are divided on the wisdom of this: * Con: Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of California Los Angeles who previously worked for the CDC, said there is "no new evidence" of the benefit. "The response to the epidemic is driven by panic and politics," he said. "The same way we saw recent FDA approval for some medications that have not had demonstrated scientific benefits. There's been active discussion and pushback from public health experts and politics. Politicians are saying 'what's the harm,' but public health experts are saying 'what's the benefit.' None, based on scientific evidence." * Pro: But Dr. David Larsen, an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at Syracuse University, said we might as well try it. "We are rightfully closing our schools, shuttering our businesses, and disrupting our social lives," said Larsen. "We need to bring anything that can work to the fight, and face masks may help."The next question on your mind is probably: Can a simple piece of cloth do the job? And the answer is: It might be better than nothing. Just as we tell people to cough into their elbows or cover their mouth when they sneeze, a cloth covering can stop some virus-filled droplets from being spewed into the air and onto uninfected people. How much depends on the material: One study found a single-layer handkerchief had a filter efficiency rate of just 2 percent, and a small 2013 test of homemade masks found that a surgical mask was at least three times more effective. The researchers wrote: "A homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals, but it would be better than no protection."Is there any downside to wearing a mask? Well, Trump thinks it would make him look silly while meeting with "dictators"—but assuming you don't have any such engagements on your calendar, there are a couple of other things to consider: * False sense of security: Dr. Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House's coronavirus effort, said there was a concern that people wearing a mask might think they don't need to social distance. "We don't want people to feel like, 'Oh I'm wearing a mask, I'm protected and I'm protecting others.'" Experts agree that social distancing is still key to flattening the curve and pales in comparison to masking. * Touching your face: Health officials have tried to drive home the warning that as long as coronavirus is around, you must avoid touching your face. That's hard to do if you are constantly adjusting or taking off and putting on a cloth mask. Make sure you wash your hands before and after you handle the mask to minimize risk of getting or transmitting COVID-19.If you decide to take the CDC up on its recommendation, do everyone a favor and don't go to a dozen stores looking to buy a box of masks. Remember: medical workers and first responders really need those N95s and surgical masks. As the CDC notes, you can sew a simple mask; the internet is full of how-tos. You can buy them on eBay, you can fashion one out of an old bra, or you can do what this brave lady did. Or you can do what the experts agree will help end the pandemic: stay the hell at home.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Blame the Chinese Communist Party for the coronavirus crisis Posted: 05 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT  Coronavirus crisis proves communism is still a grave threat to the entire world. If Beijing had just been honest, the pandemic could be preventable.
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| Jordan becomes latest Mideast country to deploy drones in virus response Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:57 AM PDT  Jordan on Sunday started to deploy drones to fight the coronavirus pandemic, joining a host of Middle East countries using the technology to enforce curfews, deliver public health announcements and even monitor people's temperatures. Jordan has declared five deaths and 323 cases of COVID-19 and says it has arrested at least 1,600 people for violating a nationwide curfew in force since last month. "The armed forces and security services will ensure the curfew is being respected by using modern technology such as drones and surveillance cameras," Minister of State for Information, Amjad al-Adayleh, told a press briefing late Saturday.
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| Do social distancing better, White House doctor tells Americans Posted: 04 Apr 2020 01:55 PM PDT  Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House task force on the coronavirus, had a message for Americans that she shared on Thursday: Do better at social distancing. President Trump disagreed.
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| 'Complete collapse of economies' ahead as Africa faces virus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 01:55 AM PDT  Some of Uganda's poorest people used to work here, on the streets of Kampala, as fruit sellers sitting on the pavement or as peddlers of everything from handkerchiefs to roasted peanuts. Now they're gone and no one knows when they will return, victims of a global economic crisis linked to the coronavirus that could wipe out jobs for millions across the African continent, many who live hand-to-mouth with zero savings.
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| Here's why the depleted cruise line industry will be one of the biggest losers of the new $500 billion corporate bailout program Posted: 04 Apr 2020 11:15 AM PDT  The largest cruise lines are incorporated outside the US. That means they won't be able to get a cut of the bailout money under Trump's stimulus law.
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| 1st federal inmate to die of coronavirus wrote heartbreaking letter to judge Posted: 05 Apr 2020 05:35 AM PDT  Patrick Jones "spent the last 12 years contesting a sentence that ultimately killed him," one of his former lawyers said.
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| Trump warns 'there will be a lot of death' in coming weeks Posted: 05 Apr 2020 05:08 AM PDT  Fatalities from complications of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus continue to climb in the United States as several major cities are bracing for their caseload apex in the next week.The U.S. reported 1,344 deaths from the new coronavirus Saturday, the country's highest number of fatalities in one day since the outbreak began. There are now more than 300,000 confirmed infections nationwide. In his daily White House briefing Saturday, President Trump warned the next couple of weeks would only get more difficult. "There will be a lot of death unfortunately," he said.Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said the coming weeks were crucial in the fight against the pandemic, urging Americans to adhere to social distancing guidelines. "This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe, and that means everybody doing the six feet distancing, washing your hands," she said.Birx added that modeling shows metro areas like New York, Detroit, and New Orleans will likely reach the peak of their outbreaks in the next six or seven days. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) also said it looks like his state his about a week away from when its health care system will be stretched thinnest. Read more at CNN and The Wall Street Journal.More stories from theweek.com 5 funny cartoons about social distancing 5 brutally funny cartoons about Trump's TV ratings boast The race for a coronavirus vaccine
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| Most Brazilians do not want Bolsonaro to resign despite criticism of his coronavirus response: poll Posted: 05 Apr 2020 07:20 AM PDT  Most Brazilians do not favor President Jair Bolsonaro resigning despite mounting criticism of his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a poll published by newspaper Folha de S.Paulo on Sunday. The survey conducted by Datafolha pollster from Wednesday to Friday showed that 59% of the 1,511 respondents would oppose Bolsonaro's resignation, while 37% would approve and 4% could not give an opinion. On Friday, the same pollster said Bolsonaro's coronavirus performance was rated "bad" or "awful" by 39% of respondents surveyed, up from 33% last month.
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| Why wear face masks in public? Here's what the research shows Posted: 04 Apr 2020 08:00 AM PDT  With the coronavirus pandemic quickly spreading, U.S. health officials have changed their advice on face masks and now recommend people wear cloth masks in public areas where social distancing can be difficult, such as grocery stores. But can these masks be effective?President Donald Trump, in announcing the change in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance on April 3, stressed that the recommendation was voluntary and said he probably wouldn't follow it. Governors and mayors, however, have started encouraging the precautions to reduce the spread of the virus by people who might not know they are infected.Some cities have gone as far as setting fines for failing to wear a mask. In Laredo, Texas, anyone over the age of five who walks into a store or takes public transit without their mouth and nose covered by a mask or bandana could now be fined up to $1,000. These new measures are designed to "flatten the curve," or slow the spread of the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19.They're also a shift from the advice Americans have been hearing since the coronavirus pandemic began.The World Health Organization and the CDC have repeatedly said that most people do not need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. In February, the U.S. surgeon general even urged the public to stop buying medical masks, warning that it would not help against the spread of the coronavirus. Part of the reason was to reserve N95 respirators and masks for healthcare workers like myself who are on the front lines and exposed to people with COVID-19. Today, there is much more data and evidence on how COVID-19 is spread, and the prevalence of the disease itself is far more widespread than previously thought. Sick, but no symptomsAs recently as early February, the World Health Organization stated that viral transmission from asymptomatic people was likely "rare," based on information available at the time. But a growing body of data now suggests that a significant number of infected people who don't have symptoms can still transmit the virus to others. A CDC report issued March 23 on COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships offers a glimpse of the danger. It describes how the testing of passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess found that nearly half – 46.5% – of the more than 700 people found to be infected with the new coronavirus had no symptoms at the time of testing. The CDC explained that "a high proportion of asymptomatic infections could partially explain the high attack rate among cruise ship passengers and crew."Dr. Harvey Fineberg, former president of the National Academy of Medicine and head of a new federal committee on infectious diseases, told CNN on April 2 that he will start wearing a mask in public, especially at grocery stores, for this very reason. "While the current specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing," he said. It is these "silent carriers" – people infected with the virus but without fever, cough, or muscle aches – that proponents of universal mask wearing point to as proof that more could be done beyond social distancing to slow the virus's spread. More effective than doing nothingWhile research on the effectiveness of universal mask wearing for reducing respiratory droplet transmission is still thin, there is evidence to support it.Research on SARS, another coronavirus, found that N95 masks were highly effective at blocking transmission of that virus. Even ill-fitting medical face masks have been found to interrupt airborne particles and viruses, keeping them from reaching as far when someone sneezes.Another study determined that, while masks made out of cotton T-shirts were far less effective than manufactured surgical masks in preventing wearers from expelling droplets, they did reduce droplets and were better than no protection at all. A challenge with cloth: washingThe surgical masks that doctors and nurses typically wear are designed for one-time use, while cloth masks used by the general public would likely be washed, which raises another concern.A study from Nepal on cloth masks designed to protect wearers from larger particles, such as pollution or pollen, found that washing and drying practices deteriorated the mask's efficiency because they damaged the cloth material. It is clear that urgent research is needed on the best material suitable for universal masks, their storage and care, or the creation of proper reusable masks for the public. A low-risk interventionAs an obstetrician-gynecologist and researcher, I believe that some protection for the public is better than none. A recent article in the medical journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine states a similar rationale.The universal use of mouth and nose covering with masks is a low-risk intervention that can only assist in reducing the spread of this terrible illness. If everyone wears a mask, individuals protect one another, reducing overall community transmission. It could even remind people not to touch their faces after touching potentially contaminated surfaces. As the research shows, masks aren't shields. It's still important to help prevent transmission by practicing social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from others in public, staying home as much as possible, and washing hands frequently and properly. [Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research. Sign up for The Conversation's newsletter.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * Coronavirus case counts are going to go up – but that doesn't mean social distancing is a bust * Social distancing works – just ask lobsters, ants and vampire batsHector Chapa does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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| Delta extending SkyMiles benefits as coronavirus forces drastic reduction in flights Posted: 05 Apr 2020 02:01 PM PDT  As part of its customer service changes related to the coronavirus pandemic, Delta Air Lines is automatically extending some of its SkyMiles benefits.
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| Lebanon repatriates nationals in rare flights despite virus Posted: 05 Apr 2020 07:29 AM PDT  Lebanon on Sunday started repatriating nationals who were stranded abroad in its first flights in weeks since it closed its international airport to stem the novel coronavirus. The first of four planes touched down at the Beirut international airport late in the morning bringing in 78 passengers from Riyadh, local television reported. A second carrying 79 passengers from Abu Dhabi followed in the afternoon, the National News Agency said.
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| Revealed: food bank shortages expected to hit Washington state by mid-April Posted: 04 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT  Report obtained by Guardian projects acute demand and supply problem, meaning agencies will struggle to provide for the hungry * Coronavirus – live US updates * Live global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageAgencies and organisations tasked with feeding children, the poor and the elderly in Washington state during the coronavirus crisis will experience shortages of food and supplies as early as mid-April, according to state government emergency planning documents obtained by the Guardian.A 27 March situation report (SitRep) document produced by the Unified Command of Washington's State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) projects that a combination of acute demand at food banks and schools, supply problems for food and cleaning supplies, plus staffing shortages, will mean government and NGOs will struggle to provide for hungry people whose incomes have disappeared as the state's economy stutters.This raises the prospect of food bank shortages in Washington but also nationwide, as food banks across the US are being increasingly utilized by unprecedented numbers of people in an economy that has been abruptly slowed to fight the spreading pandemic.Washington state has experienced one of the earliest and most serious outbreaks of Covid-19 in the US. Governor Jay Inslee has received praise in recent days for his decisive response, which is thought to have prevented an even worse crisis.But the document suggests that at the predicted peak of the epidemic, which has already infected at least 4,896 Washingtonians and killed at least 195, the state will need to head off a parallel humanitarian crisis.The SitRep document, produced by the emergency agency coordinated by Washington state's military department and distributed to state and local agencies involved in the emergency response, details emerging problems and frantic efforts to solve them across a range of numbered emergency support functions (ESF), including communications, firefighting, and energy.Under the heading "ESF11 Agriculture and Natural Resources", the SitRep details the growing problems in food security. Many of the problems involve food banks – non-governmental organizations that deliver food to needy people.The document says there is already a "shortage of food at food banks", which is projected to become worse. It says: "NGOs have food on hand. However, burn rate is increasing fast. Demand is growing dramatically so supply is quickly being used up."It goes on to warn: "Food banks expect a significant gap in the food supply across the whole system by mid-April (April 10-20)."It then offers insight into spiking demand at specific NGOs delivering food in Washington: "Northwest Harvest (a statewide food bank service) reported they are distributing 450,000lbs of food this week."It continues: "The burn rate and demand are rising sharply. These NGOs are seeing 30 percent to 100% increases in the number of people served."In a telephone conversation, Northwest Harvest chief executive Thomas Reynolds said of his food banks: "We don't predict peak demand for another three weeks and then we anticipate peak demand for 12 to 20 weeks."He added: "I worked for 15 years for Care International. So what it reminds me of is earthquakes in Nepal, the tsunami in Japan, food crises in Yemen. And the difference is there's a lot more experience in a place like Nepal or Yemen to respond to emergencies."The document says rural counties are already moving to rationalize food delivery in the face of demand."Chelan county is moving away from using small distribution centers. Instead they are going to start using a single, mass-distribution site for emergency food," it says.It continues with a prediction: "It's a model we will likely see more of in the days and weeks to come."On Wednesday, Inslee, announced he had mobilized 130 National Guard members to provide support for food banks in Chelan and four other counties, with potentially more to follow.The problems are being compounded by supply problems in other goods necessary for food service, such as supplies used to clean kitchens.As in other states, Washington has closed schools, but many districts have maintained school lunch delivery as a way of feeding needy children.These programs, too, are under strain, according to the SitRep.One issue is in the workforce, which "is a growing issue because schools rely on older people to work in food service and as bus drivers. These are two job categories important to food assistance."The document says "older workers are opting not to work because of Covid concerns" and that schools are also experiencing supply problems.The document does offer some hope that solutions to shortages are emerging, but leaves open the question of whether they will arrive in time.Chris McGann, a spokesman for the Washington state department of agriculture, said in an email: "The current situation with its rapidly increasing demand and limited resources is putting incredible strain on the social safety net. Hunger relief is no different."He added: "We have called on the federal government and private industry to identify and commit additional resources to help us make sure families have the nutritional support they need to make it through this crisis."He also said that the problem was so far confined to food banks. "The food supply chain is otherwise operational and functional. People will still be able to get food at the grocery store."Reynolds stressed that Northwest Harvest was working well with the state and has "good relationship with our local elected officials". But he said he hoped food security will become more central to political debate."I think we should be asking people who are running for office. What is your food policy?"
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| Black mistrust of medicine looms amid coronavirus pandemic Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:32 AM PDT  Roughly 40 million black Americans are deciding whether to put their faith in government and the medical community during the coronavirus pandemic. Historic failures in government responses to disasters and emergencies, medical abuse, neglect and exploitation have jaded generations of black people into a distrust of some public institutions.
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| Photos show China coming to a standstill to mourn everyone who died of coronavirus, including whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang Posted: 04 Apr 2020 06:31 AM PDT  All of China observed a three-minute silence on Saturday, which coincided with Qingming Festival, when people traditionally visit ancestors' graves.
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| Woman needed stitches after anti-Asian hate crime attack on city bus, NYPD says Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:57 AM PDT  An unidentified woman and three teens allegedly attacked a 51-year-old Asian woman, hitting her on the head with an umbrella after making anti-Asian remarks..
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| Saudi Arabia sharply rebukes Russia over oil price collapse Posted: 03 Apr 2020 09:38 PM PDT  Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Russia on Saturday over what it described as Moscow blaming the kingdom for the collapse in global energy prices, showing the tensions ahead of an emergency meeting of OPEC and other oil producers. Oil prices sharply fell after the so-called OPEC+ group of countries including Russia failed to agree to production cuts in early March. A price war began soon after, with Saudi Arabia threatening to pump at a record-breaking pace to seize back market share even as the coronavirus pandemic saw demand sharply drop as airlines worldwide halted flights.
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| Turkey to curb some troop movement in Syria as coronavirus cases jump Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:08 PM PDT |
| Coronavirus: Australia launches criminal investigation into Ruby Princess Posted: 05 Apr 2020 03:26 AM PDT  Passengers from the Ruby Princess disembarked in Sydney without knowing the coronavirus was on board.
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| Former FDA commissioner expects New York health-care system will be pushed to the brink, but 'won't go over' Posted: 05 Apr 2020 10:28 AM PDT  Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has issued some dire warnings since the early days of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, but on Sunday he indicated some steps taken by the U.S. federal government and states might be paying off -- both in terms of curbing the spread and preparing the health-care system for an onslaught of patients.New York City remains the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, and its hospitals are struggling. Gottlieb reiterated the predication made by numerous officials that the city, and New York state, are on the verge of peaking next week, which will undoubtedly stretch the health-care system thin. But he said he, ultimately, he thinks there will be enough ventilators for severe COVID-19 patients thanks to a historic effort to expand their supply, preventing New York from going past its tipping point.> The New York healthcare system "will be right on the brink" \- strained - "but won't go over" @ScottGottliebMD tells @margbrennan . He adds, "I don't think they will run out of ventilators." pic.twitter.com/AhnAanf4rN> > -- Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 5, 2020As for the rest of the country, Gottlieb believes mitigation efforts like social distancing are "clearly working," as case rates slow in northern states, though he's concerned the next set of hot spots will be in the South. > "Mitigation is clearly working," @ScottGottliebMD tells @margbrennan, but notes that states in the Sunbelt - across the south - are going to be the next hotspots in the United States. pic.twitter.com/wD4q1Z5yUf> > -- Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 5, 2020More stories from theweek.com 5 funny cartoons about social distancing 5 brutally funny cartoons about Trump's TV ratings boast The race for a coronavirus vaccine
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| Vanuatu braces as monster storm strengthens in Pacific Posted: 05 Apr 2020 03:19 PM PDT  A deadly cyclone bearing down on the Pacific nation of Vanuatu has intensified into a Category Five super storm, generating destructive winds and "phenomenal" seas, forecasters said Monday. Tropical cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, strengthened overnight Sunday as it moved east, Vanuatu's meteorology service said. Harold is forecast to pass north of the capital Port Vila early Tuesday.
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| Reusable respirators protect doctors and nurses against coronavirus. They aren't in the national stockpile. Posted: 05 Apr 2020 09:07 AM PDT  Reusable respirators protect against the coronavirus just as well as N95 face masks. But the feds didn't buy them.
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| Coronavirus map of the US: latest cases state by state Posted: 05 Apr 2020 04:07 AM PDT  * Coronavirus: world map of deaths and cases * Coronavirus – latest global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageThe number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 continues to grow in the US. Mike Pence, the vice-president, is overseeing the US response to the coronavirus.So far, 80% of patients experience a mild form of the illness, which can include a fever and pneumonia, and many of these cases require little to no medical intervention. That being said, elderly people and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart and lung issues are the most vulnerable. The coronavirus death rate in China for people 80 or over, in the government's study of more than 72,000 cases, was 14.8%.default default default * Due to the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the coronavirus outbreak, this article is being regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the current situation as best as possible. Any significant corrections made to this or previous versions of the article will continue to be footnoted in line with Guardian editorial policy.
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