'Boris Johnson, Back on the Job, Urges Caution in Easing Covid-19 Rules' diff viewer (11/12)

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Boris Johnson, Back on the Job, Urges Caution in Easing Covid-19 Rules	Boris Johnson, Back on the Job, Urges Caution in Easing Covid-19 Rules
2020-06-17 14:26:44 UTC	2020-06-24 10:06:34 UTC (7 days later)
LONDON — A pale but vigorous-sounding Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work on Monday, declaring that the coronavirus that nearly killed him was like an “unexpected and invisible mugger” the British people had begun to wrestle to the floor but had not yet fully disabled.	LONDON — A pale but vigorous-sounding Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work on Monday, declaring that the coronavirus that nearly killed him was like an “unexpected and invisible mugger” the British people had begun to wrestle to the floor but had not yet fully disabled.
For all his determined brio, Mr. Johnson’s message to his lockdown-weary nation was somber, underscoring the hard choices that Britain faces as the economy languishes and the death toll from the virus soars above 21,000.	For all his determined brio, Mr. Johnson’s message to his lockdown-weary nation was somber, underscoring the hard choices that Britain faces as the economy languishes and the death toll from the virus soars above 21,000.
Mr. Johnson, who was discharged from the hospital only two weeks ago, signaled that the government would keep some social-distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future. To lift them too soon, he warned, would mean “not only a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster.”	Mr. Johnson, who was discharged from the hospital only two weeks ago, signaled that the government would keep some social-distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future. To lift them too soon, he warned, would mean “not only a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster.”
“This is the moment of opportunity,” Mr. Johnson said at Downing Street, before a full day of meetings. “This is the moment when we can press home our advantage. It is also the moment of maximum risk.”	“This is the moment of opportunity,” Mr. Johnson said at Downing Street, before a full day of meetings. “This is the moment when we can press home our advantage. It is also the moment of maximum risk.”
The government has said it will reassess the lockdown on May 7, and it is likely to relax some restrictions. But it is lagging badly in testing and contact tracing, which experts view as a precondition for reverting to a more normal status, like in South Korea, which pioneered an ambitious national testing program.	The government has said it will reassess the lockdown on May 7, and it is likely to relax some restrictions. But it is lagging badly in testing and contact tracing, which experts view as a precondition for reverting to a more normal status, like in South Korea, which pioneered an ambitious national testing program.
Mr. Johnson’s return will inject energy into a government response that had seemed to drift in recent weeks, analysts said. But it does not alter the fact that Britain has fared especially badly during the pandemic, with a death toll approaching that of Spain and Italy. And the figures understate the true toll by at least a third, since they do not include people who perish in nursing homes or their own houses.	Mr. Johnson’s return will inject energy into a government response that had seemed to drift in recent weeks, analysts said. But it does not alter the fact that Britain has fared especially badly during the pandemic, with a death toll approaching that of Spain and Italy. And the figures understate the true toll by at least a third, since they do not include people who perish in nursing homes or their own houses.
“His return is a fillip for the government,” said Craig Oliver, a former director of politics and communications at Downing Street. “The problem is the expectation that he can wave a magic wand, and everything will be OK.”	“His return is a fillip for the government,” said Craig Oliver, a former director of politics and communications at Downing Street. “The problem is the expectation that he can wave a magic wand, and everything will be OK.”
Other than Mr. Johnson’s reference to the mugger, there was little evidence on Monday of the glib, happy-go-lucky prime minister who resisted imposing strict social distancing measures and boasted about shaking hands with coronavirus patients during the early days of the outbreak. Now, he seems resigned to a prolonged period of disruption and worried about the risk of a renewed outbreak.	Other than Mr. Johnson’s reference to the mugger, there was little evidence on Monday of the glib, happy-go-lucky prime minister who resisted imposing strict social distancing measures and boasted about shaking hands with coronavirus patients during the early days of the outbreak. Now, he seems resigned to a prolonged period of disruption and worried about the risk of a renewed outbreak.
With the daily death toll in hospitals falling, there is evidence that Britain has passed the peak of infections. Mr. Johnson emphasized the National Health Service’s success in scaling up capacity, which insured that hospitals have not been overwhelmed in Britain as they were in northern Italy.	With the daily death toll in hospitals falling, there is evidence that Britain has passed the peak of infections. Mr. Johnson emphasized the National Health Service’s success in scaling up capacity, which insured that hospitals have not been overwhelmed in Britain as they were in northern Italy.
But the government once hoped to hold the number of fatalities to 20,000, a goal it could now miss by 10,000 or more.	But the government once hoped to hold the number of fatalities to 20,000, a goal it could now miss by 10,000 or more.
[Analysis: Boris Johnson’s press relations are turning testy as virus deaths jump.]	[Analysis: Boris Johnson’s press relations are turning testy as virus deaths jump.]
Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London who is an influential adviser to the government, warned on Sunday that easing the restrictions too abruptly could result in more than 100,000 additional deaths from a second wave of infections.	Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London who is an influential adviser to the government, warned on Sunday that easing the restrictions too abruptly could result in more than 100,000 additional deaths from a second wave of infections.
A study published last month by Dr. Ferguson and his Imperial colleagues, which projected that an unchecked spread of the virus could kill as many as 510,000 people in Britain, prompted the government to pivot from its laissez-faire response to the lockdown that Mr. Johnson imposed on March 23.	A study published last month by Dr. Ferguson and his Imperial colleagues, which projected that an unchecked spread of the virus could kill as many as 510,000 people in Britain, prompted the government to pivot from its laissez-faire response to the lockdown that Mr. Johnson imposed on March 23.
The path out of the crisis, Dr. Ferguson and other experts agreed, lies in an aggressive program of testing those with virus symptoms, and tracking their contacts, similar to what South Korea and Germany have done.	The path out of the crisis, Dr. Ferguson and other experts agreed, lies in an aggressive program of testing those with virus symptoms, and tracking their contacts, similar to what South Korea and Germany have done.
Britain, however, has struggled to reach its target of conducting 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.	Britain, however, has struggled to reach its target of conducting 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.
Though it has the capacity to conduct more than 50,000 tests, it carried out only 37,000 on Sunday, the last day for which data were available. Officials now argue that, because of a lag in reporting the tests, it will not be clear by the deadline of Thursday whether it has met its target.	Though it has the capacity to conduct more than 50,000 tests, it carried out only 37,000 on Sunday, the last day for which data were available. Officials now argue that, because of a lag in reporting the tests, it will not be clear by the deadline of Thursday whether it has met its target.
“We’re moving in the right direction in terms of a commitment to increase testing, start contact tracing again and brainstorm quarantine arrangements,” said Devi Sridhar, director of the global health governance program at Edinburgh University.	“We’re moving in the right direction in terms of a commitment to increase testing, start contact tracing again and brainstorm quarantine arrangements,” said Devi Sridhar, director of the global health governance program at Edinburgh University.
“But we need to be moving much faster as each day in lockdown is costly,” she said, “and lockdown can only be lifted when there is a good handle on the virus.”	“But we need to be moving much faster as each day in lockdown is costly,” she said, “and lockdown can only be lifted when there is a good handle on the virus.”
~~Updated June ~~16,~~ 2020~~	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 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.	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
Britain has also fallen short in providing doctors and nurses with masks and gloves. And it had faced criticism for its secrecy over the membership and deliberations of a scientific panel that advises the government on key decisions.	Britain has also fallen short in providing doctors and nurses with masks and gloves. And it had faced criticism for its secrecy over the membership and deliberations of a scientific panel that advises the government on key decisions.
On Monday, Downing Street announced a minor concession by saying it would name the members of the panel — the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, known as SAGE — but only if they agreed to be publicly identified.	On Monday, Downing Street announced a minor concession by saying it would name the members of the panel — the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, known as SAGE — but only if they agreed to be publicly identified.
The debate among scientists will affect critical decisions about when and how to relax the lockdown, which in turn could temper the dire economic impact of the pandemic. Tensions within the cabinet over the economic fallout have spilled into a wider debate in Mr. Johnson’s Conservative Party.	The debate among scientists will affect critical decisions about when and how to relax the lockdown, which in turn could temper the dire economic impact of the pandemic. Tensions within the cabinet over the economic fallout have spilled into a wider debate in Mr. Johnson’s Conservative Party.
“There is a recognition that we need to do much more to get the economy moving,” Graham Brady, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench lawmakers, told the BBC. “There is a limit to how long people will tolerate those things.”	“There is a recognition that we need to do much more to get the economy moving,” Graham Brady, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench lawmakers, told the BBC. “There is a limit to how long people will tolerate those things.”