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Devin Nunes Says Decision to Cancel School in California Was ‘Overkill’ Devin Nunes Says Decision to Cancel School in California Was ‘Overkill’
(about 11 hours later)
The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee this week criticized closing schools in his home state, California, as “way overkill” — even as President Trump came to a reckoning over the number of people who could die during the coronavirus pandemic.The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee this week criticized closing schools in his home state, California, as “way overkill” — even as President Trump came to a reckoning over the number of people who could die during the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawmaker, Representative Devin G. Nunes, played down the gravity of the outbreak during a Tuesday night appearance on Fox News.The lawmaker, Representative Devin G. Nunes, played down the gravity of the outbreak during a Tuesday night appearance on Fox News.
“Look, the schools were just canceled out here in California, which is way overkill,” Mr. Nunes said. “It’s possible kids could have went back to school in two weeks to four weeks, but they just canceled the rest of the schools.”“Look, the schools were just canceled out here in California, which is way overkill,” Mr. Nunes said. “It’s possible kids could have went back to school in two weeks to four weeks, but they just canceled the rest of the schools.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Nunes, 46, who represents parts of Tulare and Fresno Counties, started trending on Twitter because of his comments, which were widely condemned.On Wednesday, Mr. Nunes, 46, who represents parts of Tulare and Fresno Counties, started trending on Twitter because of his comments, which were widely condemned.
Mr. Nunes’s criticism of stay-at-home orders came hours after Mr. Trump said that the United States was facing “a very, very painful two weeks.” At the same White House briefing on Tuesday, top public health officials warned that as many as 240,000 people in the country could die from the virus.Mr. Nunes’s criticism of stay-at-home orders came hours after Mr. Trump said that the United States was facing “a very, very painful two weeks.” At the same White House briefing on Tuesday, top public health officials warned that as many as 240,000 people in the country could die from the virus.
During the Fox interview, Mr. Nunes continued to press for reopening parts of the country in the coming weeks, a view previously held by Mr. Trump.During the Fox interview, Mr. Nunes continued to press for reopening parts of the country in the coming weeks, a view previously held by Mr. Trump.
“We have to focus on keeping people employed,” he said. “I will tell you this, if we don’t start to get people back to work in this country over the next week to two weeks, I don’t believe that we can wait until the end of April.”“We have to focus on keeping people employed,” he said. “I will tell you this, if we don’t start to get people back to work in this country over the next week to two weeks, I don’t believe that we can wait until the end of April.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who ordered the 40 million residents of his state to stay at home on March 19, told CNN on Wednesday that the social distancing measures were vital to preventing the spread of the virus. He said that those states that had not issued stay-at-home orders needed to act.Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who ordered the 40 million residents of his state to stay at home on March 19, told CNN on Wednesday that the social distancing measures were vital to preventing the spread of the virus. He said that those states that had not issued stay-at-home orders needed to act.
“Our message is this: What are you waiting for?” Mr. Newsom said. “What more evidence do you need?”“Our message is this: What are you waiting for?” Mr. Newsom said. “What more evidence do you need?”
This is not the first time that Mr. Nunes has been criticized for playing down the outbreak, which has killed at least 4,576 people and sickened more than 200,000 in the United States.This is not the first time that Mr. Nunes has been criticized for playing down the outbreak, which has killed at least 4,576 people and sickened more than 200,000 in the United States.
Updated June 22, 2020
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
During another appearance on Fox News in mid-March, Mr. Nunes encouraged healthy Americans to continue to eat out at restaurants to soften the economic blow of the pandemic, contradicting the recommendations of health experts on social distancing.During another appearance on Fox News in mid-March, Mr. Nunes encouraged healthy Americans to continue to eat out at restaurants to soften the economic blow of the pandemic, contradicting the recommendations of health experts on social distancing.
On Tuesday, Mr. Nunes accused politicians and the media of fueling hysteria over the outbreak.On Tuesday, Mr. Nunes accused politicians and the media of fueling hysteria over the outbreak.
“Let’s stop looking at the death counters and let’s talk about how we can keep as many people employed as possible,” he said. “When you have people staying at home not taking care of themselves, you will end up with a hell of a lot more people dying by other causes than you will by the coronavirus.”“Let’s stop looking at the death counters and let’s talk about how we can keep as many people employed as possible,” he said. “When you have people staying at home not taking care of themselves, you will end up with a hell of a lot more people dying by other causes than you will by the coronavirus.”
Mr. Nunes rose to prominence during the early part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. At the time, he was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee but lost the gavel to Representative Adam B. Schiff of California when Democrats reclaimed control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections.Mr. Nunes rose to prominence during the early part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. At the time, he was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee but lost the gavel to Representative Adam B. Schiff of California when Democrats reclaimed control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections.