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On Politics: Dissolving the Coronavirus Task Force On Politics: Dissolving the Coronavirus Task Force
(1 day later)
Good morning and welcome to On Politics, a daily political analysis of the 2020 elections based on reporting by New York Times journalists.Good morning and welcome to On Politics, a daily political analysis of the 2020 elections based on reporting by New York Times journalists.
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President Trump said on Tuesday that the White House would soon dissolve its coronavirus task force, which has been the administration’s main source of expert advice on the pandemic and the central planning body for its response. “We will have something in a different form,” Trump said as he toured a Honeywell mask manufacturing plant in Arizona. Already, the president has stopped tying his daily news conferences to the task force’s meetings, and he is no longer flanked by members of the group at most briefings. As we noted in yesterday’s newsletter, federal experts have projected a huge surge in coronavirus cases by the end of the month, even as Trump has publicly projected confidence and pressured states to reopen. With his comments on Tuesday that the administration is moving into a new “phase” of the response, it is not yet clear what role science and empirical data will play going forward.President Trump said on Tuesday that the White House would soon dissolve its coronavirus task force, which has been the administration’s main source of expert advice on the pandemic and the central planning body for its response. “We will have something in a different form,” Trump said as he toured a Honeywell mask manufacturing plant in Arizona. Already, the president has stopped tying his daily news conferences to the task force’s meetings, and he is no longer flanked by members of the group at most briefings. As we noted in yesterday’s newsletter, federal experts have projected a huge surge in coronavirus cases by the end of the month, even as Trump has publicly projected confidence and pressured states to reopen. With his comments on Tuesday that the administration is moving into a new “phase” of the response, it is not yet clear what role science and empirical data will play going forward.
Rick Bright, a federal scientist who had been leading the administration’s search for a virus vaccine, made headlines last month when he said he had been demoted after resisting pressure to route resources toward the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. In a formal whistle-blower complaint filed on Tuesday, Bright said he had also been pressured to steer millions of dollars in contracts to the clients of a drug company executive who is close to Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. In the 89-page complaint, Bright also said that Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, and other officials in his agency had resisted requests for resources to develop drugs and vaccines against the pandemic as early as January.Rick Bright, a federal scientist who had been leading the administration’s search for a virus vaccine, made headlines last month when he said he had been demoted after resisting pressure to route resources toward the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. In a formal whistle-blower complaint filed on Tuesday, Bright said he had also been pressured to steer millions of dollars in contracts to the clients of a drug company executive who is close to Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. In the 89-page complaint, Bright also said that Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, and other officials in his agency had resisted requests for resources to develop drugs and vaccines against the pandemic as early as January.
If Trump has his way, a lawyer who served on his impeachment defense team will soon become the new inspector general in charge of overseeing much of the federal funding for virus relief. The lawyer, Brian Miller, delivered prepared testimony to the Senate on Tuesday saying that if confirmed, he would “conduct every audit and investigation with fairness and impartiality.” Trump recently ousted several inspectors general responsible for overseeing elements of the administration’s virus response. One of them was Glenn Fine, who was about to become the watchdog of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the position that Miller — who had previously served as the lead inspector at the General Services Administration — is now nominated to fill. He would oversee the use of money allocated by Congress in March as part of its major coronavirus relief bill, including $500 billion supporting the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending program, as well as loans and grants to airlines and other companies.If Trump has his way, a lawyer who served on his impeachment defense team will soon become the new inspector general in charge of overseeing much of the federal funding for virus relief. The lawyer, Brian Miller, delivered prepared testimony to the Senate on Tuesday saying that if confirmed, he would “conduct every audit and investigation with fairness and impartiality.” Trump recently ousted several inspectors general responsible for overseeing elements of the administration’s virus response. One of them was Glenn Fine, who was about to become the watchdog of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the position that Miller — who had previously served as the lead inspector at the General Services Administration — is now nominated to fill. He would oversee the use of money allocated by Congress in March as part of its major coronavirus relief bill, including $500 billion supporting the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending program, as well as loans and grants to airlines and other companies.
Many colleges and universities may be unable to reopen in the fall because of the continuing threat of the virus, which would cause a huge loss in tuition revenues. At the same time, state budgets, which help fund public educational institutions, are staring down a possible 20 percent decline in receipts next fiscal year, according to Moody’s Analytics. So what gives? According to Kevin Carey, the head of the education policy program at the think tank New America and a contributor to The Upshot, considering recent historical trends, it appears possible that public college and university budgets could be slashed, causing both tuition and student loan debt to skyrocket. After all, that’s what happened across the country after the Great Recession. Were this to happen again now, Carey writes, it’s possible that so-called public higher education would be out of reach for most of the country.Many colleges and universities may be unable to reopen in the fall because of the continuing threat of the virus, which would cause a huge loss in tuition revenues. At the same time, state budgets, which help fund public educational institutions, are staring down a possible 20 percent decline in receipts next fiscal year, according to Moody’s Analytics. So what gives? According to Kevin Carey, the head of the education policy program at the think tank New America and a contributor to The Upshot, considering recent historical trends, it appears possible that public college and university budgets could be slashed, causing both tuition and student loan debt to skyrocket. After all, that’s what happened across the country after the Great Recession. Were this to happen again now, Carey writes, it’s possible that so-called public higher education would be out of reach for most of the country.
President Trump touring the mask production plant in Phoenix on Tuesday.President Trump touring the mask production plant in Phoenix on Tuesday.
Approval of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus continues to slip, but an increasingly sizable share of Republicans now say that if anything, the government response hasn’t been too lax — it’s been overboard. These are among the findings of a Monmouth University poll released on Tuesday.Approval of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus continues to slip, but an increasingly sizable share of Republicans now say that if anything, the government response hasn’t been too lax — it’s been overboard. These are among the findings of a Monmouth University poll released on Tuesday.
In the survey, 42 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump’s handling of the pandemic — a four-percentage-point slide from April, and eight points down from March.In the survey, 42 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump’s handling of the pandemic — a four-percentage-point slide from April, and eight points down from March.
Asked about the information Trump has provided to the public about the virus, just one in three Americans said they found it helpful; 42 percent described it as harmful. Most Americans (55 percent) said his public statements about the outbreak had been largely inconsistent.Asked about the information Trump has provided to the public about the virus, just one in three Americans said they found it helpful; 42 percent described it as harmful. Most Americans (55 percent) said his public statements about the outbreak had been largely inconsistent.
In the poll, 54 percent said that the federal government had not done enough to help states hit hard by the virus, roughly on par with the results from last month. By more than two to one, Americans were more likely to worry that states would lift restrictions too quickly, rather than too slowly.In the poll, 54 percent said that the federal government had not done enough to help states hit hard by the virus, roughly on par with the results from last month. By more than two to one, Americans were more likely to worry that states would lift restrictions too quickly, rather than too slowly.
But among Republicans, there are signs of a shift.But among Republicans, there are signs of a shift.
A slight majority of G.O.P. respondents said they were more worried about things reopening too slowly, rather than too quickly. And while Democrats were more likely to say that the federal government’s efforts to contain the virus had not gone far enough, Republicans were far more likely to say the federal response had been appropriate.A slight majority of G.O.P. respondents said they were more worried about things reopening too slowly, rather than too quickly. And while Democrats were more likely to say that the federal government’s efforts to contain the virus had not gone far enough, Republicans were far more likely to say the federal response had been appropriate.
And now, for the first time, just as many Republicans (17 percent) said the federal government had in fact gone too far in its efforts to slow the virus’s spread as said it hadn’t done enough (16 percent). A month ago, Republicans were likelier to say the federal government had done too little.And now, for the first time, just as many Republicans (17 percent) said the federal government had in fact gone too far in its efforts to slow the virus’s spread as said it hadn’t done enough (16 percent). A month ago, Republicans were likelier to say the federal government had done too little.
Updated June 30, 2020
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.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
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.
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.
Similarly, while a majority of Americans across party lines expressed support for their state governments’ response to the virus, an increasingly sizable share of Republicans now view their state governments as having overstepped, reflecting the potency of a protest movement demanding an end to government-mandated social distancing.Similarly, while a majority of Americans across party lines expressed support for their state governments’ response to the virus, an increasingly sizable share of Republicans now view their state governments as having overstepped, reflecting the potency of a protest movement demanding an end to government-mandated social distancing.
In the most recent Monmouth poll, 30 percent of Republicans said their state governments' virus response had gone too far. That’s a big jump from the 11 percent of Republicans who said so last month.In the most recent Monmouth poll, 30 percent of Republicans said their state governments' virus response had gone too far. That’s a big jump from the 11 percent of Republicans who said so last month.
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