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Judge Orders Delay of First Federal Execution in 17 Years Judge Orders Delay of First Federal Execution in 17 Years
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WASHINGTON — With the Justice Department scheduled on Monday to carry out the death penalty for the first time in 17 years, a federal judge in Indiana temporarily suspended the plan on Friday after family members of the victims sought a delay, saying they could not safely travel to witness the execution because of the coronavirus.WASHINGTON — With the Justice Department scheduled on Monday to carry out the death penalty for the first time in 17 years, a federal judge in Indiana temporarily suspended the plan on Friday after family members of the victims sought a delay, saying they could not safely travel to witness the execution because of the coronavirus.
Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, is set to be executed on Monday for his part in the 1996 murder of a family of three, bringing an end to an informal federal moratorium on carrying out the death penalty. But this week, family members of his victims filed a lawsuit, asking the Justice Department to hold off until the risk of the pandemic had subsided.Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, is set to be executed on Monday for his part in the 1996 murder of a family of three, bringing an end to an informal federal moratorium on carrying out the death penalty. But this week, family members of his victims filed a lawsuit, asking the Justice Department to hold off until the risk of the pandemic had subsided.
Jane E. Magnus-Stinson, the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, arguing that the needs of the victims’ family outweighed the need for a speedy execution.Jane E. Magnus-Stinson, the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, arguing that the needs of the victims’ family outweighed the need for a speedy execution.
The Justice Department immediately filed an emergency appeal to allow the execution to be conducted as planned.The Justice Department immediately filed an emergency appeal to allow the execution to be conducted as planned.
One of the family members, Earlene Branch Peterson, 81, who lost her daughter and granddaughter to Mr. Lee’s crimes, has congestive heart failure, among other underlying conditions. Monica Veillette, 43, a niece and cousin to the victims, is asthmatic, and Ms. Veillette’s mother, 61, has underlying health conditions that predispose her to the virus, they said in their suit.One of the family members, Earlene Branch Peterson, 81, who lost her daughter and granddaughter to Mr. Lee’s crimes, has congestive heart failure, among other underlying conditions. Monica Veillette, 43, a niece and cousin to the victims, is asthmatic, and Ms. Veillette’s mother, 61, has underlying health conditions that predispose her to the virus, they said in their suit.
They argued that traveling hundreds of miles from their homes in Arkansas and Washington State and entering the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., where the execution is to be carried out, would make it dangerous for them to attend.They argued that traveling hundreds of miles from their homes in Arkansas and Washington State and entering the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., where the execution is to be carried out, would make it dangerous for them to attend.
“I can’t understand why in the face of a roaring national pandemic the government would seek to put the people who have the right to be there” in harm’s way, said Baker Kurrus, the family’s lawyer.“I can’t understand why in the face of a roaring national pandemic the government would seek to put the people who have the right to be there” in harm’s way, said Baker Kurrus, the family’s lawyer.
Many states have postponed executions during the pandemic. But Attorney General William P. Barr announced last month that the Justice Department intended to proceed with four federal executions, with Mr. Lee’s being the first.Many states have postponed executions during the pandemic. But Attorney General William P. Barr announced last month that the Justice Department intended to proceed with four federal executions, with Mr. Lee’s being the first.
Until recently, lawyers for the inmates scheduled to die were unable to see their clients in the months leading up to their scheduled execution dates because the prison barred visits from outsiders for health reasons. The lawyers said the restrictions impeded their ability to defend their clients.Until recently, lawyers for the inmates scheduled to die were unable to see their clients in the months leading up to their scheduled execution dates because the prison barred visits from outsiders for health reasons. The lawyers said the restrictions impeded their ability to defend their clients.
Some family members of Mr. Lee’s victims, including those now seeking the delay, have long opposed his execution, but they had still planned to attend.Some family members of Mr. Lee’s victims, including those now seeking the delay, have long opposed his execution, but they had still planned to attend.
Updated July 7, 2020 Updated July 15, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
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.
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.
Last-minute attempts to halt scheduled executions are common among inmates on death row. Now, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago must decide whether to maintain the lower court’s injunction or allow the execution to proceed.Last-minute attempts to halt scheduled executions are common among inmates on death row. Now, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago must decide whether to maintain the lower court’s injunction or allow the execution to proceed.
Two other executions are scheduled for next week. In both cases, spiritual advisers for the death row inmates have filed similar complaints seeking delays, citing their own pre-existing health conditions and the risks of traveling to the prison during the pandemic.Two other executions are scheduled for next week. In both cases, spiritual advisers for the death row inmates have filed similar complaints seeking delays, citing their own pre-existing health conditions and the risks of traveling to the prison during the pandemic.
Ms. Veillette said the federal government had already booked airline tickets and hotel rooms for her family’s stay near the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute. But Friday’s decision meant that those reservations may no longer be necessary.Ms. Veillette said the federal government had already booked airline tickets and hotel rooms for her family’s stay near the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute. But Friday’s decision meant that those reservations may no longer be necessary.
She said she celebrated the delay outside in her garden, tending to her flowers.She said she celebrated the delay outside in her garden, tending to her flowers.
“We can breathe and not worry about having to choose being at risk or not being there,” she said, acknowledging that the decision was not yet final. “We can breathe and put some flowers in the ground.”“We can breathe and not worry about having to choose being at risk or not being there,” she said, acknowledging that the decision was not yet final. “We can breathe and put some flowers in the ground.”