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Sheriff Told Teen to Take Down Posts About Coronavirus, Family’s Lawsuit Says Sheriff Told Teen to Take Down Posts About Coronavirus, Family’s Lawsuit Says
(about 7 hours later)
A few days after Amyiah Cohoon returned to Wisconsin from a school band trip to Florida in the middle of March, she developed a dry cough, a high fever and breathing problems. Amyiah, 16, was taken to the hospital twice, before being sent home and told to stay inside despite testing negative for the coronavirus.A few days after Amyiah Cohoon returned to Wisconsin from a school band trip to Florida in the middle of March, she developed a dry cough, a high fever and breathing problems. Amyiah, 16, was taken to the hospital twice, before being sent home and told to stay inside despite testing negative for the coronavirus.
During her sickness, the Westfield Area High School sophomore posted on Instagram three times about what she still believed was a scary brush with Covid-19, hoping to alert others, including friends and family, to the danger. (Doctors have noted that negative results did not always mean someone was not infected.)During her sickness, the Westfield Area High School sophomore posted on Instagram three times about what she still believed was a scary brush with Covid-19, hoping to alert others, including friends and family, to the danger. (Doctors have noted that negative results did not always mean someone was not infected.)
“I am still on breathing treatment but have beaten the coronavirus,” Amyiah wrote in the third post on March 26. “Stay home and be safe.”“I am still on breathing treatment but have beaten the coronavirus,” Amyiah wrote in the third post on March 26. “Stay home and be safe.”
The next day, a sergeant showed up at the Cohoons’ door.The next day, a sergeant showed up at the Cohoons’ door.
According to a police report included in the lawsuit, Amyiah’s posts had made other parents at school “upset.” Amyiah would have to take the posts down or risk violating rules on disorderly conduct and be cited or arrested, according to the report.According to a police report included in the lawsuit, Amyiah’s posts had made other parents at school “upset.” Amyiah would have to take the posts down or risk violating rules on disorderly conduct and be cited or arrested, according to the report.
Amyiah deleted the posts immediately. But on Thursday, the Cohoons sued the Marquette County sheriff, Joseph R. Konrath, and the officer who showed up at the home, Sgt. Cameron Klump, accusing them of violating Amyiah’s right to free speech.Amyiah deleted the posts immediately. But on Thursday, the Cohoons sued the Marquette County sheriff, Joseph R. Konrath, and the officer who showed up at the home, Sgt. Cameron Klump, accusing them of violating Amyiah’s right to free speech.
“What they did was just outright outrageous,” Amyiah, who said she has mostly recovered, said in an interview on Monday. “It’s not the right way to do it. They could have done it a different way. The school could have called our family saying, ‘All right, is this stuff true? How is she doing?’”“What they did was just outright outrageous,” Amyiah, who said she has mostly recovered, said in an interview on Monday. “It’s not the right way to do it. They could have done it a different way. The school could have called our family saying, ‘All right, is this stuff true? How is she doing?’”
The lawsuit also asks for nominal damages — “a dollar or something small with an acknowledgment that constitutional rights were violated,” said Luke Berg, Amyiah’s lawyer and deputy counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative group that has been involved in high-profile battles over voter eligibility in the battleground state.The lawsuit also asks for nominal damages — “a dollar or something small with an acknowledgment that constitutional rights were violated,” said Luke Berg, Amyiah’s lawyer and deputy counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative group that has been involved in high-profile battles over voter eligibility in the battleground state.
The lawsuit came almost two weeks after Mr. Berg sent a letter on April 3 to Sheriff Konrath requesting an apology.The lawsuit came almost two weeks after Mr. Berg sent a letter on April 3 to Sheriff Konrath requesting an apology.
Samuel Hall, a lawyer for the sheriff and his sergeant, said in an emailed statement that Sheriff Konrath and Sergeant Klump denied that Amyiah was “threatened with arrest or prosecution.”Samuel Hall, a lawyer for the sheriff and his sergeant, said in an emailed statement that Sheriff Konrath and Sergeant Klump denied that Amyiah was “threatened with arrest or prosecution.”
Mr. Hall told The Associated Press last week that Amyiah’s messages “caused distress and panic within the school system and law enforcement acted at the request of school health officials in a good faith effort to avoid unfounded panic.”Mr. Hall told The Associated Press last week that Amyiah’s messages “caused distress and panic within the school system and law enforcement acted at the request of school health officials in a good faith effort to avoid unfounded panic.”
There have been more than 4,000 cases of the coronavirus in Wisconsin, according to data compiled by The New York Times; three of them are in Marquette County, which has a population of more than 15,000 and is roughly 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee.There have been more than 4,000 cases of the coronavirus in Wisconsin, according to data compiled by The New York Times; three of them are in Marquette County, which has a population of more than 15,000 and is roughly 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
In his police report, Sergeant Klump said Sheriff Konrath had heard about Amyiah’s posts from the Marquette County Health Department.In his police report, Sergeant Klump said Sheriff Konrath had heard about Amyiah’s posts from the Marquette County Health Department.
The health department did not respond to requests for comment on Monday or Tuesday.The health department did not respond to requests for comment on Monday or Tuesday.
In a letter to parents on March 27, the same day the deputy knocked on the family’s door, Bob Meicher, the administrator of the Westfield School District, acknowledged that “there was a rumor floating out there that one of our students contracted Covid-19 while on the band trip to Florida two weeks ago.”In a letter to parents on March 27, the same day the deputy knocked on the family’s door, Bob Meicher, the administrator of the Westfield School District, acknowledged that “there was a rumor floating out there that one of our students contracted Covid-19 while on the band trip to Florida two weeks ago.”
“Let me assure you there is NO truth to this,” Mr. Meicher wrote. “This was a foolish means to get attention and the source of the rumor has been addressed.”“Let me assure you there is NO truth to this,” Mr. Meicher wrote. “This was a foolish means to get attention and the source of the rumor has been addressed.”
Mr. Meicher said the head of the health department was involved in “putting a stop to this nonsense.”Mr. Meicher said the head of the health department was involved in “putting a stop to this nonsense.”
The school district did not respond to requests for comment on Monday or Tuesday.The school district did not respond to requests for comment on Monday or Tuesday.
After developing the dry cough and fever, Amyiah’s mother first took her to a nearby hospital, on March 22, a week after returning from the band trip to Universal Studios and Disney World, according to the lawsuit. The doctors said that Amyiah did not meet the criteria to be tested at the time but that she had symptoms consistent with Covid-19, according to the lawsuit.After developing the dry cough and fever, Amyiah’s mother first took her to a nearby hospital, on March 22, a week after returning from the band trip to Universal Studios and Disney World, according to the lawsuit. The doctors said that Amyiah did not meet the criteria to be tested at the time but that she had symptoms consistent with Covid-19, according to the lawsuit.
Updated June 5, 2020 Updated June 2, 2020
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.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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 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.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
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’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.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.
She was sent back to her home in Oxford, Wis., and the Cohoon family was directed to quarantine for 14 days, according to the lawsuit.She was sent back to her home in Oxford, Wis., and the Cohoon family was directed to quarantine for 14 days, according to the lawsuit.
It was then, according to the lawsuit, that Amyiah posted the first update on Instagram: “Hey guys… sorry I’ve been on a long break.. I wont be back for a while longer due to me noe having the COVID-19 virus… I don’t want the attention its just the truth… I am now in self quarantine and am not allowrd to leave my room and have an inhaler since they said to go home… best of wishes. love you guys.”It was then, according to the lawsuit, that Amyiah posted the first update on Instagram: “Hey guys… sorry I’ve been on a long break.. I wont be back for a while longer due to me noe having the COVID-19 virus… I don’t want the attention its just the truth… I am now in self quarantine and am not allowrd to leave my room and have an inhaler since they said to go home… best of wishes. love you guys.”
For a few days, it seemed Amyiah would get better, her father, Richard Cohoon, said in an interview on Monday. But on March 25, her symptoms worsened again, and her mother took her to the emergency room at a hospital in Portage, Wis. She was taken in an ambulance to a hospital in Madison, after which Amyiah posted again on Instagram, saying that she was “in the ER” and “might need to stay.”For a few days, it seemed Amyiah would get better, her father, Richard Cohoon, said in an interview on Monday. But on March 25, her symptoms worsened again, and her mother took her to the emergency room at a hospital in Portage, Wis. She was taken in an ambulance to a hospital in Madison, after which Amyiah posted again on Instagram, saying that she was “in the ER” and “might need to stay.”
Amyiah was tested for the coronavirus and the test came back negative the next day. Some coronavirus tests are known to miss infections and, according to the lawsuit, doctors told the family that “Amyiah still likely had Covid-19 and had missed the window for testing positive.”Amyiah was tested for the coronavirus and the test came back negative the next day. Some coronavirus tests are known to miss infections and, according to the lawsuit, doctors told the family that “Amyiah still likely had Covid-19 and had missed the window for testing positive.”
She returned home the next day and wrote the third post on Instagram.She returned home the next day and wrote the third post on Instagram.
On Monday, nearly four weeks after her hospital stay, Amyiah said she had mostly recovered from her sickness. She is still a little tired, she said, but her strength is back.On Monday, nearly four weeks after her hospital stay, Amyiah said she had mostly recovered from her sickness. She is still a little tired, she said, but her strength is back.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” she said.“I’m feeling a lot better,” she said.