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U.S. Limits Virus Aid for Masks, Gloves and Other Medical Gear Abroad U.S. Limits Virus Aid for Masks, Gloves and Other Medical Gear Abroad
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Relief workers are broadly restricted from using United States funding to buy surgical masks, gloves and other protective medical gear to confront the coronavirus overseas, in order to keep that equipment available for health providers in America, according to regulations issued Tuesday by the United States Agency for International Development.WASHINGTON — Relief workers are broadly restricted from using United States funding to buy surgical masks, gloves and other protective medical gear to confront the coronavirus overseas, in order to keep that equipment available for health providers in America, according to regulations issued Tuesday by the United States Agency for International Development.
The new rules did grant an exception: The money can be used to buy equipment if it is produced in the part of the world where it would be used.The new rules did grant an exception: The money can be used to buy equipment if it is produced in the part of the world where it would be used.
Humanitarian aid groups have waited for months for the guidance, the topic of an intense debate within the Trump administration, as masks, gloves, ventilators and respirators were desperately needed by American health workers to care for pandemic patients in the United States.Humanitarian aid groups have waited for months for the guidance, the topic of an intense debate within the Trump administration, as masks, gloves, ventilators and respirators were desperately needed by American health workers to care for pandemic patients in the United States.
As they waited, relief groups received only a fraction of nearly $1.6 billion that Congress approved in March to send to aid workers in foreign countries.As they waited, relief groups received only a fraction of nearly $1.6 billion that Congress approved in March to send to aid workers in foreign countries.
“None of us ever wanted to do massive purchases in the United States or get into a situation where we would have been competing with cities and states for this critically needed equipment,” said Joel R. Charny, executive director of the Norwegian Refugee Council USA. “It seemed to me that the administration was getting hung up on an issue that was really, fundamentally, so easy to resolve.”“None of us ever wanted to do massive purchases in the United States or get into a situation where we would have been competing with cities and states for this critically needed equipment,” said Joel R. Charny, executive director of the Norwegian Refugee Council USA. “It seemed to me that the administration was getting hung up on an issue that was really, fundamentally, so easy to resolve.”
He called the new guidance “a reasonable policy and one that we would have welcomed six weeks ago.”He called the new guidance “a reasonable policy and one that we would have welcomed six weeks ago.”
A spokeswoman for the American aid agency did not have an immediate comment on the new guidance, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.A spokeswoman for the American aid agency did not have an immediate comment on the new guidance, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.
It requires that humanitarian aid groups that are distributing support to some of the world’s poorest or most unstable countries seek written approval before using federal funding to buy N95 respirators or other surgical face masks, medical gloves, ventilators, certain air purifiers and filters and American-made testing kits.It requires that humanitarian aid groups that are distributing support to some of the world’s poorest or most unstable countries seek written approval before using federal funding to buy N95 respirators or other surgical face masks, medical gloves, ventilators, certain air purifiers and filters and American-made testing kits.
But it allows aid workers to buy that equipment when it is intended for the global regions in which it was made — a key provision that helps local economies that also are struggling as a result of the virus.But it allows aid workers to buy that equipment when it is intended for the global regions in which it was made — a key provision that helps local economies that also are struggling as a result of the virus.
The limits on the protective medical gear will remain in place until there is a surplus of supplies available in the United States.The limits on the protective medical gear will remain in place until there is a surplus of supplies available in the United States.
In March, Congress approved $1.59 billion in pandemic assistance to be sent abroad through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. As of last week, $386 million had been released. Of that, only $11.5 million in disaster aid had been delivered to private relief groups, even though those funds are specifically meant to be rushed to distress zones.In March, Congress approved $1.59 billion in pandemic assistance to be sent abroad through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. As of last week, $386 million had been released. Of that, only $11.5 million in disaster aid had been delivered to private relief groups, even though those funds are specifically meant to be rushed to distress zones.
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.
Collectively, the aid agency and the State Department have committed more than $1 billion in pandemic assistance to more than 100 countries since April. But the vast majority of that has yet to go out the door, tied up by a complex grant process that had been further slowed by micromanagement and delayed decisions, according to people with knowledge of the funding.Collectively, the aid agency and the State Department have committed more than $1 billion in pandemic assistance to more than 100 countries since April. But the vast majority of that has yet to go out the door, tied up by a complex grant process that had been further slowed by micromanagement and delayed decisions, according to people with knowledge of the funding.
Mr. Charny said he hoped Tuesday’s guidance was a signal that more money would swiftly be delivered.Mr. Charny said he hoped Tuesday’s guidance was a signal that more money would swiftly be delivered.
Compared to other first-world countries that are trying to find financial assistance for the global pandemic response, “the United States had extra money to spend,” Mr. Charny said.Compared to other first-world countries that are trying to find financial assistance for the global pandemic response, “the United States had extra money to spend,” Mr. Charny said.