A woman lies in bed with the flu. marka/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
A central player in the fight against the novel coronavirus is our immune system. It protects us against the invader and can even be helpful for its therapy. But sometimes it can turn against us.
How does our immune system react to the coronavirus?
<p>The coronavirus is — like any other virus — not much more than a shell around genetic material and a few proteins. To replicate, it needs a host in the form of a living cell. Once infected, this cell does what the virus commands it to do: copy information, assemble it, release it.</p><p>But this does not go unnoticed. Within a few minutes, the body's immune defense system intervenes with its innate response: Granulocytes, scavenger cells and killer cells from the blood and lymphatic system stream in to fight the virus. They are supported by numerous plasma proteins that either act as messengers or help to destroy the virus.</p><p>For many viruses and bacteria, this initial activity of the immune system is already sufficient to fight an intruder. It often happens very quickly and efficiently. We often notice only small signs that the system is working: We have a cold, a fever. </p><p>Interferons are a subgroup of signaling proteins that are normally secreted by infected cells. SARS-CoV-1, which was responsible for the SARS epidemic in 2003, appears to have suppressed the production of one of these interferons and thus at least delayed the attraction of immune cells. To what extent this is also the case with SARS-CoV-2, the name given to the coronavirus behind the current pandemic, is still unclear. However, interferons support the body's own virus defense and are now being tested as a therapy in clinical trials.</p><p>At a certain point, however, the host response is so strong that its effect can be counterproductive. For example, numerous immune cells can enter our lungs and cause the membrane through which oxygen normally passes from the air into the blood to thicken. The exchange of gases is restricted, and in the worst case, ventilation may be necessary.</p><p>Sometimes the reaction can overshoot and be directed against healthy cells as well. This could also be the case with the novel coronavirus. So drugs are also being tested that suppress an excessive immune reaction and that are already known from the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The balance between protective and overly aggressive immune processes in dealing with the coronavirus is currently a big mystery. This must now be investigated, says Achim Hörauf, Director of the <a href="http://www.microbiology-bonn.de/immip/" target="_blank">Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology</a> at the University of Bonn. </p><p>After a time delay, the acquired immune system finally sets itself in motion. It is different for every person and depends on what we have experienced and with which pathogens we have come into contact. While T cells help destroy infected cells, B cells form antibodies that can keep the virus in check. In the case of the coronavirus, these are neutralizing antibodies that bind to the spike protein of the virus. This is the site of attack of the virus, with which it enters the host, i.e. our human cell. Neutralizing antibodies specifically incapacitate the spike protein. Our immune system remembers the antibodies it has produced and is thus prepared for a new infection with the same intruder.<br></p>
Is there an immunity? How long does it last?
<p>The good news is that it is very likely there is an immunity. This is suggested by the proximity to other viruses, epidemiological data and animal experiments. Researchers <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.13.990226v1" target="_blank">infected four rhesus monkeys,</a> a species close to humans, with SARS-CoV-2. The monkeys showed symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, developed neutralizing antibodies and recovered after a few days. When the recovered animals were reinfected with the virus, they no longer developed any symptoms: They were immune. </p><p>The bad news: It is not (yet) known how long the immunity will last. It depends on whether a patient has successfully developed neutralizing antibodies. Achim Hörauf estimates that the immunity should last at least one year. Within this year, every new contact with the virus acts as a kind of booster vaccination, which in turn might prolong the immunity.</p><p>"The virus is so new that nobody has a reasonable immune response," says the immunologist. He believes that lifelong immunity is unlikely. This "privilege" is reserved for viruses that remain in the body for a long time and give our immune system a virtually permanent opportunity to get to know it. Since the coronavirus is an RNA (and not a DNA) virus, it cannot permanently settle in the body, says Hörauf.</p><p>The Heidelberg immunologist <a href="https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/immunologie/immunologie" target="_blank">Stefan Meuer</a> predicts that the novel coronavirus will also mutate like all viruses. He assumes that this could be the case in 10 to 15 years: "At some point, the acquired immunity will no longer be of any use to us because then another coronavirus will return, against which the protection that has now been formed will not help us because the virus has changed in such a way that the antibodies are no longer responsible. And then no vaccination will help either."</p>How can we take advantage of the antibody response of the immune system?
<p>Researchers are already collecting plasma from people who have successfully survived an infection with SARS-CoV-2 and are using it to treat a limited number of patients suffering from COVID-19. The underlying principle: <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-drugs-can-antibodies-from-survivors-help/a-52806428" target="_blank">passive immunization.</a> The studies carried out to date have shown positive results, but they have usually been carried out on only a few people.</p><p>At best, passive immunization is used only when the patient's own immune system has already started to work against the virus, says Achim Hörauf: "The longer you can leave the patients alone with the infection before you protect them with passive immunization, the better." Only through active immunization can one be protected in the long term. At the same time, it is difficult to recognize the right point in time.</p><p>PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are currently used to find out whether a person is infected with the coronavirus. With the help of PCR, it is not possible to tell whether or not there is reproducible viral RNA; it is just a proof of whether the virus is still present, dead or alive. A PCR test cannot tell us whether our immune system has already intervened, i.e. whether we have had contact with the virus in the past, have formed antibodies and are now protected. Researchers are therefore working on tests that check our blood for the presence of antibodies. They are already in use in Singapore, for example, and are nearing completion in the USA. With the help of these tests, it would finally be possible to gain an overview <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/corona-confusion-how-to-make-sense-of-the-numbers-and-terminology/a-52825433" target="_blank">of the unclear case numbers.</a> In addition, people who have developed antibodies against the virus could be used at the forefront of health care, for example. An "immunity passport" is even under discussion.</p>Is it possible to become infected and/or ill several times with the coronavirus?
<p>"According to all we know, it is not possible with the same pathogen," says Achim Hörauf. It is possible to become infected with other coronaviruses or viruses from the SARS or MERS group if their spike proteins look different. "As far as the current epidemic is concerned, it can be assumed that people who have been through COVID-19 will not become ill from it for the time being and will not transmit the virus any further," he says.</p>How long before you're no longer contagious?
<p>A study <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2196-x" target="_blank">carried out on the first coronavirus patients in Germany</a> showed that no viruses that are capable of replication can be found from day eight after the onset of symptoms, even though PCR can still detect up to 100,000 gene copies per sample. This could change the current quarantine recommendations in the future.</p><p>According to the Robert Koch Institute, patients can currently be discharged from hospital if they show two negative PCR samples from the throat within 24 hours. If they have had a severe case of the disease, they should remain in domestic isolation for another two weeks. For each discharge, whether from hospital or home isolation, they should have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.</p>Why do people react differently to the virus?
<p>While some people get off with a mild cold, others are put on ventilators or even die of SARS-Cov-2. Especially people with <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-who-is-particularly-at-risk-and-why/a-52710881" target="_blank">pre-existing conditions</a> and older people seem to be worst-affected by the virus. Why? This is the hottest question at the moment.</p><p>It will still take a very, very long time to understand the mechanistic, biological basis for why some people are so much more severely affected than others, virologist Angela Rasmussen told <em>The Scientist</em>. "The virus is important, but the host response is at least as important, if not more important," her colleague Stanley Perlman told the magazine.</p><p>Stefan Meuer sees a fundamental survival principle of nature in the different equipment and activity of our immune systems: "If we were all the same, one and the same virus could wipe out the entire human species at once. Due to the genetic range, it is quite normal that some people die from a viral disease while others do not even notice it. "</p><p>Achim Hörauf also suspects immunological variants that could be genetically determined. Since interstitial pneumonia is observed with the coronavirus, the focus is probably on an overreaction of the immune system. However, it is also possible that each person affected may have been loaded with a different dose of the virus, which in turn leads to different outcomes. And finally, it makes a difference how robust the body and lungs are: Competitive athletes simply have more lung volume than long-time smokers. </p>From Your Site Articles
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By Charli Shield
At unsettling times like the coronavirus outbreak, it might feel like things are very much out of your control. Most routines have been thrown into disarray and the future, as far as the experts tell us, is far from certain.
<p>But there are still lots of things you can do — aside from social distancing and washing your hands with soap — to protect your health and wellbeing. </p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/how-to-stay-healthy-at-home-during-the-coronavirus-lockdown/a-52903539" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2645583333#/" target="_self"></a></em><em></em></p>
Eating Well
<p>Without a vaccine, none of us can entirely eliminate our risk of contracting coronavirus. And experts say that's still 18 to 24 months away.</p><p>But eating as healthily as possible is important not only for our physical health, but our <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y" target="_blank">psychological well-being,</a> too. A healthy diet has been shown to reduce our risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, as well as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26317148" target="_blank">depression</a> and anxiety.</p><p>You don't have to follow a particular diet, just avoid processed foods as they tend to be high in sugar. </p><p>The best foods for our mental health are generally the healthiest foods. Complex carbohydrates, found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains, provide important nourishment for our brains as they slowly release energy, which also stabilizes our moods.</p><p><span></span>A balanced diet ideally includes a variety of foods high in vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as the minerals iron, zinc and selenium.</p><p>B vitamins, found in green vegetables like broccoli and spinach, beans, bananas, eggs, poultry, fish and beetroot, are important for our <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/" target="_blank">brain</a> and it's happiness chemicals, serotonin and dopamine. A lack of B6, B12 and folate (B9) are common in cases of depression. </p><p>It's also vital to look after our gut health, which a growing body of research shows has a remarkable impact on our <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25415497" target="_blank">mood and behavior</a>. Prebiotics and probiotics, found in fermented foods like kefir, tempeh, sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26645350" target="_blank">reduce inflammation</a>, <a href="https://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40101-016-0101-y" target="_blank">boost our moods </a>and cognitive function.</p><p>In its tips for coping with the stress of the coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminds us not to "use smoking, alcohol or other drugs to deal with your emotions." They recommend speaking to a health worker or counsellor if you're feeling overwhelmed. </p>Sleeping Soundly
<p>Sleep is essential for our bodies to repair cells, clear toxins, consolidate our memories and process information. There's good evidence that sleep deprivation can have major impacts on our health — negatively affecting our <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/36/7/1059/2453875" target="_blank">psychological wellbeing</a> concentration and even our <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3792375/pdf/aasm.36.11.1597.pdf" target="_blank">emotional intelligence</a>.</p><p>It can also increase our risk of developing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763416302184?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">chronic health conditions</a>, like diabetes, obesity and heart disease.</p><p>Just like our schedules for eating, working and exercising, it's important to sustain a regular sleep routine. For most people, between six to nine hours a night is sufficient. Going to bed and waking up at a similar time each day can help maintain a sense of normality, and help you follow through with plans.</p><p>If you're finding it difficult to get to sleep because you're lying awake worrying, try to limit your consumption of the news before bed. It can also be helpful to reduce your exposure to screens in the evening, as the effect of the blue light on our retinas can disrupt our sleep quality.</p>Exercising Enough
<p>Exercise releases chemicals in the body that <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199724010-00002" target="_blank">make us feel good</a>, and it's also been linked to better sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29108442" target="_blank">improved memory</a> and cognition.</p><p>Team sports may be off the agenda, but you can certainly still exercise on your own, says Marcus Thormann, owner of a high-tech fitness studio in western Germany. He recommends moderate movement for 30 minutes per day, as backed by <a href="https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_adults/en/" target="_blank">the WHO</a>. </p><p>"You can even break that up into 10 minute sections — 10 minutes in the morning, 10 in the afternoon, and 10 in the evening. When you've established that as a daily routine, then your day will be better structured as well," he told DW.</p><p>Many fitness instructors — yoga and pilates, personal trainers, dance teachers — are offering their classes online during the outbreak, some of them for free. All you need is a mat or towel on the floor and a reliable internet connection. </p><p>Or, as Thormann points out, just a good dose of creativity. "I saw a social media post about a guy who used his 7-meter balcony, so about 20 feet in length, to run an <em>entire marathon</em>." </p><p>While that's "a very extreme example," Thormann says, there are many ways to stimulate your body's circulation. He suggests "walking up and down the stairs in your home, or in your building, for example. Or, you could jog in place inside, or do some shadow boxing, or jumping jacks, or sit-ups, or push-ups."</p><p>While the area you can roam outside might be limited during lockdown, going outdoors, even briefly, has been shown to improve people's <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/112/28/8567" target="_blank">state of mind</a>. Even if a short walk once per day is all you can manage, research suggests <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3" target="_blank">just two hours a week</a> in nature is linked with better health and wellbeing.</p><p>But be careful not to exercise if you have flu-like symptoms, or if you feel exhausted.</p>Social Connection
<p>Now more than ever, we need our friends. Evidence shows that <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316" target="_blank">social connectedness</a> is as important for our health as diet, movement and sleep.</p><p>No, you can't have a dinner party or a picnic in lockdown — in person! But not all social interactions have to be face-to-face to be meaningful. Try recreating them through video calls — you could organize a virtual dinner via apps like Zoom, Houseparty or good old Google Hangouts, or take a friend on a virtual walk or do a housebound activity together, like craft or drawing. </p><p>Think of it as being distantly social</p>Calming Activities
<p>While it might seem like the world is only talking about one topic right now, enforced social isolation could also provide the perfect opportunity for many people to take a break from the news cycle. </p><p>What do you usually not have time for? Gardening, cooking, pickling, puzzles, craft, sewing, learning to meditate, building furniture, reading that pile of books on your bedside?</p><p>Now could be the perfect time to do them all, or some, or half of a few — whatever you can manage.</p><p>Through it all, remember as the <a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/coping-with-stress.pdf?sfvrsn=9845bc3a_2" target="_blank">WHO has advised</a>, to "draw on skills you have used in the past that have helped you manage previous adversities."</p>From Your Site Articles
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800,000 Doctors to Trump: Heed Expert Warnings and End Dangerous Campaign Against Social Distancing
29 March
Popular
A woman walks to her train in Grand Central Terminal as New York City attempts to slow down the spread of coronavirus through social distancing on March 27. John Lamparski / Getty Images
By Julia Conley
A council representing more than 800,000 doctors across the U.S. signed a letter Friday imploring President Donald Trump to reverse his call for businesses to reopen by April 12, warning that the president's flouting of the guidance of public health experts could jeopardize the health of millions of Americans and throw hospitals into even more chaos as they fight the coronavirus pandemic.
<p>The Council of Medical Specialty Societies — a coalition comprised of such physicians' groups as the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the American College of Preventive Medicine — <a href="https://cmss.org/statement_covid-19_restrictions/" target="_blank">called for</a> the president's leadership in encouraging Americans to continue practicing social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.</p>
<div id="2b7f8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f92346105e12f7b413243480085a97d8"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1243544672267579394" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">This statement from 800,000 physicians asks Trump to not lift social distancing restrictions until public health an… https://t.co/6zpjzXv1Fi</div> — Jenna Amatulli (@Jenna Amatulli)<a href="https://twitter.com/ohheyjenna/statuses/1243544672267579394">1585319128.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"Significant COVID-19 transmission continues across the United States, and we need your leadership in supporting science-based recommendations on social distancing that can slow the virus," the council<a href="https://cmss.org/statement_covid-19_restrictions/" target="_blank"> wrote</a>. "Statewide efforts alone will not sufficiently control this public health crisis."</p><p>While <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-stay-at-home-order.html" target="_blank">governors and mayors across the country</a> have issued shelter-in-place orders to the public and warned their communities that it could take <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/03/19/newsom-orders-all-40m-californians-to-stay-home-in-nations-strictest-state-lockdown-1268248" target="_blank">several weeks of vigilance</a> — with restaurants and schools closed and many people leaving home only for essentials — in order to "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of the virus, Trump <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-coronavirus-easter-evangelical_n_5e7ce02ac5b6cb9dc19c456f" target="_blank">said</a> Monday he wants businesses across the country to reopen by Easter.</p><p>"You'll have packed churches all over our country. I think it would be a beautiful time," Trump <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-coronavirus-easter-evangelical_n_5e7ce02ac5b6cb9dc19c456f" target="_blank">said </a>this week about his target of Easter, interpreted by some as a nod to evangelical Christian voters. Last weekend the president also <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/23/going-get-millions-people-killed-all-caps-tweet-trump-again-undermines-expert" target="_blank">suggested</a> that the "cure" of temporarily shutting down businesses would be "worse than the disease," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus&variant=show&region=TOP_BANNER&context=storyline_menu" target="_blank">which has killed</a> more than 1,500 Americans so far and has sickened nearly 100,000.</p><p>Following the president's statements, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a right-wing Republican, suggested social distancing measures are a matter of partisanship and represent a cultural divide between conservatives and liberals.</p><p>"Y'all, we are not California, we're not New York," Ivey <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-stay-at-home-order.html" target="_blank">told</a> reporters about her decision to keep Alabama's economy running.</p><p>This coming Tuesday Trump is<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/27/trump-reopen-country-coronavirus-151841" target="_blank"> expected</a> to give more details about his plans to reopen the economy after just 15 days of social distancing implemented by the White House.</p><p>In its letter the council wrote that rather than treating the pandemic as a partisan issue, Trump must follow the guidance of public health experts and encourage all Americans to do the same.</p><p>"A strong nationwide plan that supports and enforces social distancing — and recognizes that our health and our economy are inextricably linked — should remain in place until public health and medical experts indicate it can be lifted," the letter reads.</p><p>"Federal, state, and local governments should only set a date for lifting nationwide social distancing restrictions consistent with assessments by public health and medical experts," it continued. "Lifting restrictions sooner will gravely jeopardize the health of all Americans and extend the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/28/800000-doctors-trump-heed-expert-warnings-and-end-dangerous-campaign-against-social" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><em></em></p>
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Donald Trump during a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on Friday, March 13. Zach Roberts / NurPhoto / Getty Images
By Jon Queally
Climate action groups and progressive critics expressed disappointment and outrage on Friday afternoon after President Donald Trump — despite a continued failure to offer far-reaching support to the U.S. public — moved to bolster the bottom lines of oil and gas companies by announcing a massive federal purchase for the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
<p>"Based on the price of oil, I've also instructed the Secretary of Energy to purchase at a very good price large quantities of crude oil for storage in the U.S. strategic reserve," Trump announced during a White House press conference — surrounded by CEOs from major corporations, including Walmart, CVS, and Target — in which he also declared an official national emergency in order to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus. </p>
<p><span>"We're going to fill it right up to the top," said of the SPR, but critics were quick to point out that move has everything to do with helping his wealthy friends and cronies in the fossil fuel industry, and nothing to do with helping average people now under threat from the spreading pandemic.</span></p><p>"Trump has once again put the interests of oil and gas executives ahead of the interests of people and communities," said Alex Doukas of Oil Change International. "With this move, Trump has rolled out a plan to prop up U.S. oil companies before he has even bothered to guarantee paid sick leave for US workers who are going to be on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis for weeks to come."</p><p>The news came Friday as additional school closures were announced for states nationwide, grocery store shelves were wiped clean, and worry continues to spread about just how extensive the outbreak will become.</p><p>Greenpeace warned that the total cost of the oil purchase "could exceed $2.6 billion in public funds," a stark comparison when put next to the proposal put forth by House Democrats just hours earlier. Introducing the "<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/Families%20First%20summary.pdf" target="_blank">Families First Coronavirus Response Act</a>" which calls for an estimated $1.7 billion aimed at helping working families and children to weather the public health crisis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "The American people expect and deserve a coordinated, science-based and whole-of-government response to keep them and their loved ones safe: a response that puts families first to stimulate the economy."</p><p>By putting his administration's emphasis on bailing out the oil industry, John Noël, a senior climate campaigner for Greenpeace USA, said the president is doing the opposite of putting people first.</p><p>"Trump's response to a global pandemic is to put billionaires and corporate polluters ahead of American families. There's no evidence that this handout would protect jobs, pensions, benefits, or ease the hardships facing fossil fuel workers or communities confronting the COVID-19 outbreak right now. It's nothing more than a gift to the industry that created the climate crisis."</p><p>Doukas agreed, calling it "wildly inappropriate" for Trump "to abuse the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a tool to prop up the oil and gas industry at a time when the White House should be focusing on how to help everyday people in the US."</p><p>"<span data-redactor-tag="span" data-verified="redactor">Where is the relief for workers grappling with caring for their families, retail workers risking exposure every day, families grappling with debt and mounting bills while their livelihoods are put at risk?" he asked. "No, today President Trump focused on propping up polluting industries and trotting out CEOs to sell their wares."</span></p><p><span data-redactor-tag="span" data-verified="redactor">Despite the criticisms from those focused on the needs of families, it appeared the announcement during what was dubbed Trump's "<a href="https://twitter.com/matthewstoller/status/1238554138990051331" target="_blank">Shock Doctrine press conference</a>" had the <a href="https://apnews.com/28ddddf46b0a8a7bdcfdeacf51a21961?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP" target="_blank">desired result</a>.</span></p>
<p>As CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/trump-asks-energy-department-to-purchase-oil-for-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve.html" target="_blank">reported</a>, following Trump's late-day announcement, "crude futures jumped 5%" in the last hour of market trading.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/13/shock-doctrine-press-conference-trump-bails-out-oil-industry-not-us-families" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>. </em><em></em></p>
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A researcher works in a lab that is developing testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus at Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation on Feb. 28 in Nutley, New Jersey. Kena Betancur / Getty Images News / Getty Images
By Michael Halpern
The Trump administration is scrambling to reconcile the president's contradictions of statements made by federal health scientists about the emerging coronavirus crisis. Their solution: muzzle scientists, require that all statements be politically vetted through Vice President Pence, and punish federal employees who draw attention to gross negligence. This is a highly dangerous power grab that undermines both emergency response and public faith in the reliability of information coming out of the government. And it speaks to the incompetence and incoherence of the response to this crisis so far.
<p>It's hard to keep track of the number of Trump appointees <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/opinion/coronavirus-trump.html" target="_blank">who should know basic facts about the coronavirus but don't</a>. Then yesterday, we learned that the actual public health experts in government <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/us-coronavirus-pence.html" target="_blank">would no longer be allowed to speak publicly about the outbreak</a> without the vice president's blessing. Via The New York Times:</p><blockquote><em>"Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the country's leading experts on viruses and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told associates that the White House had instructed him not to say anything else without clearance."'</em></blockquote>
<p>CDC <a href="https://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/ppt/CERC_Crisis_Communication_Plans.pdf" target="_blank">already has a 65-page manual for communicating complex scientific information</a> to the public in times of crisis. "Clearance" by the White House will not improve this function.</p><p>Later yesterday afternoon, the Washington Post reported that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/02/27/us-workers-without-protective-gear-assisted-coronavirus-evacuees-hhs-whistleblower-says/" target="_blank">government health officials were sent to take in evacuees without proper training or protective gear</a>. An employee who raised concerns has filed a whistleblower complaint after facing retaliation. According to the Post:<span></span></p><blockquote><em>"The whistleblower is seeking federal protection because she alleges she was unfairly and improperly reassigned after raising concerns about the safety of these workers to HHS officials, including those within the office of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. She was told Feb. 19 that if she does not accept the new position in 15 days, which is March 5, she would be terminated."</em></blockquote><p>As chronicled by UCS's Anita Desikan, previous Trump administration actions <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/anita-desikan/trump-administration-has-hindered-ability-to-respond-to-coronavirus" target="_blank">have already compromised government response</a>. The State Department <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-diamond-princess-cruise-americans/2020/02/20/b6f54cae-5279-11ea-b119-4faabac6674f_story.html" target="_blank">overruled objections by CDC scientists</a> and allowed 14 people who tested positive for the virus to fly together with non-infected people. Global disease surveillance systems were weakened. Initiatives to better understand viruses in animals were shuttered. And National Security Council global health security experts were pushed out the door.</p><p>We already know that this White House prioritizes the president's ego over giving the public the information it needs. Remember <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/tag/sharpiegate#.XlkL-pNKhp8" target="_blank">Sharpiegate</a>? The president erroneously claimed that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. The professional civil service staff at the National Weather Service clarified that the state was not in the path of the storm. That's their job.</p><p>Rather than admit a mistake, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/11/us/politics/trump-alabama-noaa.html" target="_blank">ordered the acting NOAA administrator to repudiate the experts</a> and prevent other scientists from talking about the path of the storm. <em>During the hurricane.</em> Under termination threats, NOAA political appointees buckled, telling professional staff that the even when public safety is concerned, the president is always right.</p><p>We know that the president will fire anyone who crosses him, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/responding-to-news-of-russian-interference-trump-sends-chilling-message-to-us-intelligence/2020/02/22/1c63faec-5502-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html" target="_blank">even leaders within the intelligence services</a>, with nary a whimper from his allies in Congress who claim to care about the Constitution. The emperor will be sure that nobody will tell him when he has no clothes.</p><p>What will happen now that the White House has a compelling self-interest in downplaying the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in light of the plummeting stock market? Don't count on Pence, who was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/us-coronavirus-pence.html" target="_blank">overheard complaining</a> that he had "nothing to do."</p><p>There is no substitute for experienced government professional staff who are focused on the public interest. That becomes even more critical in times of emergency. If this censorship and retaliation trend continues, we can expect more gross incompetence in handling the virus' spread. More people will get needlessly sick and more people will needlessly die.</p><p>If the White House has no qualms about misleading the public about weather forecasts, how can we possibly expect them to tell the truth about a major public health crisis? Enough with the political vetting. We need to hear directly from the experts.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/author/michael-halpern#.XlpqOJNKg6U" target="_blank">Michael Halpern</a> is an expert on political interference in science and solutions to reduce suppression, manipulation, and distortion of government science.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a daily press briefing on COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, at the WHO headquarters on Feb. 28 in Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
The World Health Organization on Friday raised the global risk of the new coronavirus to its highest level and reiterated the necessity of worldwide containment efforts as U.S. President Donald Trump continued to face widespread criticism over how his administration has handled the public health crisis so far.
<p>Since the coronavirus disease (<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019" target="_blank">COVID-19</a>) outbreak began in Wuhan, China late last year, it has infected more than 83,000 people globally, killing over 2,800, <a href="https://apnews.com/992b7aabcda042ecf7c9f0e42aaf7200" target="_blank">according to</a> the Associated Press. A large majority of the cases have been in mainland China; however, the virus has reached more than 50 countries, with hundreds of confirmed cases in South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran.</p>
<p>"Our epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously, and we have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at a global level," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus <a href="https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-diretor-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---28-february-2020" target="_blank">explained</a> Friday during a press conference in Geneva with other officials from the United Nations agency.</p><p>"What we see at the moment are linked epidemics of COVID-19 in several countries, but most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases. We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities," Tedros said. "As long as that's the case, we still have a chance of containing this virus, if robust action is taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients and trace contacts."</p>
<div id="3d3a0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5NX6DJ1582978216"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1233418103406628865" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOAFRO @WHOEMRO @WHOSEARO "🔟 it’s normal & understandable to feel anxious… https://t.co/6mOTB32F4L</div> — World Health Organization (WHO) (@World Health Organization (WHO))<a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/statuses/1233418103406628865">1582904766.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20200228-who-upgrades-global-risk-of-coronavirus-spread-to-maximum-level" target="_blank">told</a> reporters Friday that "this is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready."</p><p>Ryan <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20200228-who-upgrades-global-risk-of-coronavirus-spread-to-maximum-level" target="_blank">added</a> that it "unhelpful" to ask whether the outbreak is now considered a pandemic, because doing so would mean "we're essentially accepting that every human on the planet will be exposed to that virus. The data does not show that." However, he warned, "if we don't take action ... that may be a future that we have to experience."</p><p>As Common Dreams <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/25/cdc-says-americans-should-brace-significant-disruptions-amid-warnings-coronavirus" target="_blank">reported</a> Tuesday, Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch has predicted that the virus could ultimately infect between 40 and 70% of the global population, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging U.S. residents to prepare for "significant disruption in their daily lives."</p><p>The CDC is tracking COVID-19 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html" target="_blank">cases</a> in the U.S. on its website. The federal agency has also published <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">information</a> about the virus and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">national containment response</a>, which includes deploying CDC staffers to dozens of sites across the country.</p><p>Despite the agency's efforts, Trump has come under fire for his administration's response to the outbreak. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) <a href="https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1233405438718291974" target="_blank">tweeted</a> Friday that "we're looking at a serious <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-stock-market-coronavirus-correction-20200228-mojlyp5s2nc3bpsnlqnr7zhaqa-story.html" target="_blank">economic downturn</a> because of coronavirus — and the Trump administration is bungling every aspect of this crisis."</p><p>Trump announced Wednesday night that he was appointing Vice President Mike Pence to lead the administration's coronavirus task force — a move that was <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/27/ocasio-cortez-says-putting-pence-charge-coronavirus-effort-irresponsible-because-he" target="_blank">pilloried</a> as "utterly irresponsible" by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). The <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1232841137930559490" target="_blank">congresswoman</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJeffMerkley/status/1232832117006098432" target="_blank">other critics</a> highlighted Pence's <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/2/28/21156158/mike-pence-coronavirus-trump-administration-hiv-science" target="_blank">problematic track record</a> on handling public health issues, including while he was the governor of Indiana.</p>
<div id="91138" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="JXCDUQ1582978216"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1232825677960925185" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Trump's plan for the coronavirus so far:
-Cut winter heating assistance for the poor
-Have VP Pence, who wanted to… https://t.co/pNUJzEBmRr</div> — Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders)<a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/statuses/1232825677960925185">1582763521.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Pence announced early Thursday that he was appointing a global health official, Ambassador Debbie Birx, as the "White House <span style="background-color: initial;">Coronavirus</span> Response Coordinator," a decision which Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/27/white-house-coronavirus-response-debbie-birx-117893" target="_blank">described</a> as "installing a czar-like figure under him to guide the administration's response to the outbreak after a protracted public dance around how to display the power of the federal bureaucracy to the American people."</p><p>The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/us-coronavirus-pence.html" target="_blank">reported</a> late Thursday that the White House moved to "tighten control of coronavirus messaging by government health officials and scientists, directing them to coordinate all statements and public appearances" with Pence's office, citing multiple unnamed sources. According to the Times, "Officials insist Mr. Pence's goal is not to control what experts and other officials say, but to make sure their efforts are coordinated, after days of confusion with various administration officials making contradictory statements on television."</p><p>However, the news generated concerns among individuals and watchdogs groups — and came amid <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/28/whistleblower-accuses-trump-corrupt-effort-cover-possible-exposure-federal-workers" target="_blank">reporting</a> that a whistleblower from the Department of Health and Human Services has accused the Trump administration of attempting to cover up possibly exposing federal workers to coronavirus by sending them to process Americans evacuated from Wuhan without providing essential training or equipment.</p>
<div id="e83cc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="JVYGEQ1582978216"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1233123159362211847" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">1. Trump is now requiring PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS and SCIENTISTS to clear their statements about the Coronavirus wit… https://t.co/NCFmdirAFW</div> — Judd Legum (@Judd Legum)<a href="https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/statuses/1233123159362211847">1582834446.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"There's nothing wrong with a coordinated process inside the federal government to make sure it is sending out clear, fact-based information about the widening coronavirus epidemic," said Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group. "But there's every reason to suspect something else is happening — that public health experts are being instructed to stay silent because they are sharing truthful information that the Trump administration finds inconvenient or that contradicts the random musings of the president."</p><p>"As we have seen in China's response to the outbreak, muzzling public health experts at a time of a potentially emergent public health crisis is reckless and endangers the public," Carmone added in his statement Thursday. "It should be obvious to the Trump administration, though perhaps it is not, that silencing truthful information about the coronavirus is likely to speed — not stop — its spread."</p><p>Trump and his allies, meanwhile, continue to tout the administration's efforts and dismiss critiques as politically motivated attacks. Trump's acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on Friday characterized news coverage of coronavirus as "an attempt to bring down the president" and downplayed its threat level. As Common Dreams <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/28/mick-mulvaney-suggests-media-attention-coronavirus-merely-ploy-tank-trump" target="_blank">reported</a>, some critics responded by charging that Mulvaney was the one politicizing the crisis at the expense of American families.</p>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/28/warren-accuses-trump-bungling-every-aspect-crisis-who-elevates-coronavirus-threat" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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