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Unfortunately no. It doesn't look like the Feds are going to give money to the States. The CARES act gave some, but not nearly enough to counteract the loss of tax revenues. This disease is going to be a disaster for states, and the longer it lasts the worse it gets.

Before we start looking at conspiracy theory, there's a reasonable explanation. It takes at least 2 weeks to see the results of a policy change. Incubation is 5 to 14 days. People don't go to the hospital the instant they get the disease. Depending upon the State there are delays between...

It's hard to say. I grew up in a liberal community. The only real "alternative facts" I was aware of was rejection of evolution. On social media, I see a lot more, but it's possible that I'm just in contact with a more diverse group. However I think there's a real change. When I was growing up...

"alternative facts." The Christian community started by tolerating rejection of evolution and astronomy, because it was inconvenient for theology. The virus spread to history, then climatology. Then resistance to vaccines. And I'm now seeing the flat earth making a comeback among conservatives.

There are two senses in which "anyone" might not be able to consecreate communion: Ordination confers metaphysical power. People other than pastors don't have it. Communion is an act of God's people. Pastors are authorized by their churches, and act as their representative. I would reject the...

I was trying to avoid giving a list of dates, which vary by State. The news is full of states and localities opening things. Even NY and NJ have taken the first steps, though they are small ones. In NJ that's reopening parks and golf courses. Also some beaches (decisions there are made locally...

I agree that attempts to claim they taught the same thing are unconvincing, though you can find some correspondences. But I would say rather that what we see today combines both emphases. While there are certainly Christians who don't, I think most of us do see forgiveness, compassion...

Cuomo has indicated that upstate NY will likely open sooner. I think the medical people were recommending distancing everywhere. Opening up is supposed to depend upon contact tracing, which couldn't be done anywhere in mid-March. If you assume there's enough testing to do at least minimal...

Communion is by definition a community event. I'd much rather see virtual communion. We're getting good attendance at our services over Facebook Live. A communion service in that context, with everyone eating together, preserves the meaning of the sacrament. There are some differences between...

I don't think there have been more rules for some time, unless there are states that got to the game late. NY and NJ are planning "reopening" and states not as hard hit are doing it. Governors in NY and NJ can't commit to a date because no prediction of the course has been accurate, but at least...

I do think we should treat different areas differently, but there is a caution: There are now clusters in odd places growing faster than NYC. In NJ, growth in the north is increasingly under control, but now cases are growing in the central and south areas. That doesn't mean we should treat the...

One of the requirements of a mask is to cover both mouth and nose. I don't wear one when I'm walking, because there's no one else around. I don't know about other places, but the requirements for NJ are for places where it's likely that people will be fairly close together. NY goes further, but...

Our grocery stores are now carrying surgical masks, so the time for scarves seems over. That's assuming that any mask other than N95 does anything. Studies are mixed. And remember that no one is claiming they protect you. The hope is that it will protect others from your coughs.

I don't know where you are. In NYC it's required on the MTA, and recently by anyone in public. In NJ it's required in public transit.

Still not a really well controlled study, although it's pretty suggestive. If I were a betting man I'd bet that this won't end up being used. But without a real study we won't be sure. The problem with it is that people weren't assigned randomly. The people who got the treatment were on average...

The CDC and some studies say it doesn't protect you. It's intended to protect others if you cough. The CDC has said pretty specifically that that's its only purpose. I agree that it's weird you have to use it in a store and not on mass transit. I'd avoid mass transit these days, but then I...

If none of them have any effect, then a bandana is as good as anything. Unfortunately the evidence is ambiguous. If there is an effect, something like a surgical mask is better than a bandana. There are also homemade masks with more layers that are better. But it's possible that none of them do...

I suspect for the next year it will apply to all public venues. Including kids at school. Unless there's definitive evidence that they don't do anything.

Our grocery stores are now selling (non-certified) surgical type masks. Amazon now has vendors that are shipping three-layer cotton masks. (I haven't checked to see if you can actually get surgical masks.) It's probably past time for bandanas, etc.

Here's a legal analysis of what he *should" have said: https://lawandcrime.com/legal-analysis/how-n-j-s-constitutionally-clueless-gov-phil-murphy-could-have-avoided-his-fox-news-trainwreck/. To add weirdness to the situation: Murphy's order actually doesn't ban church services. The stay at home...