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New research suggests that Instagram is saturated with images depicting very lean and very muscular men. The study, which appears in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, found that posts depicting this type of body tend to receive more responses.

I have always been very interested in body image and how people think about their own body, because I personally believe that the relationship between us and our bodies is often underestimated especially for and by men, said study author Thomas Gultzow (@ThomasGultzow), a PhD candidate at the Care and Public Health Research Institute in the Netherlands.

Realizing that social media is regularly used by a large proportion of the world population and that the information that is presented there could strongly affect our relationship with our own body, I believed that it was important to see how people used social media to communicate about body types. And once I started looking in the literature, it quickly became clear that men are underrepresented in this type of research, and then the idea of working specifically on this population really quickly arose.

The researchers used a social media mining tool and searched a sample of influential male fitness accounts to collect a random sample of 1,000 fitness-related Instagram posts depicting men. They found that the majority of images showed muscular and lean white men.

Most of the posts showed men with low body fat, while only a small fraction depicted men with high body fat. Sixty-two percent of posts showed men with low body fat and 41% showed high muscularity, whereas only 6% showed men with high body fat and 17% showed low muscularity. Men with both low body fat and high muscularity (35%) represented the largest group with a specific body type.

Social media seems very skewed in terms of presenting peoples bodies. You are much more likely to see the classic adonis on Instagram than on the street. In fact, social media messages showing such men with more muscles and less fat were also engaged with more, resulting in more likes and comments, Gultzow told PsyPost.

Users may think that you have to look like this. If you feel your own body does not compare to that ideal, this may lead to negative feelings or unhealthy behaviors, such as extreme dieting or using unhealthy supplements. So, what I would like to say to anyone who is using Instagram: be aware of this skewed reality, this is not real life!

But the positive and negative consequences of the predominance of muscular and lean bodies on Instagram is still unclear. Future research is needed to examine whether this type of content motivates men to become physical active themselves or whether it increases mens body dissatisfaction.

Based on Albert Banduras Social Cognitive Theory, body image pictures on Instagram may, through positive modeling, help to counteract the obesity epidemic, with the portrayals leading men to lead more healthy lifestyles. On the negative side, the skewed images may lead to male body dissatisfaction, depression and eating disorders. We can use this knowledge to educate our patients about the false sense of reality often portrayed on social media, said Brenda K. Wiederhold, the editor-in-chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Men are still somewhat underrepresented in body image research, so we often draw conclusions based on studies that include either only women or just a handful of men. I think it would be really relevant to conduct in-depth studies in which men are shown images of different body types and also asked about their experiences and emotions. That way, we can study the effect these images have on men; that information could possibly be used to help men, Gultzow said.

I conducted this research as part of my scientific internship as finale part of my M.Sc. in Health Education and Promotion and, fortunately, I was working with a great international team (Dr. Jeanine P.D. Guidry from the Robertson School of Media and Culture in Virginia, and Dr. Francine Schneider and Dr. Ciska Hoving from Maastricht University in the Netherlands), that combined expertise in health communication, digital health and the intersection between health and social media and they saw the need in this too and so we quickly started working on this topic, he added.

Nowadays, I am conducting research regarding another health communication topic: mainly how we can use digital solutions to help people that want to quit smoking to make an informed decision regarding smoking cessation. However, I am still really interested in social media and how it influences us and our health, so I am always trying to fit this interest into my current work somehow. For example, Dr. Guidry and I are currently running a project about how Instagram users communicate about HIV.

The study, Male Body Image Portrayals on Instagram, was authored by Thomas Gultzow, Jeanine P.D. Guidry, Francine Schneider, and Ciska Hoving.

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Study sheds light on the false sense of reality of male bodies portrayed on Instagram - PsyPost

The U.S. Labor Department said the pandemic cost 20.5 million jobs in April, pushing the unemployment rate to a postWorld War II high and deepening the economic crisis, while in New York, a child died of a rare condition linked to the virus.

Restaurants, retailers and hotels were worst hit by job cuts, but every industry suffered some pain. Even the health-care sector lost 1.4 million jobs as the crisis has kept patients away from doctors offices for fear of becoming infected and caused the postponement of many elective procedures.

In New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States, less than 20% of small businesses have been approved to receive PPP loans [even as] more than 55% of small businesses in Nebraska are expecting PPP funding.

The unemployment rate leapt to 14.7% from a 50-year low of 3.5% two months ago, but the share of idled workers is much higher. If millions of Americans who have been furloughed and expect to return to their jobs are counted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the jobless rate would have almost 5 percentage points higher at nearly 20%, as MarketWatchs Jeffry Bartash reported.

Kyle Herrig, president of nonpartisan nonprofit Accountable.US, said the numbers are horrific and criticized the federal governments relief programs, which have mostly helped big public companies instead of smaller businesses that are now close to bankruptcy.

See:MarketWatch weekend reads: The unemployment undercount

Rather than taking decisive action to help workers, the Trump administration continues dithering as yet another month brings horrific jobs numbers with millions more Americans unemployed, he said in a statement. From the earliest days of this public health crisis, the administration bungled the response. Helping publicly traded companies pay the bills rather than assisting mom and pop small businesses meet payroll.

The New York Federal Reserve said a disportionate amount of funds distributed by the governments Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, did not go to the regions that have been hit hardest by the crisis.

In New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States, less than 20% of small businesses have been approved to receive PPP loans, the regional central banks economists wrote in a report published Wednesday. In contrast, more than 55% of small businesses in Nebraska are expecting PPP funding.

The report noted the discrepancies have generated heated political discussions. One possible explanation for them is that banks, which pass along applications to the program, favor existing customers as they already have relevant information on them and can screen them more quickly.

It has been widely documented that banks prioritize businesses with existing lending relationships for cost savings reasons and to avoid fraudulent applications, said the report. Arguably, lenders preference for their own depository base could be an important factor in explaining the observed PPP loan approval data.

Outside of relief programs, however, there are concerns that the federal government is favoring red states over blue states in the distribution of vital supplies.

On Thursday, the HIV Medicine Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence questioning the selection process for the distribution of remdesivir, the drug made by Gilead Sciences Inc. GILD, -3.52% that won emergency-use authorization last week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for COVID-19. That came after clinical trials found the drug may speed up recovery times for some patients. There are currently no approved treatments for the virus.

See now: Face masks becoming latest culture-war front as Trump says his wearing one would send the wrong message

A physician associated with Boston Medical Center tweeted that the hospital hasnt received any doses of remdesivir. We have the second highest absolute case count and highest per bed in Boston, Dr. Benjamin Linas, an epidemiologist at the safety-net hospital, tweeted on Wednesday. We also had no access to early trials. Today, the family of a dying patient asked me why we do not have RDV. What am I supposed to say?

For more, read:Infectious-disease doctors ask government to explain how it decides who gets Gileads remdesivir

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has described his states struggles to source vital health-care supplies and equipment at the height of the crisis, as the federal government forced states to compete with each other, and even with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sending prices higher.

Trump said at one point that he had instructed Pence not to call governors who criticized the federal response to the pandemic.

On Friday, Trump called the 20.5 million jobs lost in April no surprise and said those jobs will all be back.

In an interview on Fox News, Trump said hes having a very hard time with China and has not decided how to handle their trade relationship, following a call between negotiators for both sides.

See also:States start to reopen, ending coronavirus lockdowns: Rules ease in parts of California and Pennsylvania on Friday; Michigan factories can reopen Monday

There are now 3.97 million cases of COVID-19 globally, and 275,527 people have died, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University.

More than 1.3 million people have recovered.

The U.S. has the highest case toll at 1.29 million and the highest death toll at 77,280.

Spain has the highest number of cases in Europe at 222,857 and 26,299 deaths. Italy has 217,185 cases and 30,201 deaths.

The U.K. has 212,629 cases and 31,316 deaths, the highest death toll in Europe.

Russia saw another spike overnight of more than 10,000 cases, bringing its total case tally to 198,676 and 1,827 fatalities.

France has 176,202 cases and 26,233 deaths. Germany has 170,643 cases and 7,510 deaths.

Brazil has 147,003 cases and 10,037 deaths. Turkey has 135,569 cases and 3,689 deaths. Iran has 106,220 cases and 6,589 deaths. China, where the disease was first reported late last year, has 83,976 cases and 4,637 deaths.

New York remains the U.S. epicenter with 335,804 cases and 26,358 deaths, according to a New York Times tracker.

Cuomo reported another day of declining hospitalization and intubation rates at his daily news briefing. But another 216 New Yorkers died of COVID-19 on Thursday, down from 231 a day earlier.

Adding to the gloom, a five-year old died in Manhattan on Thursday from what doctors believe is a rare condition stemming from the virus that causes life-threatening inflammation in children.

Cuomo told reporters that 73 cases of the condition, which has been labeled pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, have been counted in the state.

See also:Coronavirus link being explored over several cases of severely ill children in U.K.

This would be really painful news and would open up an entirely different chapter. Mr. Cuomo said. Because I cant tell you how many people I spoke to who took peace and solace in the fact that children were not getting infected.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization to a saliva COVID-19 diagnostic test that allows patients to take the test at home. It was developed by Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Rutgers test first received emergency authorization in April to be administered by a nasal swab, which is how other molecular tests authorized to test for the novel coronavirus are performed, and through saliva collection in a health care setting.

However, now Rutgers is authorized to test for an infection through a saliva sample that can be collected at home, according to a Rutgers spokesperson. To test for COVID-19 using a nasal swab has been described as sometimes uncomfortable and painful for patients; there are also concerns that the swabs can miss an infection, or a patient who sneezes after receiving a swab can put health care workers at high risk of contracting the virus.

See:The future of successful coronavirus response: Mass testing at work and in church and self-administered tests

The Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 45 companies on Thursday over unsubstantiated claims related to COVID-19 treatments. The companies included A Center for Natural Healing, a Santa Clara, Calif.based Chinese medicine therapy practice, which the FTC ordered to remove claims such as, Western treatments have no actual benefit in reducing viral replication within the body; a role that Chinese herbal medicine has proven to provide to a great extent.

They also included a company that claimed listening to certain musical frequencies would weaken the coronavirus. The FTC has sent four sets of warning letters so far urging companies to top making deceptive and scientifically unsupported claims and threatening a federal court injunction to repeat offenders.

In early March, the FTC and the Food and Drug Administration began by reaching out to seven companies to stop selling allegedly fraudulent products in warning letters, including one to the televangelist Jim Bakker.

There already is a high level of anxiety over the potential spread of coronavirus, said FTC Chairman Joe Simons on March 9. What we dont need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims. These warning letters are just the first step. Were prepared to take enforcement actions against companies that continue to market this type of scam.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has halted trading in shares of at least 30 companies because of claims made by them or by third parties relating to tests, treatments and equipment for COVID-19.

For more, read:SEC continues crackdown on claims made during the coronavirus pandemic

The latest test for so-called sharing economy companies came late Thursday, when Uber Inc. UBER, +2.40% reported results that showed an almost $3 billion loss that was partly caused by a $2 billion write-down on investments in Asian partners. But the ride-sharing company also took a hit from the pandemic, which has many people under strict lockdown measures and not using its service.

The coronavirus pandemic all but extinguished ride bookings in April, leading to an 80% drop, though Uber has seen recent increases in bookings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere, he added in a conference call with analysts late Thursday. Additionally, Uber Eats gross bookings surged 52% to $4.7 billion in the first quarter.

As happened earlier this week with rival Lyft Inc., Uber shares rose after the report and were up another 5% in Friday trade, as investors seemed to look past the pandemic as a temporary phenomenon. But as MarketWatchs Therese Poletti wrote in commentary, they may be taking an overly rosy view, noting that the company itself was admitting its core business may be worth less by taking impairment charges.

See:The same number of people could die from deaths of despair as have already died in the U.S. from coronavirus, new study finds

Elsewhere, Roku Inc. shares ROKU, -3.79% slid 7% after the streaming-media company said it saw a spike in ad cancellations due to the pandemic but still expects substantial growth for the full year.

For more, read:Roku stock falls after coronavirus drives increase in advertising cancellations

Companies continued to offer updates on the reopening of stores and outlets, to issue bonds to bolster liquidity and withdraw guidance given the uncertainty and lack of visibility.

Here are the latest things companies are saying about COVID-19:

Bloomin Brands Inc. BLMN, -10.07% reported revenue that beat expectations and was upbeat about recently reopened dining rooms. Same-store sales fell 10.4% in the latest quarter, with Outback Steakhouse down 9.5%, Carrabbas Italian Grill down 8.7% and Bonefish Grill down 13.9%. Bloomin said earlier in the week that hundreds of dining rooms across its chains would reopen. We have 355 restaurant dining rooms opened with limited seating capacity across multiple states as of Thursday evening. Early results have been promising, said Chief Executive David Deno in a statement. Bloomin issued $200 million in convertible notes on Wednesday to bolster its liquidity.

Booking Holdings Inc.s BKNG, -1.77% quarterly earnings fell short of Wall Street estimates as the travel industry was hit hard by the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted our company and the entire travel industry. We have taken immediate steps to stabilize the company by reducing costs and bolstering our liquidity position, said Glenn Fogel, Bookings chief executive. Looking forward, due to the value of our platform, our highly variable cost structure and strong liquidity, I am confident that we will emerge from this crisis in a position of strength that will allow us to extend our leadership role in the industry.

Cronos Group Inc. CRON, -1.70% CRON, -1.35% reported a surprise first-quarter profit but revenue that lagged estimates. The Canadian cannabis company said it wrote down $8 million in inventory of dried cannabis and extracts and expects to take further write-downs due to price pressure and the impact of the repurposing of its Peace Naturals Campus. Cronos was not immune to the effects of the pandemic which it said has disrupted distribution channels. The company has reduced the number of workers on site to essential ones and implemented additional health and safety practices. In the U.S., where its Lord Jones products are distributed, bricks-and-mortar retailers have moved online. In Canada, stores have moved to curbside click-and- collect models, reduced store opening hours, or have closed retail entirely. COVID-19 restrictions differ across jurisdictions, which has resulted in increased uncertainty in forecasting customer demand and sales velocity, said the statement. The company believes it has sufficient inventory to meet current demand.

Facebook Inc. FB, -1.44% will allow its staff to work from home through the end of the year, according to reports. Facebook will open most of its office July 6, according to CNBC, and the company is still in the process of determining which employees will be asked to return to the office. Like many Silicon Valley technology companies, Facebook was among the first businesses to adopt work-from-home initiatives as the coronavirus spread across the globe. Facebook has given staff $1,000 bonuses for work-from-home expenses, among other things.

GoPro Inc. GPRO, +1.49% reported revenue that was in line with what was pre-announced in April, when it yanked its 2020 guidance due to the pandemic, said it was laying off 20% of its staff, over 200 employees, and reducing operating expenses by $100 million. The company said at the time that its global distribution network was hurt by the pandemic, but its product roadmap for 2020 wont be impacted. Weve taken decisive action to transition into a more efficient and profitable direct-to-consumer business, GoPro Chief Executive Nicholas Woodman said in a statement. This benefits GoPro with a substantially reduced operating expense model, improved gross margin and a significantly lower threshold to profitability.

Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. HLF, -0.70% beat Wall Street expectations for its first quarter. Quarterly results reflected the essential role our products play in the lives of many, especially during these times, the company said, without referring specifically to the pandemic. The company is not offering guidance, since, it said, it could not estimate the extent and duration of business disruption and related financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Herbalife will periodically reassess its ability to provide guidance for full year 2020 as and when we believe the impact of the pandemic can be reasonably estimated.

Intuit Inc. INTU, -2.14% told investors to brace for lower fiscal third-quarter revenue and profit than prior guidance, due to the impact of the pandemic on its small-business customers and the extension of the tax-filing deadline to July 15. The maker of tax-preparation software TurboTax is withdrawing fiscal 2020 guidance reflecting uncertainty in current small business trends. Small businesses are facing a loss of income and a lack of savings to help them weather the storm, Intuit said. The deadline extension also meant that the company is experiencing a significant revenue shift to the fourth fiscal quarter, it said. More customers with complex returns are expected to file later in the extended season. The company expects sales of $2.99 billion to $3 billion, down from a prior range of $3.6 billion to $3.625 billion.

Lear Corp.s LEA, -4.43% first-quarter profit and sales beat expectations but declined from a year ago as the pandemic caused production disruptions and plant shutdowns. The maker of vehicle seats and electronic systems revenue fell 13.6% to $4.46 billion, as COVID-19 shaved an estimated $900 million from revenue, but still beat the FactSet consensus of $4.22 billion. The is not providing a full-year outlook given the significant uncertainty associated with the pandemic. Our first quarter financial results were significantly impacted by production disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chief Executive Ray Scott. We experienced plant shutdowns in China beginning in late January that were followed by shutdowns of almost all our global operations outside of China beginning in mid to late March.

Lyft Inc. LYFT, -5.83% announced a health-and-safety program for its drivers and riders in the next few weeks as some local governments begin to ease stay-at-home orders. Riders and drivers will be required to wear face masks or coverings throughout the ride, and will not ride if they have COVID-19, think they have it, or have related symptoms. Both will be required to keep vehicles clean and sanitize their hands frequently, and leave windows open when possible to avoid recirculated air. Passengers will not be allowed to ride in the front seat.

Motorola Solutions Inc. MSI, +0.83% beat Wall Street expectations for its first quarter but told investors to brace for a sales drop in the second quarter due to the pandemic. The company drew down $800 million from a credit facility in the quarter, and ended the period with $1.7 billion in cash and had $1.4 billion of additional committed, undrawn capacity on a revolving credit facility. Motorola ended the quarter with $5.9 billion in debt, including $800 million from the facility. Motorola expects a revenue decline between 17% and 14% for the second quarter, and non-GAAP per-share earnings of $1.18 to $1.27. Motorola withdrew its 2020 guidance due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL, -4.54% provided a business and liquidity update for investors in light of the pandemic, saying it has nearly $2.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents at its disposal. The company said as of May 5, expected debt maturities are $400 million in 2020 and $900 million in 2021, and it estimates its monthly cash burn to be $250 million to $275 million while its operations are suspended. Actions it has taken to cut costs include cutting more than 5,000 shoreside jobs in the U.S, cutting payroll and other onboard expenses, and eliminating or significantly reducing marketing and selling expenses. After a strong start to the year, booking volumes for the rest of 2020 are meaningfully lower than last year at prices that are down in the low-single digits percentage range, as a result of COVID-19. Although still early in the booking cycle, the booked position for 2021 is within historical ranges when compared to same time last year with 2021 prices up mid-single digits compared to 2020, the company stated. For canceled cruises, the company said 45% of guests have requested cash refunds, while Royal is offering cruise credits valued at 125% of initial fares paid in lieu of cash refunds.

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. SEAS, -7.96% reported a wider-than-expected loss and revenue that fell more than forecast as theme-park closures due to the pandemic led to a decline of 1 million in attendance. Total revenue per capita increased 0.3% to $66.25, above expectations of $66.10, as a 1.2% growth in admission per capita offset a 0.9% decline in in-park per capita spending. The company had just over $400 million of cash and cash equivalents at its disposal, and estimates its net cash burn is between $20 million to $25 million a month while its parks remain closed. The companys debt leverage ratio as of March 31 was 3.89-to-1.00, compared with 3.24-to-1.00 as of Dec. 31.

Shopify Inc. SHOP, -1.07% will sell fresh shares, after the Canadian e-commerce software company roared to record highs this week. In an announcement of filings with securities regulators in Canada and the U.S., Shopify announced plans to sell 1.85 million new shares, slightly more than 1.5% of its current share count, in an offering led by Citigroup and Credit Suisse. Underwriters will have access to roughly 277,000 more shares for overallotment. Shopify earnings showed a surprise adjusted profit and strong merchandise sales on its platform.

Stamps.com Inc. STMP, -9.69% reported earnings and revenue that topped consensus estimates, boosted by a jump in e-commerce transactions during the pandemic. We are in a position to provide valuable services to mailers and shippers coping with this worldwide health crisis and remain committed to making significant strides towards our goal of being the leading worldwide multi-carrier e-commerce software company, Chief Executive Ken McBride said in a statement.

Yelp Inc. YELP, +1.08% topped revenue estimates but reported wider-than-expected losses in its latest quarter. Our first quarter results demonstrate the strength of our strategy, as we grew revenue 6% compared to the first quarter of 2019, despite the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Chief Executive Jeremy Stoppelman said in a statement. While there is no way of knowing how long this pandemic will last, we are encouraged by the early signs of stabilization in the business that we witnessed in the second half of April. In April, Yelp pulled its 2020 guidance because of the pandemic and disclosed that it expects between $8 million and $10 million in costs related to the furloughing and termination of employees; the company said it was laying off 1,100 people and furloughing 1,100.

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Coronavirus update: U.S. economy sheds record-setting 20.5 million jobs and New York child dies of condition linked to virus - MarketWatch

2 Athletes In Same North Texas Family Better Than 1Tamia Jones who plays basketball at The Colony High School is seen her plans altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having an older brother who is an athlete is helping her prepare.

2020 Graduates: 10PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 10PM Segment May 12

Warm, Humid WednesdayDon't put away those umbrellas yet. More rain is expected Wednesday night.

'I'm Going To Fight For It, I Deserve It' - Dallas ISD Students Want In-Person GraduationDallas ISD is sticking with a virtual graduation online for safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dallas Mayor Announces New COVID-19 Healthcare Access CzarMayor Eric Johnson said he wants to see a lot more testing, too.

2020 Graduates: 6PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 6PM Segment May 12

6-Year-Old Dallas Boy Found Tied In Shed Describes Abuse: Sprayed With Hose, Kicked, Not Allowed In HouseThe child told child abuse detectives during a forensic interview, whenever his grandmother left the home, she put him in the shed, tied him up and told him he was bad.

North Texas Nail Salons Struggling To Get Workers To Come Back During Coronavirus Pandemic"For their safety, we respect their decisions, salon manager Jake Nguyen. "Some of them are not fully back yet."

New Concern For Parents Regarding COVID-19Some children around the country have fallen ill with an inflammatory syndrome resembling Kawasaki disease. Now doctors are searching for the connection between the syndrome and Covid-19.

The Reopening Of TexasCBS 11 details the next steps, the extreme measures businesses are taking, and your rights as a customer on a special edition of CBS 11 News Wednesday at 6PM on CBS 11 News.

2020 Graduates: 5PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 5PM Segment May 12

Despite Pushback, Dallas ISD Sticking With Virtual GraduationsAlthough Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said he had reconsidered the plans for graduation, he said the district will stick to virtual ceremonies per advice from health officials.

Experts Believe Less People Are Reporting Child Abuse CasesChild advocates are sounding an alarm as concerns grow about an unprecedented drop in child abuse reports.

Tuesday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Tuesday, May 12.

Gov. Abbott Talks Shelley Luther Case, Further Plans For Reopening TexasGov. Greg Abbott joined CBS 11 News at 5 p.m. to talk about the recent case surrounding Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and further plans for reopening more businesses in Texas.

Now Hiring: Dallas County Community College District Offering Free Job Skills ProgramsUnemployment numbers are staggering and economic experts say the trend will continue before the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Stimulus Check Deadline: You Have Until Wednesday To Give The IRS Your Bank InformationAfter Wednesday, the IRS will send millions of files to the Bureau of Fiscal Services to have paper checks printed.

Residents Honor Health Care Workers In Flower MoundResidents honored health care workers at Texas Health Presbyterian in Flower Mound as they continue the fight against COVID-19.

2020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 2 May 122020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 2 May 12

Dallas ISD Students Start Petition To Apply Pressure For In-Person Graduations"Ive worked for for years and every other district seems to be able to come up with something, but theyre putting us online," said senior Aubrey Tierney.

A Lot Of Rain Remains In Forecast With A Few BreaksDon't put away those umbrellas yet. More rain is expected throughout North Texas.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Testing Sites Set Up But Not Filling UpThe county has loosened up qualifications, trying to get more people tested.

2020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 1 May 122020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 1 May 12

Ones For Wellness: Managing Stress During The PandemicIn today's Ones For Wellness, here's a way to manage any stress you may have due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Dallas Police Find 6-Year-Old Boy Tied Up In Shed, Grandmother And Boyfriend Arrested - CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

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New Delhi:New research is being initiated in various parts of the world to study the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that has so far killed 287,529 people and infected over 4,269,704 globally.

Here are some of the latest findings on the virus from teams across the world.

Scientists have found a bat coronavirus that is similar to the SARS-CoV-2. This finding can help understand how coronaviruses evolve naturally.

While researchers consider bats the most likely natural hosts for SARS-CoV-2, origin of the virus is still unclear.

In a study published in the Current Biology, researchers have described a recently identified bat coronavirus that has some regions of the genome similar to the SARS-CoV-2.

While the coronavirus, named RmYN02, is not a direct evolutionary precursor of SARS-CoV-2, the findings suggest that the seemingly unusual insertion of new genetic traits can occur naturally in coronavirus evolution.

Researchers also said that the study provides strong evidence against SARS-CoV-2 being a genetically-manipulated virus leaked from a laboratory.

The researchers identified RmYN02 from an analysis of 227 bat samples collected in Yunnan province of China, between May and October of 2019. RNA from the samples was sent for metagenomic next-generation sequencing in early January 2020, soon after the discovery of SARS-CoV-2.

A close genetic relative of SARS-CoV-2 is another virus, called RaTG13, which was previously identified on bats in the Yunnan province. However, RmYN02 is even more closely related to SARS-CoV-2 in some parts of the genome.

The researchers have noted that RmYN02 is not likely to infect human cells, as the region of the genome that helps the SAR-CoV-2 to bind with human cells is not similar.

Also read: Delhi HC says can challenge extended Covid quarantine, but asks people not to rush to courts

Scientists from the University of Kentucky in the US have launched a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of azithromycin, ivermectin and camostat mesylate in fighting SARS-CoV-2.

The three drugs will be tested either as stand-alone therapies or in combination with the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine.

The team plans to scale up a larger clinical trial with the most promising therapies after data on this experiment is collected.

The trial will be conducted among patients who have not developed severe symptoms that would require progression to ICU care. Patients must also have at least one high-risk feature, including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, have an underlying heart condition, or be over the age of 50.

Participants who enroll in the trial will be randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: one group will receive hydroxychloroquine alone; a second group will receive hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin; a third group will receive hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin; and a fourth group will receive camostat mesylate.

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug, while azithromycin is an antibiotic. Ivermectin is a medication used to treat many types of parasite infestations and camostat mesylate is used to treat pancreatitis.

An observational study of 48 children, teenagers and young adults in the US and Canada has shown that they can suffer from severe complications due to Covid-19, contrary to the earlier belief that younger populations were usually asymptomatic.

The study, published in the JAMA Pediatrics, is the first to describe the characteristics of seriously-ill pediatric Covid-19 patients in North America.

The study followed 48 patients from newborns to 21 years old who were admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the US and Canada for Covid-19 in March and April. A number of PICUs in the US were repurposed to the care of critically-ill adult patients with Covid-19.

Over 80 per cent had chronic underlying conditions, such as immune suppression, obesity, diabetes, seizures or chronic lung disease. Of these, 40 per cent depended on technological support due to developmental delays or genetic anomalies.

More than 20 per cent experienced failure of two or more organ systems due to Covid-19, and nearly 40 per cent required a breathing tube and ventilator. At the end of the follow-up period, nearly 33 per cent of the children were still hospitalised due to Covid-19, with three still requiring ventilator support and one on life support. Two of the children admitted during the three-week study period died.

The study provides a baseline understanding of the early disease burden of Covid-19 in pediatric patients, the researchers have said.

Also read: Air travel is gradually returning, but coronavirus complications remain

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing norms may be an added stress factor for pregnant women that can have a direct, lifelong effect on an unborn childs mental health, a study has found.

Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, researchers in the study have identified prenatal stress factors experienced by pregnant women.

As much as there is anxiety during pregnancy in normal times, the on-going pandemic is an added stress factor asking expectant mothers to adapt to social distancing norms, the researchers have said.

The findings underscore the importance of providing interventions to reduce maternal depression, anxiety, or stress in the prenatal period.

Patients with Covid-19 can develop bowel abnormalities, including ischemia a condition in which blood flow gets reduced according to a new study published in Radiology.

Reports have documented that gastrointestinal symptoms, liver injury and vascular findings are common in Covid-19 patients. However, abdominal imaging findings have not yet been widely reported.

For this study, researchers included 412 patients consecutively admitted to a single quaternary care centre, from 27 March to 10 April, who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2.

The patients included 241 men (58.5 per cent) and 171 women (41.5 per cent), with an average age of 57 years. The team found that 17 patients had cross-sectional abdominal imaging, including 44 ultrasounds, 42 CT scans, and 1 MRI.

Bowel abnormalities were seen on 31 per cent of CT scans (3.2 per cent of all patients) and were more frequent in intensive care unit (ICU) patients than other in-patients.

Abnormalities included thickening of the bowel, as well as pneumatosis (gas in the bowel wall). Surgery in four patients revealed unusual yellow discoloration of bowel in three of the patients, and dead bowel in two patients.

The abnormalities were more common in sicker Covid-19 patients who went to the ICU.

Also read: Finding more plasma donors for Covid therapy isnt just science, its a demand-supply chain

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Scientists identify new bat coronavirus that sheds light on how SARS-CoV-2 evolved - ThePrint

2 Athletes In Same North Texas Family Better Than 1Tamia Jones who plays basketball at The Colony High School is seen her plans altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having an older brother who is an athlete is helping her prepare.

2020 Graduates: 10PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 10PM Segment May 12

Warm, Humid WednesdayDon't put away those umbrellas yet. More rain is expected Wednesday night.

'I'm Going To Fight For It, I Deserve It' - Dallas ISD Students Want In-Person GraduationDallas ISD is sticking with a virtual graduation online for safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dallas Mayor Announces New COVID-19 Healthcare Access CzarMayor Eric Johnson said he wants to see a lot more testing, too.

2020 Graduates: 6PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 6PM Segment May 12

6-Year-Old Dallas Boy Found Tied In Shed Describes Abuse: Sprayed With Hose, Kicked, Not Allowed In HouseThe child told child abuse detectives during a forensic interview, whenever his grandmother left the home, she put him in the shed, tied him up and told him he was bad.

North Texas Nail Salons Struggling To Get Workers To Come Back During Coronavirus Pandemic"For their safety, we respect their decisions, salon manager Jake Nguyen. "Some of them are not fully back yet."

New Concern For Parents Regarding COVID-19Some children around the country have fallen ill with an inflammatory syndrome resembling Kawasaki disease. Now doctors are searching for the connection between the syndrome and Covid-19.

The Reopening Of TexasCBS 11 details the next steps, the extreme measures businesses are taking, and your rights as a customer on a special edition of CBS 11 News Wednesday at 6PM on CBS 11 News.

2020 Graduates: 5PM Segment May 122020 Graduates: 5PM Segment May 12

Despite Pushback, Dallas ISD Sticking With Virtual GraduationsAlthough Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said he had reconsidered the plans for graduation, he said the district will stick to virtual ceremonies per advice from health officials.

Experts Believe Less People Are Reporting Child Abuse CasesChild advocates are sounding an alarm as concerns grow about an unprecedented drop in child abuse reports.

Tuesday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Tuesday, May 12.

Gov. Abbott Talks Shelley Luther Case, Further Plans For Reopening TexasGov. Greg Abbott joined CBS 11 News at 5 p.m. to talk about the recent case surrounding Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and further plans for reopening more businesses in Texas.

Now Hiring: Dallas County Community College District Offering Free Job Skills ProgramsUnemployment numbers are staggering and economic experts say the trend will continue before the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Stimulus Check Deadline: You Have Until Wednesday To Give The IRS Your Bank InformationAfter Wednesday, the IRS will send millions of files to the Bureau of Fiscal Services to have paper checks printed.

Residents Honor Health Care Workers In Flower MoundResidents honored health care workers at Texas Health Presbyterian in Flower Mound as they continue the fight against COVID-19.

2020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 2 May 122020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 2 May 12

Dallas ISD Students Start Petition To Apply Pressure For In-Person Graduations"Ive worked for for years and every other district seems to be able to come up with something, but theyre putting us online," said senior Aubrey Tierney.

A Lot Of Rain Remains In Forecast With A Few BreaksDon't put away those umbrellas yet. More rain is expected throughout North Texas.

Tarrant County COVID-19 Testing Sites Set Up But Not Filling UpThe county has loosened up qualifications, trying to get more people tested.

2020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 1 May 122020 Graduates: 4PM Segment 1 May 12

Ones For Wellness: Managing Stress During The PandemicIn today's Ones For Wellness, here's a way to manage any stress you may have due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Police Find 6-Year-Old Boy Tied Up In Shed, Grandmother And Boyfriend Arrested - CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

BEFORE: The footprint and overall volume of the original building has been maintained, and the existing concrete portal frame was left visible to become an important part of the homes interior.

AFTER: Timber used for the exterior cladding was cut from trees felled from the clients own land, which he blackened using a blowtorch, after scouring YouTube videos for instruction. Timbers were laid vertically and of similar proportion and rhythm to that of the original building.

Approaching the house from the north, the simple, bold openings of the elevations are evocative of the original building with its giant barn doors. Entry is now from the side through a small porch recess, a last glance of the landscape visible through a corner window, then onto the polished concrete floor. The footprint and overall volume of the original building was maintained, and we chose a restrained palette of materials to leave the interior as natural as possible, says Jane.

The scale of the barn is revealed in the main studio and open-plan kitchen. The lowered ceiling height in the adjoining dining area is intimate yet expansive, opening onto the garden and landscape beyond.

The dining area, situated in a space with a low ceiling, provides a more intimate experience. Plus, the stunning view to the land is a worthy way to dine.

A nook adjacent to the kitchen acts as an informal eating area, and looks back toward the entrance through a corner window. The concrete portal frame is a feature throughout, seen at different scales as one moves through the building.

With two spacious studios created in the design, the owner is able to produce work at home.

Because the client has a love for open spaces, the studio made sure to focus on the proportion of the rooms. The dramatic scale of the former shed is fully revealed in the entrance hall, main studio, and open-plan, oak-faced plywood kitchen. The lowered ceiling height in the adjoining dining area is intimate yet expansive, opening onto the garden and landscape beyond, while the living room benefits from a large picture window and high ceilings. Every part of the buildings volume has been fully utilized: Even the pockets of space around the edges of the sloping roof at first-floor level, with their reduced ceiling heights, have been incorporated, providing spaces for storage as well as playing hide-and-seek, says Jane.

The former single-level shed now has a second story with warm, solid oak floors and stairwell linings. Waking up to enjoy the views of the countryside was a prime consideration: a low-level window in the master bedroom is positioned for taking in the landscape while reclining in bed.

The restrained palette of materials keeps things as natural as possible, from the polished concrete floors to the single-color mosaic tiles in the bathrooms.

The stairwell is lined with oak, a warm moment to carry you up the steps.

Passive design principles were applied to the design of the home. A heat pump provides underfloor heating and hot water to the house, supplemented by two wood stoves.

The simple structure has been subdivided into two floors of both single and double-height roomsthe bedrooms are on the second floor.

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This Tractor Shed in Southeast England Was Converted Into a Spacious Home - Architectural Digest

It was 1986, a dark time for Mormon historians.

Just months earlier, infamous document collector Mark Hofmann had forged his way into the market for historical pieces relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even fooling church President Spencer W. Kimball and future President Gordon B. Hinckley, with his supposedly fabulous finds and then killing two innocent members to cover his double-dealing and deceit.

There was also serious mistrust of professional historians among top church leaders, some of whom saw even faithful scholars leaning toward naturalistic explanations of the sacred past.

Thats when a 29-year-old attorney in his first year out of law school, Richard E. Turley Jr., stepped into the role as managing director of the churchs History Department, overseeing its vast holdings.

Most recently, he served as managing director of the faiths Public Affairs Department.

At the end of March, Turley retired and, despite the wishes of endless associates eager to celebrate his decades of work, his signing-off party had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, Turley received a copy of a laudatory video that would have been shared at the retirement gala as well as scores of accolades from friends, colleagues and admirers.

Ricks prudent judgment, encyclopedic knowledge of church history, and good humor have given him a unique capacity to serve the church in many ways for over 30 years, apostle Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the churchs governing First Presidency, tells The Salt Lake Tribune. We were blessed to lure him away from his legal employment. It has been an absolute pleasure to have him as a colleague and a close friend.

In the retirement video, Marlin K. Jensen, an emeritus general authority who served as official church historian and recorder from 2005 to 2012, called Turley a polymath, who knew "a lot about a lot of things[with] wide knowledge and learning. He never read anything he forgot and could discourse across any field.

When the story of Latter-day Saint history is written, Jensen says, the name of Richard E. Turley Jr. will be writ very large.

Steven E. Snow, the general authority who replaced Jensen, says in the video that his predecessor had simple advice for him.

There are five words you have to remember, Jensen told Snow. Rick, what do you think?

Snow, who retired himself in 2019, came to share Jensens view of Turleys indispensability, he says. Rick has such a calming presence and his discipline and leadership helped frame all the departments work, especially the monumental "Joseph Smith Papers project.

Nobody in the future can write about our history, Snow says, without referring to that project dubbed the lunar landing of Mormon history on which so much else is built.

Longtime friend Curt Bench, owner of Benchmark Books in South Salt Lake, notes what he says is Turleys astounding volume of work.

Bench, a fellow bibliophile, once asked the historian how he was able to research and write so much in addition to the many other duties he had.

Turleys grin-enshrouded reply: I don't sleep.

After graduating from law school in 1985, he went to work in the Salt Lake City office of a Chicago-based law firm, so he could spend his lunch hours at the nearby church archives.

In late December that year, Turley got a call from Oaks, who invited him to lunch, the retiring historian recounts. The two dined at the Church Office Buildings cafeteria, where the apostle, who the year before had left as a Utah Supreme Court justice for the lifetime church appointment, grilled him about his education and interest in the churchs past, saying nothing about the opening in the History Department after the recent retirement of its managing director.

Days later, Oaks called again and asked Turley if he would speak to apostle Boyd K. Packer, who had strong opinions about history. At the end of that exchange, Packer quipped, If you never hear from us again, dont be surprised.

Next came a call from general authority Dean Larsen, then the churchs official historian, who told the young lawyer of the opening and asked if he would be interested.

I was floored, recalls Turley, having no idea he had been interviewing for the job.

Twenty-four hours later, the accidental historian accepted the position telling his wife that, by abandoning his legal career, they would never be rich.

After it was settled, Turley got a call from Hinckley, then the first counselor in the governing First Presidency and an avid history buff, who asked, Why would a young man like you give up everything you are looking forward to to come work for the church?

Easy, he told the future church president. It was his passion.

Not long after that, according to the retirement video, a group of professional historians came to the new director and laid out a list of complaints about him.

He listened to their litany and then replied, You are absolutely right, I am not qualified, but they gave me the job, which means I am going to need your help in order for me to do it right and do it well.

Those early critics eventually became among his closest allies and Turley their professional equal.

All the while, Turley transformed the department into one of the best private collections in the country as well as opening members minds about the complexities of Mormon history.

People had a sort of a perception of church history based on what they had learned in their seminary class or in their Sunday school class, Turley says on the podcast. And the realities of church history are more textured than that, more nuanced than that.

And one of his first challenges was to tackle the Hofmann forgeries and how Latter-day Saint leaders had been so tricked.

Unlimited access and governing principles

To fully explore the faiths involvement with the murderer, Turley needed access to private journals including Oaks and Hinckleys and all relevant church documents.

He also needed church leaders to sign off on his guiding principles: that he would go where the facts led him and have final editorial control.

Turleys final product on the Hofmann bombings was not the full story there were several other volumes that delved into various aspects and views of it but it was an evenhanded account of how the church perceived the man and their dealings with him.

I was one he interviewed for the book, Bench recalls, and I found him to be very professional, concerned, fair and accurate.

As it turned out, his 1992 book Victims was excellent, she says. It dealt with a major scandal in a straightforward way.

I have been impressed equally by his commitment to digitization of records in the Mountain Meadows work that he undertook, Gordon says. His respect for scholars and scholarship shows in all Rick does, and I found his energy and seriousness were matched by his good humor and patience on a bus tour to Mountain Meadows.

That tour, she says, set a standard for in-depth engagement and on a wrenching, terrible topic.

The worst incident in church history

The heinous events of Sept. 11, 1857 during which a group of Mormons slaughtered 120 Arkansas emigrants crossing through southern Utah, including men, women and children have been the subject of multiple books and documentaries.

Turley wanted to tackle it because it was, he says in the podcast, the worst incident in church history. But he couldnt and wouldnt do it without total access to all church documents.

That resulted, he says, in a high-level, high-stakes meeting, led by Hinckley, by then the churchs president, in which he spelled out Turleys requests for complete candor and access. Hinckley then went around the room and asked each man how he felt about it.

All eyes were on apostle David B Haight, who was the grandnephew of Isaac Haight, one of the principal participants in the massacre.

Haight said, Turley recalls, When I was a child, my mother told me never to talk about that subject. But I think we ought to face our history.

So he, like all the apostles, voted yes.

The historian then examined the details in the full light of day and in every particular, Turley says. What I saw was terrible.

But he insisted his account of it needed to be without fear or favor.

Our feeling was we couldn't change the past, he says, but we were responsible with how we dealt with the past.

With that book, says Richard Bushman, emeritus history professor at Columbia University, Turley proved that the church is willing to face up to its own darkest hour with an unflinching gaze.

The scholar points to Turleys efforts to launch a real and readable look at the faiths history in the ambitious four-volume work Saints the first two of which have been published.

Rick had a vision of a history, Bushman says, that was rigorous, accurate and accessible to members of the church everywhere and at every level.

No one was more surprised than Turley when he was plucked in 2016 from the History Department to manage the churchs media efforts.

The historian brought his knowledge of the past, with its complexities and twists, into navigating the present.

Rick has eased a lot of tensions for segments of the church who usually feel disenfranchised, Stokes says. Its the best thing that has happened to church operations in a long time.

In that regard, Turley says, one of the highlights of his time in public affairs was 2018s Be One event, sponsored by the First Presidency in the Conference Center, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1978 end of the so-called priesthood ban for black members.

One assignment he really enjoyed, he says, was traveling around the world, both with church leaders and on my own, visiting the various areas of the church.

His department created a series of local record systems around the world to document what has been happening as the church builds up in various areas, he says, and then, through the marvels of digital preservation, we've been able to take digital images and share those globally with other people.

Bench, his book-loving buddy, says Turley has loved more than just collecting records.

He has never met an exotic dish he wasn't willing to at least try, including alligator, snake and other unusual delicacies of almost every animal part you can think of, the bookseller says. He told me he only got sick once.

Now that Turley is retired, he is back to writing books.

And whats on the menu? History, of course.

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How an accidental historian won over critics and shed light on two of Mormonism's darkest hours - Salt Lake Tribune

Scientists are beginning to examine how self-efficacy, or confidence in ones abilities, is related to sexual outcomes in women. A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that it could play an important role in experiencing orgasms.

I am very interested in womens sexual health. I think there has traditionally been a lot of focus on risk in the context of sexual health research. This is important, but somewhat limiting as reducing risk is only one component of a healthy sex life, explained study author Julia C. Bond, a doctoral candidate at Boston University.

My hope with this work was to combine some of the great research thats been happening in psychology about the development of healthy sexual self-expression with some of the risk-based outcomes that are more familiar to public health. There is a lot of work that has gone into designing interventions to reduce the risk of negative outcomes related to sexual health that sometimes dont consider individuals perceptions of their own sexuality.

Bond and her colleagues were particularly interested in a scientific survey, called the Female Sexual Subjectivity Inventory, that is used to measure womens sexual body esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure from self, entitlement to sexual pleasure from partner, self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, and sexual self-reflection.

The survey was completed by 209 female college students, who also completed questionnaires to gather information about their demographics, general sexual behaviors, and orgasm frequency. The participants also indicated if they had acquired an STI, had an unwanted pregnancy, or used emergency contraception in the previous year.

The researchers found that women with higher sexual body esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure from both self and their partner, and self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure tended to report a higher likelihood of orgasming frequently compared to infrequently.

In other words, the participants tended to experience more orgasms when they agreed with statements such as I am confident that others will find me sexually desirable, It is okay for me to meet my own sexual needs through self-masturbation, I think it is important for a sexual partner to consider my sexual pleasure, and I am able to ask a partner to provide the sexual stimulation I need.

Reflecting on ones sex life, however, was not associated with orgasm frequency.

Our study was very small, so I think its best to consider this as a preliminary research step. In my mind, the take home point is that sexual self-efficacy may influence sexual health outcomes. To me this suggests that when we think about educating young people about their sexual health, we should consider how to empower them to understand and express their own sexual wants and desires, Bond told PsyPost.

The researchers also found that a large proportion of the participants had a discordant pattern, in which they reported a high entitlement to pleasure from partner but low self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure. These women were significantly less likely to report frequent orgasms from partnered sexual activity.

Our results suggest that a sense of entitlement to pleasure alone may not enable women to achieve consistent orgasms with a partner. Rather, women may also need to be equipped with the tools to effectively communicate what they desire, the researchers wrote in their study.

The Female Sexual Subjectivity Inventory was not related to acquiring an STI, having an unwanted pregnancy, or using emergency contraception. However, only a few participants reported experiencing one of these events, which limited the studys statistical power.

The primary caveat is the small size of the study. I think this line of research (specifically the relationship between more psychological elements of sexual health and sexual health outcomes) is worth exploring with larger samples and in more diverse populations, Bond said.

Its definitely an exciting challenge to try to combine work thats been happening across disciplines. I think there is a lot of space for productive collaborations between researchers in psychology, social work, and public health, and I hope to continue to be able to be a part of collaborative research teams.

The study, Sexual Self-Efficacy and Entitlement to Pleasure: The Association of the Female Sexual Subjectivity Inventory with Sexual Risk Taking and Experience of Orgasm, was authored by Julia C. Bond, Diane M. Morrison, and Stephen E. Hawes.

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New study sheds light on the role of self-efficacy in womens sexual outcomes - PsyPost

BEIJING - Grunts, groans and the sound of pulsing music and crashing weights have returned to some of Beijings gyms after being closed for nearly three monthsdue to the coronavirus outbreak.

With the respiratory illness under control in China, the economy has begun to open up again as authorities loosen lockdown restrictions including stay-at-home orders.

After coming back to the gym Ive been able to get my blood, my circulation going again and get my muscles flexed again, said one gym enthusiast, surnamed Lu, 38, at Mi Fitness, one of the facilities which was allowed to reopen at theend of April.

This kind of feeling is fantastic! he said, after a few sets of lateral raises.Only gyms above ground level are currently allowed to operate provided they follow rules. Temperatures are checked at the door and names and contacts are noted. Everyone must wear a mask unless they have difficulty breathing and maintain a distance of around two metres.

Mi Fitness is subject to three spot checks a day from the citys sports authorities, the local government and the buildings management. A breach of the rules may shut down the business. A thorough cleaning of equipment is carried out regularly.

The fitness studio is on the eighth floor of an office building in west Beijing. During a visit by Reuters on Friday, all those working out observed the mask rule. Some admitted it was a little uncomfortable to wear one while exercising, but 21-year-old student Peng Weichen was determined to see the positive side of things.

I treat it as a form of resistance training, Peng said. That is, resistance training with a reduced oxygen intake. Its not a big deal. Its fine. I can take it.

Several members including Pengs training partner, Xu Haozhi, said they were glad to be back in the gym because the outbreak has taken a toll on their waistlines.

If I dont get some proper exercise soon, Xu said. I will be really, really fat.

Li Chenglong, 26, a barista, said he was excited to be training again, but initially his muscles were not quite ready.

After doing various different exercises my body would really feel it for at least a couple of days, Li said. It was quite painful.

Gym co-founder Liu Mei said the re-opening came in the nick of time.

In early April after two months of no income and no certainty when Mi could re-open, Liu and her business partner considered giving up the business which only opened in 2019.

I was really panicking before...the whole sector was in a state of panic, she said. Mi Fitness is for members only and gym users sign up for classes with a personal trainer. But Liu says they are now allowing people who want to work out on their own use the facilities for a month as many other gyms nearby are still closed. That has helped bring up the number of customers which average abouta half-dozen per hour.

Although the lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus has eased, many people are still working from home or looking after their children and business is not what it used to be.

Despite these hurdles and concerns about a possible second wave of coronavirus, Liu says the fitness sector has a lot of promise.

I really hope that all of those fellow gym owners who feel that they cant stay afloat any longer, can keep going somehow because this sector does have a lot of potential, Liu said. When it comes to getting the nation fit and fighting and resisting this epidemic, I think that our sector should keep going.

China has 82,887 cases of coronavirus and the death toll stands at 4,633, according to the national health authority.

Editing by Masako Iijima and Jacqueline Wong

Read the original here:
As Beijing gyms reopen, users are masked up and ready to shed pounds - Reuters

Gov. Kay Ivey said she would yield control of federal money intended for coronavirus relief to the Legislature and said what she called a wish list from legislators shows why the public needs advance notice of how the money is spent.

The list includes 16 proposals on how the state could spend the $1.8 billion received under the CARES Act, including $200 million for a new State House and renovations to the Capitol.

To me, that is totally unacceptable and not how President Trump and Congress intended for this money to be spent, Ivey said in a statement.

A top lawmaker said it was not a wish list and that the Legislature would not spend CARES Act money on a State House.

The lists says the proposals would depend on federal guidelines for use of the money. Among other items on the list are $800 million to expand broadband access in Alabama, $100 million for state prisons, $100 million to reimburse state agencies for operations during the pandemic, and $75 million for emergency supplies related to the pandemic. Iveys office sent the list to AL.com after it was requested.

Iveys office released the statement as the House of Representatives was about to consider a bill on control of the CARES Act funding. The House took a one-hour recess and then passed the bill, which would give the governor authority to spend up to $200 million of the $1.8 billion. The rest would have to be appropriated by the Legislature in a special session. The Senate gave the bill final approval, which sends it to Ivey for her review.

In the statement released before the bill passed, Ivey referred to a conversation with House General Fund budget chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark. Heres the full statement:

I just got off the phone with House General Fund Chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, and expressed to him my desire for the Legislature to have full control of the CARES Act appropriation, every single penny.

I made it clear to Chairman Clouse that this money belongs to the people of Alabama, not the Governor and, in my opinion, not even the Legislature. It comes to us in an emergency appropriation from President Trump and Congress to support the ongoing crisis that has killed 349 Alabamians, as of this moment, and wreaked havoc on our states economy, ruining small businesses and costing more than 430,000 Alabamians a job they had just a few weeks ago.

I have never desired to control a single penny of this money and if the Legislature feels so strongly that they should have that authority, I yield to them both the money and the responsibility to make good decisions in the light of day where the people of Alabama know what is happening.

I promised Chairman Clouse that my Administration will send over to the Legislature the receipts for items such as PPE, medical supplies, testing kits and the like; items that have been needed and procured to support our health care system including our hospitals and nursing homes. I trust the Legislature will honor these expenses.

We have heard from countless cities and counties who are suffering from the effects of this pandemic; weve heard from colleges and universities, the K-12 system and a whole host of others who had hoped this money would be made available in a timely fashion. Regretfully, because of the Legislatures decision at this last moment these groups will now have to appeal to the 140 members for help.

Finally, I advised Chairman Clouse that I will not call the Legislature back into a Special Session unless and until they provide the people of Alabama in advance a full, detailed and public list of how the money will be spent in exact amounts, down to the penny. I have already seen one wish list that includes a new $200 million statehouse for the Legislature. To me, that is totally unacceptable and not how President Trump and Congress intended for this money to be spent.

As everyone knows, we are in the middle of an international health crisis, unlike any we have ever seen. It is both fiscally responsible and absolutely essential that the Legislature be transparent on the way they intend to spend this money. In my view, it has always belonged to the people of Alabama.

We look forward to seeing their proposed budget. It is obvious the Legislature has more work to do.

Clouse said Alabamas Constitution requires the Legislature to approve spending of taxpayer dollars, including federal dollars. He said the Legislature appropriated federal stimulus money Congress sent to the state during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009.

And its no different now," Clouse said. "Its part of our Constitution that the Legislature appropriates monies for state government.

Clouse said the $200 million allocated to the governors office is to cover immediate needs related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Clouse said the federal government has not yet fully defined how the state can use the $1.8 billion.

Clouse said he had seen the list Ivey released but said it was not a wish list from the Legislature.

Im not sure who wrote the list, Clouse said. I saw it. But there will be many more of those lists going around as far as where the money might potentially go if the feds approve for it to go there. Im not sure where that list came from. I did see it, though.

Clouse said lawmakers would have to pass legislation to spend the federal money and those bills would be subject to review by the governor. He said legislators would not use CARES Act money for a State House.

I dont think we would do that, Clouse said. I think somebody put that down because of all the circumstances were going under right now in this building. Not allowing the public in. You can see what were having go to through in the House right now of separating everybody by more than six feet. Members in the gallery and overflow rooms. This building is just not built for this type of pandemic. No, none of that money would go for a new State House.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said the Legislature would follow an open process in how it allocates the CARES Act money. Marsh has advocated using $800 million for broadband access. Marsh said the shutdown of public schools during the pandemic shows the urgency of making high-speed Internet available statewide. Some communities could not offer virtual classes because of the lack of broadband.

This story was updated to say Iveys office sent the list after a request by AL.com.

Continued here:
Gov. Kay Ivey says wish list shows need to shed light on CARES Act funds - AL.com