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Insight News
April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 16• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV)
Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, vice president of Fair Count
Congressional Black Caucus fights for accurate Census count despite pandemic By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor
harry@insightnews.com Black Americans are typically undercounted during the U.S. Census, resulting in a loss of resources and political power. Add a deadly pandemic to the mix – a pandemic that is showing a propensity to disproportionately kill Black Americans – and
fears are the 2020 Census undercount could be the worst ever. That is why members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are sounding the alarm and employing all available resources to get every person living in America counted despite the insidious COVID-19 virus wreaking havoc upon the nation. “Because of COVID-19 many people have not filled out the census,” said Rep. Steven Horsford (DNV), chair of the CBC Census
Taskforce. “Only 48 percent (of households) have responded so far, so we have a lot of work to do.” Horsford is encouraging people to respond now to the census – either online, by mail or by phone – to avoid putting door-to-door census workers and the general public in harm’s way due to the deadly strain of coronavirus that has already clamed nearly 40,000 lives in the U.S. The deadline to self-respond has been extended to Oct. 31.
Providing a tangible result to getting as many people as possible counted, Horsford used himself as an example. “The district I serve – the 4th District of Nevada – was created as a result of the 2010 Census,” said Horsford. “And I’m the first AfricanAmerican to serve in the House from the state of Nevada, so representation does matter.” According to the Color of Change, 3.7 million Blacks in America were undercounted in the 2010 Census.
“That’s a loss of billions of dollars in federal funding for our community,” said Horsford. Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, vice president of Fair Count said that number is actually much higher. “We stand to lose $1.5 trillion due to undercounting,” said Abrams McLean. “And that doesn’t mean the money disappears. It just gets shifted to other communities.” A targeted effort is underway to reach and count Blacks living in
America. According to Albert Fontenot, Jr., associate director of Decennial Census Programs, $46 million has been allocated to marketing and other efforts to attract Black respondents. That number is up from the original $37.9 million previously allocated. For those who have not yet responded to the 2020 Cencus they can do so online at www.my2020census.gov. They can also contact the Census Bureau at (800) 923-8282.
Walz signs COVID-19 relief package, takes pay cut Gov. Tim Walz signed HF 4556, together this legislation to ensures that anyone who is the fourth legislative package help Minnesotans weather uninsured will be eligible passed and signed this month COVID-19,” said Walz. “We for coverage for COVID-19 to help Minnesotans weather will continue working with testing and 100 percent the COVID-19 pandemic. our local, state, and federal federal reimbursement for the The legislation will partners to ensure Minnesotans clinic visit. The legislation increase access to affordable have the support they need also clarifies that telephone health care during the during this pandemic.” visits are telemedicine and pandemic and provide greater The legislation contains other administrative flexibility for Minnesotans ensures that when temporary and technical adjustments. as the state combats the sites are set up to deliver health Walz also signed an spread of COVID-19. care in Minnesota, Medicaid executive order implementing “Our team partnered and MinnesotaCare enrollees salary cuts for the governor, with legislators on both will be able to receive care in his chief of staff, and sides of the aisle in putting those settings. The legislation cabinet members. The order
comes on the heels of his direction to freeze hiring for executive branch positions, a measure that does not require an executive order. Executive Order 2036 implements a 10 percent salary cut for the remainder of the year for the governor, chief of staff, and cabinet agency commissioners. On April 13, Minnesota Management and Budget instituted a hiring freeze on all executive branch positions.
Gov. Tim Walz
Midwest governors announce partnership to reopen regional economy
Govs. Tim Walz, Gretchen Whitmer (Mich.), Mike DeWine (Ohio), Tony Evers (Wisc.), JB Pritzker (Ill.), Eric Holcomb (Ind.), and Andy Beshear (Ky.) announced they will work in coordination to reopen the economy in the Midwest. “We are doing everything we can to protect the people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused in our region,” The governors said in a statement. “Here in the Midwest, we are bound by our commitment to our people and the community. We recognize that our economies are all reliant on each other, and we must work together to safely reopen them so hardworking people can get
back to work and businesses can get back on their feet.” Several governors in the Northeast have formed a similar coalition, something they say is necessary due to the lack of a coordinated federal response to the pandemic. In the Midwest coalition of governors the governor of Iowa chose to opt-out of coordinating efforts. “Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky will work in close coordination to reopen our economies in a way that prioritizes our workers’ health,” read the statement from the Midwest coalition. “We look forward to working with experts and taking a fact-based, datadriven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protect families from
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Checking blood for coronavirus antibodies – 3 questions answered about serological tests and immunity
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Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act signed into law
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Page 2 • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Insight News
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The FDA is working to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and keep you and your family informed on the latest developments. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions from consumers about home tests and food safety:
Coronavirus Q&As for Consumers Q: Are there any tests that I can purchase to test myself at home for COVID-19? A: At this time, the FDA has not authorized any COVID-19 test to be completely used and processed at home. However, on April 20, 2020, the FDA authorized the first COVID-19 test for home collection of samples to be sent to a laboratory for processing and test reporting. Please note that this authorization is specific only to the test that has been issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), which has a home collection option (LabCorp’s COVID-19 RTPCR Test). Any COVID-19 test
intended for at-home testing, including self-collection of a sample at home, with or without the use of telemedicine, must be authorized by the FDA. The FDA sees the public health value in expanding the availability of COVID-19 testing through safe and accurate tests that may include home collection, and we are actively working with test developers in this space. You can find listings of tests that have been issued an EUA on the Emergency Use Authorizations page. The FDA is supportive of at-home testing for COVID-19 if there is data
and science to support consumer safety and test accuracy. We are actively working with developers on EUAs for athome tests that demonstrate appropriate validation. Home collection raises several issues of importance, including whether the lay user can safely and properly collect the sample, whether the components of the test kit are safe for use in the home environment (since some components may be toxic), proper shipment, and stability of the sample (such as, if the sample sits in a hot truck). A physician watching the collection via telemedicine
may address the issue of sample collection (if the self-collection method does not raise safety concerns), but telemedicine does not address these other issues.
Q: What are the most important things I need to know to keep myself and others safe when I go to the grocery store during the pandemic? A: There are steps you can take to help protect yourself, grocery store workers, and other shoppers, such as wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, and using wipes on the handles
of the shopping cart or basket. Read more tips in Shopping for Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Information for Consumers.
Q: Can I get the coronavirus from food, food packaging, or food containers and preparation area? A: Currently there is no evidence of food, food containers, or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19. Like other viruses, it is possible that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces or objects. It is always critical to follow the
4 key steps of food safety— clean, separate, cook, and chill. If you are concerned about contamination of food or food packaging, wash your hands after handling food packaging, after removing food from the packaging, before you prepare food for eating, and before you eat. Consumers can follow CDC guidelines on frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces. (Also see the Q&A for Consumers: Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19 for more information.)
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Insight News • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Page 3
If I could do one thing, I’d have a daycare closer to work. If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More daycare centers? More funding for Head Start? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform how billions of dollars in funding flow into your community for hundreds of services. Respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Complete the census at:
2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.
Page 4 • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Insight News
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Standing with the Asian-American community against racism, hate and fear
elevated as the “model minority” to incorrectly disparage Black and Latino communities and support racist policies to justify inequity. Now, Asian-American communities are being used The COVID-19 pandemic once again to create an enemy for has laid bare that we are all the current health and economic interconnected and that our crisis that plagues us today, success relies heavily on leading to growing cases of antiseeing one another’s humanity. Asian hate documented every By acting in love day. All are a grim reminder of for one another we can shed the legacy of white supremacy our scarcity mentality and that’s built into American life, collectively protect the most that exists to tell me and my vulnerable in our community. family that we do not belong and Unfortunately, the rhetoric from we should not work together. But, I refuse to accept people at the highest levels of this. And I refuse to let this our government seeks to fuel division by going back to their current president write that playbook of hatred and fear. history for me. As a bi-racial American of Asian and Black Instead, I choose to look towards descent, I refuse to allow my the Chinatowns, Little Tokyos, fellow Asian-Americans to be and Little Manilas where a convenient scapegoat for this AAPIs across the country are kind of division at a time when actively fueling our economy, our collective cooperation is most providing for one another, and needed. It is indecent and unjust contributing to the cultural for Asian-Americans Pacific fabric of our communities. I find Islanders (AAPI) who represent inspiration from the Chinesea wide, diverse, diaspora of American community in Seattle people, to have to wither under that is actively drawing from its a storm of physical assaults, connections to help support a hostile stares, xenophobia, health care system that was so shunning and dismissive slurs. ill-prepared for this moment. I To be clear, the support the quick mobilization coronavirus has no connection by Chinese for Affirmative to race or ethnicity. The virus Action, Asian Pacific Planning does not discriminate; people do. and Policy Council (known as For too long, the A3PCON), and San Francisco University’s Asian narrative of “yellow peril” and State American Studies Department to fear-based policies against Asian-Americans and Pacific Stop AAPI hate. I appreciate the Islanders has been used to justify acts of solidarity from leaders racist policies from the Chinese like Gov. Gavin Newsom (DExclusion Act to Japanese CA) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi internment to the Muslim travel (D-CA) that continue to stand ban. Or, when it’s convenient, up against acts of hate. And most the AAPI community has been importantly, I draw inspiration
Commentary by Debra Gore-Mann President and CEO, Greenlining Institute
from the social movements that came before that show me that when we stand together across communities, we can prevail. But we must remain vigilant against the insidious nature of fear. This fear that tries to distract us from the incompetence of our federal government and the failure of decades of policies that led to inequities that are only now being further magnified by this pandemic. This fear that tells us to hold on more tightly to what’s ours because we only exist in a zero-sum game. This fear that tells us to stay silent. Let us move well beyond our fear and our silence. Let’s build a fierceness in energizing all our communities to draw close to our AAPI friends, colleagues and family members and tell others to stop the hate and xenophobia. Let us stand together and reject discrimination and racism against all communities of color that pervade our institutions and that result in AfricanAmericans getting infected at alarmingly high rates. Racialized structures work because they rely on our buying into the belief that individuals must make it on their own and we are “less than” if we believe otherwise. I believe that we can create solutions that lift up the very best of all our communities. I am reminded of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s saying, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Those four words, “silence of our friends,” hurt us much more deeply than the
Debra Gore-Mann, president and CEO, Greenlining Institute rambling or senseless acts of our enemies. We can pull our guard up against our enemies. We are in some ways prepared when we are disrespected by those who are ignorant and want to create fear. We can rationalize the behavior of our enemies because we know they
seek to hurt us. I can be strong in the midst of blatant hatred. However, the silence of my friends? The silence is what we remember and what eventually breaks our hearts. The silence must stop and the organization I lead, Greenlining, will no longer
let racism and xenophobia go unchecked. Together we can work together to rewrite this chapter in history such that no one is left behind again. Debra Gore-Mann is Greenlining’s president and CEO.
Checking blood for coronavirus antibodies – 3 questions answered about serological tests and immunity Aubree Gordon Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan Daniel Stadlbauer Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Coronavirus testing in the United States is moving into a new phase as scientists begin looking into people’s blood for signs they’ve been infected by SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This technique
is called serological testing. Virologist Daniel Stadlbauer helped develop a serological test to detect SARSCoV-2 antibodies and helped transfer it from the research lab to the clinical setting. Epidemiologist Aubree Gordon regularly uses serological assays in her research studies on influenza and dengue fever. She’s now established serological testing for SARSCoV-2 in her research lab. Here, the collaborators explain how the technology works. What do these tests look for?
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Testing blood provides answers about who has been infected. Serological tests for SARSCoV-2 are blood tests. They look at serum or plasma – basically blood that has been processed to remove the cells – for evidence that at some point you’ve been infected with the coronavirus. These tests look for antibodies that your body’s immune system generated to fight the infection. So, the tests detect the response to the virus, not the virus itself. They cannot be used early in infection, before a patient’s body has mounted an antibody response. A serological test may focus on different types of antibodies. It can measure what are called neutralizing antibodies, which protect against the virus in question. Or it may measure what are called binding antibodies, a type that recognizes SARS-CoV-2 but does not necessarily protect against it. Several types of serological tests for SARSCoV-2 exist. Clinical laboratories and research laboratories typically use what’s called an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that consists of plastic plates that are coated with lab-made proteins that match those on the surface of the virus. For the test to be specific, it uses the spike protein from the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that gives the coronavirus its crown-like appearance. This spike protein is immunogenic, meaning it’s one of the main targets of the body’s immune response; an infected person would make antibodies against the spike protein. The test measures if and how many serum antibodies in the sample bind to
the viral proteins on the plates. Another type of serological test uses what’s called a lateral flow assay. A variety of medical tests, including at-home pregnancy tests, use this technique. It relies on liquid flowing over a pad treated with chemicals that will interact with the molecule you are testing for. Usually the test will indicate the presence or absence of antibodies through easy-to-read lines. They have the benefit of being relatively simple and rapid, but are generally less sensitive and do not give a measure of the amount of antibody present. The FDA has so far approved one test of this type, from the company Cellex. Why is it helpful to know who has antibodies against the virus? From a public health perspective, knowing who has already been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 paints a clearer picture of how widespread the virus is in the local population. Some people are asymptomatic or only came down with mild symptoms, so they might not be counted in other COVID-19 statistics. Epidemiologists can use the serology results to determine how common those cases are. Serological studies can also help figure out a death rate for COVID-19, by clarifying how many people in total have been sick. Serosurveys are currently generating this kind of data. They use the serological techniques to test a large number of serum samples from
people without a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, coming up with statistics about the group as a whole. Knowing a true rate of infection allows public health workers to better predict the likely future course of the pandemic in individual locations and figure out what interventions are needed to control an outbreak. That’s because researchers think, although no one’s entirely sure yet, that once you have antibodies to the virus it will confer immunity, meaning you’ll be protected for some period of time. Serological testing could also be used to make strategic staffing decisions about essential workers, including medical personnel – for instance, assigning to the front lines those who are have antibodies and are thus presumably immune. These people would be able to go back to work without the risk of getting sick or infecting others. Identifying individuals who were already infected and who are now potentially immune could play an important part in when and how social distancing restrictions are lifted. Broad SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing could help control the pandemic until a potent vaccine is available – the real coronavirus “end game.” Where are these tests being performed so far? Serological testing is already being used to identify people who can serve as plasma donors. In a process called plasmapheresis, doctors
transfer plasma that contains antibodies to a disease into an ill person. Plasmapheresis has been used for decades to treat a variety of diseases. In this case, plasma from someone who has recovered from COVID-19 – or was infected with the disease but didn’t develop symptoms and has a high level of antibodies – is transferred into a sick patient, typically someone critically ill. At Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, medical workers have started transferring plasma into patients with the hope of neutralizing the virus and alleviating the disease. In other locations, hospitals have started or are preparing to begin this process as well. Serological testing is also being used to diagnose individual patients who are suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases, but have not tested positive for the virus using the molecular test that looks for the virus’s genetic material. Multiple serosurveys are underway, or soon will be, in medical systems and in the general population. For instance, Beaumont Hospital System in Michigan has begun a large serosurvey in their medical staff. The Krammer and Simon research labs at Mount Sinai have started a serosurvey with samples from New York City. Commercial companies have also developed serological tests, including many rapid tests, that are making their way into the marketplace. Ultimately these may be very useful for letting individuals know their infection status. But the currently available commercial tests haven’t been validated by the FDA or a similar authority to say they work well. There is such high, unmet demand that for the most part, clinical laboratories are choosing to put together their own serological tests, using publicly available instructions, something which is common in research laboratories, but not done as often in U.S. clinical laboratories. Though it takes more time and effort than purchasing ready-togo tests, which are hard to come by anyway, it provides the clinical labs access to serological tests that have been proven to work well. [You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read The Conversation’s newsletter.] This article appeared on The Conversation.
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Insight News • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Page 5
Alec Smith, forced to ration his insulin, died just 27 days after he was dropped from his parents’ insurance due to age restrictions.
Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act signed into law Gov. Tim Walz signed the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act to provide relief to Minnesotans struggling to afford their insulin. With the price of insulin tripling over the past 10 years, Walz worked with insulin advocates to call attention to this urgent issue, keep up the pressure, and get this important bill passed through the legislature. “Minnesotans should not die because they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and affording the drug they need to survive,” said Walz. “Despite resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, the grit and determination of Minnesotans with diabetes, Minnesotans who have lost loved ones with diabetes, and their legislators moved this bill forward. It is downright inspiring. This hard-fought law will provide much-needed relief to Minnesotans struggling to afford their insulin. We must continue to put Minnesotans first and ensure people don’t struggle to afford the care they need.” The bill contains emergency and long-term components, which take
effect on July 1. Under the and the Minnesota legislature afford the insulin they need to legislation, eligible individuals for working with us to move survive,” said Rep. Michael in urgent need of insulin can Alec’s bill forward. And I’m Howard (DFL - Richfield), go to their pharmacy once in a incredibly grateful for all of the House author of the Alec Smith 12-month period and receive advocates and supporters who Insulin Affordability Act. “I a one-time, 30-day supply have fought tirelessly to pass am eternally grateful to the of insulin for a $35 co-pay. this legislation. Without them, Smith-Holt family and insulin There is an option for some we would not be here today,” advocates that delivered this applicants to receive a second said Nicole Smith-Holt, whose ‘David versus Goliath’ victory. 30-day supply in certain cases. son Alec Smith died in 2017 Stiff opposition from Big Pharma Manufacturers must reimburse from rationing his insulin. “We would not stop this mighty group pharmacies for the insulin still have a lot of work to do the of Minnesotans in our mission to they dispense or send them ensure that every person with save the lives of Minnesotans.” replacement insulin at no cost. diabetes has access to affordable The Alec Smith The long-term insulin, and this bill is a huge Insulin Affordability Act is program requires manufacturers step forward towards reaching named for 26-year-old Alec to provide insulin to eligible our ultimate goal of affordable, Smith, who was unable to afford individuals for up to one accessible insulin for all.” the $1,300 monthly cost of year, with the option to renew Over the last 10 years insulin and diabetes supplies and annually. Insulin will be insulin manufacturers have died rationing insulin after aging available in 90-day increments tripled the price of insulin, out of his parents’ insurance. for a co-pay of no more than $50. and one in four diabetics “This insulin bill “This is an incredible report rationing the life-saving is a wonderful example of accomplishment. Big Pharma drug. In 2017, the Minnesota how Minnesotans can move was defeated by the passion Department of Health estimated politicians beyond partisan and tireless hard work of the that 7.8 percent, or around gridlock. Congratulations to advocates and legislators who 330,000, Minnesotan adults all Minnesotans and a special got this done,” said Lt. Gov. had been diagnosed with either thanks to the energized activists Peggy Flanagan. “Lobbyists and Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, who, truly, made a difference,” corporations were no match for with around 18,000 new cases said Sen. Scott Jensen (R – a friend’s concern, a legislator’s being diagnosed each year. Chaska), Senate author of the determination, and above all, “Alec’s Law is our Alec Smith Insulin Affordability a mother’s undying love.” commitment to Minnesotans Act. “My deepest thanks that never again should anyone goes out to Governor Walz lose their life because they can’t
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Page 6 • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Insight News
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Outdoor recreation expanded in Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz today issued Executive Order 20-38, which expands allowable outdoor recreational activities. The changes will allow Minnesotans to continue to enjoy the outdoors close to home while following social distancing guidelines. The order allows Minnesotans to engage in a range of activities, including golfing, boating, fishing, hunting and hiking, as long as they follow new outdoor recreation guidelines. These guidelines include maintaining six-foot social distancing, avoiding crowded areas and staying close to home. “It’s important for us to stay active and enjoy the outdoors while preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Walz. “This measure will allow Minnesotans to take advantage of more opportunities to get outside, while still doing their part to keep their neighbors healthy.”
Under Executive Order 20-38, facilities that may reopen or remain open include bait shops for live bait, outdoor shooting ranges and game farms, public and private parks and trails, golf courses and driving ranges, boating and off-highway vehicle services, including marina services, dock installation and other lake services and boat and off-highway vehicle sales and repair, by appointment only . Campgrounds and dispersed camping, outdoor recreational equipment retail stores, recreational equipment rental, charter boats, launches and guided fishing remain closed. Walz said Minnesotans should continue to take part in outdoor activities close to their primary residence, stating that staying home helps protect Minnesotans from spreading COVID-19 and limits pressure on rural medical facilities and essential supplies.
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Scenes like this could soon return. Dr. Juneau Robbins tees off at the third hole of Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
Goals to create equitable distance learning opportunities
Youthprise provides laptops to families to improve access during COVID-19 crisis Youthprise, a non-profit that focuses on increasing equity for youth across the state, has partnered with the Venn foundation to provide free or very low cost laptops to families in need in response to the statemandated “stay at home” period. As schools have established distance learning, the two organizations have shifted priorities to continue to find ways to support low income families. One way is through the laptop program. “We’ve heard from many families and youth serving organizations across the state who are desperate to get their children the technology they need for distance learning, so we’re really pleased to provide a solution that can get them a device for either no or little outof-pocket cost,” said Matt Norris, policy director and director of Minnesota Afterschool Advance at Youthprise. The collaboration between Youthprise and the Venn Foundation, called Minnesota Afterschool Advance, is designed to provide equitable access to enrichment activities and educational support tools to low-income families. “We recognized that some school districts and charter
Youthprise has partnered with the Venn foundation to provide free or low-cost laptops to families in need in response to the statemandated “stay at home” period. schools weren’t equipped to provide devices to all students or that there could be families with multiple students and only one device,” said Norris, adding that is why the Twin Cities-based organization sprung into action.
To date, more than 150 families have received laptops from Youthprise. Applications have come in from 54 cities across the state, and the organization anticipates that there will continue to be a great
demand for devices. Families who make $33,500 or less – regardless of family size – qualify for the free or low-cost laptops. Youthprise is offering scholarships or covering 25 percent of the cost
of the laptops and will pay to have the devices shipped to families within a few days. While individual families must apply, community organizations can serve as a conduit to families by spreading
the word or assisting with the application process. “Some families don’t know there is an existing state tax credit that they can use for technology and educational support,” said Lynnea AtlasIngebretson, communications and advancement officer for Youthprise. “We are helping families by removing any cashflow barriers that might prevent them from accessing that tax credit. By using a recycling pool of resources that renews, the program can help families whose students need it the most – year-after-year with educational technology and art enrichment programs.” Families do not have to provide proof of income, but do need to provide an estimate of their income for 2020 and for their 2019 income. The K-12 Education Tax Credit that this program utilizes covers 75 percent of the cost of educational and arts enrichment programs, up to $1,000 per child per year, and $200 of computer hardware per household. Applications can be found at mnafterschool.org. For more information about youthprise visit youthprise.org
Blue Cross and Blue Shield and North Memorial partner on mask covers made from surgical wrap As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Minnesota, healthcare organizations have a pressing need to protect their critical supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and North Memorial Health have joined forces to create a new solution to protect masks – mask covers made of surgical wrap material that can be worn over N95 masks. One sheet of wrap can make 24 mask covers, and thousands of mask covers will be sewn for this campaign. “The safety of healthcare professionals is on the mind of all Minnesotans and paramount to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and North Memorial Health,” said Susan Schuster, principal community relations consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “We are the first in Minnesota to introduce this new mask cover design, protecting our healthcare workers who are vital to this fight, and we are proud to bring together community partners to help.” North Memorial Health doctors and Susan Berns from Fairy Finery have adapted mask designs, initially developed by the University of Florida, to turn surgical wrap into protective covers for N95 masks, which prolongs their lives by preventing them from getting dirty or damaged. N95 masks are currently in short supply, and workers are being asked to wear them for longer periods of time, often
while seeing multiple patients. “As a physician leader, the care and safety of our patients and staff is always on my mind. With commercial masks in short supply globally, we have to think creatively about managing our mask supplies. As a life-long crafter and quilter, I have been inspired by the maker community’s response to COVID-19 and saw an opportunity to adapt the available designs bringing my sewing and medical skills together and engaging the passion of the community to support healthcare workers,” said Dr. Jennifer Tessmer-Tuck, vice president, Medical Affairs at North Memorial Health Hospital. “These unique mask covers will protect our customers, as well as our healthcare professionals, allowing an extended life for our N95 masks. Our team is grateful for the support of the community and these donations. We thank our partners and the communities for leveraging their unique talents to make thousands of mask covers a reality.” It is readily available in most healthcare settings; inexpensive and not currently in short supply and can be put in an autoclave for disinfection, allowing for reuse. Sew Good Goods, a St. Paul-based 501(c)3 nonprofit (co-founded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota executive, retiree, Judy Walker) that works to create and donate high quality, hand-crafted items, is providing both instructional and financial support for the project, with $2,000 from Blue Cross kickstarting the effort.
N95 masks are currently in short supply, and workers are being asked to wear them for longer periods of time, often while seeing multiple patients. Knit & Bolt, an independent yarn and fabric shop in northeast Minneapolis, will assemble the kits and distribute them to
volunteers. Kits will include pre-cut surgical wrap and wire and mask loops made of jersey knit. Each kit has enough
materials for 24 masks. Because surgical wrap material cannot be punctured, volunteers must be able to sew skillfully without the
use of pins. Volunteers interested in being added to the waiting list to receive a kit may contact Knit & Bolt.
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Insight News • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Page 7
A researcher in a spacesuit on “Mars” outside the Mars Society Desert Research Station in Utah.
David Howells/Corbis Historical via Getty Images
Coronavirus quarantine could provide lessons for future space travel on how regular people weather isolation Inga Popovaite Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology, University of Iowa I was supposed to travel to “Mars” this month. The plan was to stay two weeks at the Mars Desert Research Station – actually in the Utah desert – to simulate human operations on the red planet. Eight of us were to live in a two-story cylinder, 24 feet in diameter. We would conserve water and put on mock spacesuits every time we ventured outside. But, in an ironic twist, the coronavirus pandemic and the worldwide spread of social distancing put on hold our simulation of isolation on Mars. My main goal had been to collect data for my dissertation. I research groups in space-analog environments – isolated and confined places that share characteristics with human space missions. I’m especially interested in the way gender contributes to individuals’ influence within
a group and how men and women manage their emotions in isolation and confinement. I will not go to “Mars” this spring. As I am selfisolating at home, though, I keep thinking about what lessons for future space travel the current situation can provide. Astronauts have shared tips on how to survive long periods of loneliness and isolation. Maybe in return, the experiences of millions living under lockdown can offer insights into previously understudied social effects of isolation and aid future space travel. Let me be clear: By no means am I denying the seriousness of the pandemic, and I am not reducing vitally important social distancing measures to a set of convenient social observations. However, the more researchers understand the social effects of isolation on regular people – as opposed to those certified to have “the right stuff” – the better we will be prepared for the future, whether another wave of pandemic or interplanetary space travel.
Homes as real-world isolation capsules Most group behavior research in space and spaceanalog environments focuses on leadership, cohesion and conflict – factors that affect teams’ performance and their ability to complete tasks. It makes sense, as astronauts are first and foremost a team of coworkers on a specific mission. But, by focusing on the professional level, researchers overlook other potential relationships between crew members – such as family ties or intimacy. It is not a minor detail: Interpersonal relationships can certainly change dynamics of group behavior. If you’ve ever shared a workplace with a romantic couple, for instance, you probably know there can be some drama. So far, only one married couple has been to space. Researchers suggest that couples are better equipped to handle isolation because of mutual social support. Having couples on board makes the team feel closer as a whole.
However, anecdotal evidence from China suggests that divorce rates jumped after the quarantine. This factoid suggests that it’s not clear whether average realworld couples are better suited for isolation than single individuals. Gender dynamics, at home and in space Now, researchers like me have an opportunity to understand how couple dynamics influence life in isolation – including sex and sexuality, questions that NASA is not eager to address. While pregnancy can be dangerous, intimacy and sexuality can improve emotional and mental well-being over long periods of social isolation. In addition to intimate relationships, current isolation conditions mean researchers could pay more attention to structural gender inequalities accentuated by the pandemic. Women in general do more unpaid domestic and care labor, as well as more emotional labor – taking care
of others’ feelings and wellbeing in addition to their own. Now, their toll is increasing. Men and women have the same general goal – to survive the pandemic and its aftermath – but they experience the quarantine differently. In most middle-class families, the traditional work-home divide is now gone, as both partners work from home. But women are still likely to spend more time running the household, including child and elderly care. While at this stage there are no screaming toddlers in space, spaceanalog research shows similar trends of women taking care of other crew members. The widespread lockdown could allow researchers to get more data on how social norms and expectations about each gender – for example, who is supposed to offer more emotional support – influence behavior in mixed-gender groups in highly uncertain and stressful situations. Connecting physically
while apart
Whether you are in deep space or in quarantine, communication with family and friends outside is crucial for your well-being. In the past weeks, social lives have moved online, from work conference calls to Friday night trivia. The current situation can help to settle the debate whether online communication can or cannot replace real-life conversations. What forms of digital communications are closest to meeting a friend for a real cup of coffee? How often should astronauts host a digital happy hour en route to Mars? There is no doubt that coronavirus-caused social isolation will take a toll on individual and collective mental health. But staying home saves lives. Maybe this experience will also provide lessons on how to plan for future cities and social life on another planet. [You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read The Conversation’s newsletter.]
Legend Encourages The Black Vote In 2020 Election
Nikki Giovanni’s Latest Poem: ‘Vote’
By Curtis Bunn, Urban News Service A Division of Zenger
Nikki Giovanni is 74 now, a generation removed from the height of her poetic power. But she remains fiery and talented and has a lot on her mind. The author of countless poems that center on love and civil rights, Giovanni wants a new president. Just as important to her, she said, is that the black community exercises its right to vote. She spoke about a lot Sunday during an event honoring scholar and intellectual W.E.B. DuBois at Clark Atlanta University. But it all came down to voting, which is not surprising considering her background. Giovanni is an icon because she penned powerful, self-affirming poems during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., she is most famous for her first book, “Feeling Black, Black Talk” and most noted poem is “NikkiRosa,” which is a thoughtful remembrance of growing up in a loving African-American home near Cincinnati. She expanded her voice to speak out on injustices, earning 2008 Black Enterprise Legacy Award, among countless other honors along the way. She calls herself “an old lady,” but her commitment to black people
and equal rights persists. “I don’t care who you vote for,” Giovanni said, “just vote, because there’s not a person on that (debate) stage who hasn’t lied or done something. They all did something. . . against us. “But we must make sure they can’t silence us. We must not go (vote) because we don’t like someone. Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou organized the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. . . She knew she could be killed. But they didn’t’ murder her. But they did pull her off the bus and beat her and beat her beat her. They tried to scare her. I made a promise to myself that if I am even sort of alive, I will vote. Fannie Lou Hamer took a hell of a beating so I could vote, and so I will. . . and everyone else should, too.” She read from her just-written poem that she said she may call “2020” or “Vote.” It’s not a hug, or a toy at Christmas It’s not a colored egg at Easter Or a bunny hopping across the meadow It’s a vote, saying you are a citizen Though sometimes it is traveling and sometimes a no. It can be male of female It can be right or left I can disagree But I am a citizen I should be able to vote from prison
I should be able to vote from the battlefield I should be able to vote when I get my driver’s license I should be able to vote when can I purchase a gun When I’m in the hospital Or the old folk’s home Or if I need a ride to the polling place I am a citizen I must be able to vote. Folks were lynched Folks were shot. Folks communities were gerrymander Folks who believed in the Constitution were lied to Burned out, bought and sold because They agreed that all men and women were created equal. Folks vote to make us free It’s not cookies or cake But it is icing that is so sweet Good for us, my country tis of thee. Here is “Our people were not uneducated, they were undegreed. “When you think about this country, we made it.” A proud graduate of Fisk University HBCU “People ask me about Black Lives Matter and I say I love them because I do.”
Nikki Giovanni
Curtis Bunn
Page 8 • April 20, 2020 - April 26, 2020 • Insight News
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