Why Testing Is Still So Far Behind

President Trump’s guidelines for reopening the country put the onus on governors across the nation. But many say they don’t have enough testing supplies to reopen their states.

A Harvard infectious disease specialist explains why testing in the United States is still a problem.

Plus, a couple share the lessons they learned from the 1918 flu pandemic. (He’s 107-years-old. She’s 100.)

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How to discuss a prenuptial agreement with your partner

Asking your soon-to-be-spouse to sign a prenuptial agreement is easier said than done. While it sounds like a good idea to you, once you bring your thoughts to light your spouse may take issue.

Of course, you shouldn’t let the fear of disagreement stop you from discussing a prenuptial agreement with your partner. Instead, it’s critical that you take the right approach to the conversation. Here’s what you should do:

  • Focus on the benefits for the both of you: If it appears that you want a prenuptial agreement because it only benefits you, you’re more likely to get push back from your partner. Explain the benefits for the both of you, as this makes it more appealing.
  • Don’t argue, work together: Asking for a prenuptial agreement shouldn’t lead to an argument. It’s a time for you to work together on something that can benefit the both of you. An open and honest conversation is the best way to make progress.
  • Don’t issue demands: If your partner pushes back and you become aggressive with your demands, it has the potential to result in a serious disagreement. And that’s not what you want as you move toward your wedding day.

Even if your partner is on board with the idea of creating a prenuptial agreement, actually discussing the terms and conditions can be a challenge.

Fortunately, with the right approach, a willingness to compromise and enough time, you can work through the details of your prenuptial agreement so that you get it in place before your wedding day arrives.


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Author: On behalf of Katie L. Lewis of Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law

Q & A: Pets And COVID-19, Ventilators, And The View From Wuhan

Public health experts and NPR journalists answer listener questions on ‘The National Conversation with All Things Considered,’ NPR’s nightly radio show about the coronavirus crisis. Excerpted here:

NPR’s Emily Feng discusses China’s next steps.
Emergency Physician Richard Levitan addresses skepticism about the effectiveness of ventilators.
Veterinarian Krista Miller answers questions about pet care and adoption.

If you have a question, you can share it at npr.org/nationalconversation, or tweet with the hashtag, #NPRConversation.

We’ll return with a regular episode of Coronavirus Daily on Monday.

Testing Holds States Back; Vaccine Timeline

According to new White House guidelines, a state, city, or county has to show a decreasing rate of confirmed coronavirus cases for 14 days before reopening their economy.

A year may seem like a long time to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus, but vaccine development typically takes longer. NPR’s Joe Palca explains why it’s so hard and what researchers are doing to speed things up.

Food banks around the country have been stretched, including one in San Antonio. Last week it served 10,000 families, many of whom are dealing with joblessness and food insecurity caused by the pandemic.

Plus, the man who developed the N95 mask filter technology comes out of retirement.

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Summer vacation can bring custody changes

When school lets out for the summer, it’s a classic, free time in a child’s life. If that child’s parents are divorced, though, it can make for one complicated summer vacation schedule for the parents. It may have to be different than what they did during the school year.

For instance, one couple used a schedule of two weeks with one parent and then two weeks with the other. While this meant they got to make fewer exchanges than they would if they traded time every week or every few days, it also meant going 14 days at a time without seeing their child. The girl was 10 years old, and her mother said it was very hard to be away from her for so long during the usually fun summer months.

Another potential issue to consider is where to make the exchanges. A lot of parents just do it after school during the year, to keep things easy. During the summer, they need a set schedule to make exchanges on their own.

Furthermore, parents may have to consider child care options. Maybe one parent stayed home with the children when the couple was married, but now both parents have to work after the divorce. That’s fine when the children go to school during the day, but what will it mean when they’re home? Will the parents have to hire someone to care for them or will they need to change their work schedule?

These are just a few of the questions parents need to ask, but they help illustrate why it’s so important to think carefully about your custody options.


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Author: On behalf of Katie L. Lewis of Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law

New White House Guidance for When States Can Move To Re-Open

The White House Thursday offered a blueprint for states to re-open. It starts with a decline in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and includes extensive testing that does not yet exist. Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo told NPR’s Rachel Martin that the lack of testing means the outbreak is still largely unpredictable.

In the past four weeks, 22 million people have filed for unemployment, nearly wiping out all the job gains since the Great Recession.

A group of volunteer EMTs in New Jersey is on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.

Plus, after seven months in space, astronaut Jennifer Mier returns to a very different reality on Earth.

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Re-Opening Won’t Feel Normal; Tech Giants Plan For Contact Tracing

Governors around the country are starting to plan for what reopening their states could look like. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said testing will be a big part of his decision making.

Millions of Americans should have received an economic impact payment from the government today. Meanwhile, many are still waiting on unemployment benefits.

Plus, Apple and Google’s plan to help with contract tracing will depend on trust from the public.

Listen to Life Kit’s episode on giving back on Apple, Spotify and NPR One.

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Some Government Aid Checks Will Arrive This Week

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says 80 million Americans should receive economic impact payments by Wednesday.

President Trump said during Monday’s contentious coronavirus task force briefing that he plans to lift federal guidelines on social distancing soon, falsely claiming that he has “total” authority on the matter.

Meanwhile, as an outbreak of COVID-19 in South Dakota closes a major meat processing facility, Governor Kristi Noem continues to reject the idea of a statewide stay-at-home order.

Many Americans are reporting that they’re having unusually vivid dreams at night. One Bay Area resident started a website for others to share their dreams. Read what others are dreaming about on i dream of covid.

Listen to Short Wave’s episode, ‘How To Talk About The Coronavirus With Friends And Family’

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Trump’s Unfulfilled Promises; What Contact Tracing Could Look Like

Exactly one month ago, President Trump declared a national emergency and promised a mobilization of public and private resources to attack the coronavirus. NPR’s Investigations Team finds that few of those promises have come to pass.

The CDC says they’ll soon release a plan to help state and local governments with contact tracing, but Massachusetts has already started building its own contact tracing system.

NPR’s Allison Aubrey discusses why some are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others, and looks ahead at what opening up the country may look like.

And if you’re one of the many families feeling a budget squeeze right now, Life Kit has some tips for you.

NPR’s Investigations Team’s full story on each claim Trump made one month ago

Tips on budgeting from Life Kit.

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How to ask for a divorce without causing more trouble

The mere thought of asking for a divorce is enough to scare you away from doing so. However, if you realize that your marriage is no longer working, it may be something you need to do.

There’s no easy way to ask for a divorce, but there are steps you can take to do so without causing more harm than good. Consider the following tips:

  • Be honest about your feelings: This isn’t the time to hide anything from your spouse. Tell them why you want a divorce and stick to it. If you know that it’s time to move on, stick to your decision.
  • Keep calm: It’s easy to let your emotions get the best of you, so stay calm throughout the conversation.
  • Choose the right time and place: Asking for a divorce is difficult enough. If you choose to do so at the wrong time and/or wrong place, it’ll only complicate matters.
  • Skip the details: It sounds like a good idea to discuss the details of your divorce, such as who will get the family home or custody of the children, but it has the potential to escalate the conversation to an argument. You’ll have enough time for this as you go through the divorce process, so wait until then.

Once you ask for a divorce, you have one of your biggest challenges out of the way. At that point, you can turn your focus to the process, your legal rights and devising a strategy to help you along the way. It can be a long journey from start to finish, but proper preparation will help.


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Author: On behalf of Katie L. Lewis of Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law