(2020-03-17). Hospitals in England told to postpone 'non-urgent' operations for 3 MONTHS amid coronavirus crisis. rt.com 
NHS England is cancelling all routine surgery from April 15 for a period of at least three months, and discharging all inpatients as a matter of great urgency, to help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. | The latest measures revealed by health bosses on Tuesday would see hospital patients who are 'medically fit' sent home to free up staff and beds as the UK attempts to stem the spread of the deadly disease. | In a letter sent to health trusts across the country, NHS heads claimed that the novel coronavirus presented the national healthcare system with "arguably the greatest challenge it has faced since its crea…
(2020-03-17). Covid-19 pandemic could continue for 2 YEARS, German health expert warns. rt.com 
A senior German disease control expert has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could continue for two years, depending on how long it takes for an effective vaccine to be developed and if people develop immunity after illness. | Speaking on Tuesday, the Robert Kock Institut's (RKI) president, Prof. Lothar Wieler, said pandemics tend to run their course in waves, and factors influencing how it unfolds from this point include how many people become immune to it after contracting the virus — and how quickly a vaccine is made. | The RKI, a German federal agency responsible for disease control and prevention,…
(2020-03-17). Together, Biden and Sanders COVID-19 plans provide immediate and systemic response. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—If you want the global view of how the U.S. health care non-system is ill-equipped to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vt., has a solution for you. It's in his speech on March 12. If you want point-by-point, detail-by-detail proposals on what the federal government can and …
(2020-03-17). Ohio governor vows to delay primary vote over coronavirus emergency despite judge's ruling. rt.com 
Dueling press reports and statements have created major confusion over the upcoming primary vote in Ohio — where the governor promised to delay the vote over fears of Covid-19, while a judge struck down the request. | @DrAmyActon will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State @FrankLaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine)
(2020-03-17). Cuba's Contribution to Combatting COVID-19. counterpunch.org 
COVID-19 surged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019 and by January 2020 it had hit Hubei province like a tidal wave, swirling over China and rippling out overseas. The Chinese state rolled into action to combat the spread and care for those infected. Among the 30 medicines the Chinese National Health Commission selected to fight the virus was a Cuban anti-viral drug Interferon Alpha 2b. This drug has been produced in China since 2003, by the enterprise ChangHeber, a Cuban-Chinese joint venture.
(2020-03-17). Airbus & Volkswagen stop production as Covid-19 brings Europe to screeching halt. rt.com 
European aviation giant Airbus has decided to pause production and assembly activities at its French and Spanish facilities for the next four days to contain the spread of coronavirus. | "This will allow sufficient time to implement stringent health and safety conditions in terms of hygiene, cleaning and self-distancing, while improving the efficiency of operations under the new working conditions," the company said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it will allow its staff to work remotely wherever possible. | Airbus' announcement came shortly after France and Spain imposed drastic measures to battle the…
(2020-03-17). Iran's supreme leader issues fatwa banning 'unnecessary travel' as coronavirus death toll mounts. rt.com 
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made a religious ruling that prohibits "unnecessary travel" in the country in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. Iran's death toll from the outbreak is nearing 1,000. | The fatwa urges citizens to respect the orders of the health authorities and to refrain from traveling across the country without a valid reason. The supreme leader has final say on all state affairs and the decree published on Tuesday is a rare move on his part. | Iranian authorities called upon the citizenry to avoid traveling, closing major Shia Muslim holy sites on Monday in a bid t…
(2020-03-17). Health secretary announces emergency measures for NHS Scotland. thecanary.co 
Scotland's NHS has been formally placed on an emergency footing to help it deal with a "substantial and sustained" increase in coronavirus cases.Health secretary Jeane Freeman revealed the move as she updated MSPs at Holyrood on the Covid-19 outbreak.Speaking after first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned "the next weeks and possibly months will be immensely difficult", the Health Secretary outlined some of the measures being implemented. | She also warned Scots more stringent steps might be needed to combat the spread of the virus — with both Freeman and the first minister describing the situation as "unpreced…
(2020-03-17). Concerns over supply shortage of protective gear for frontline health workers. thecanary.co 
There are "critical" shortages of laboratory equipment, medical devices and protective equipment in some countries, European health leaders have said.The European branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was aware of some shortages and was also monitoring the potential risk of a disruption to medicine supplies.It comes after officials in Britain faced renewed calls to keep frontline staff healthy and ensure they have enough protective equipment to continue caring for patients. | "Health facilities have to have the necessary equipment to care for those seriously affected and to protect health workers…
(2020-03-17). 'If I had to go to the pub, I'd go': PM BoJo's dad defies own son's advice ONE day after new Covid-19 measures (VIDEO). rt.com 
Boris Johnson's father Stanley has vowed that coronavirus won't put him off ordering a pint of beer, despite the UK government — led by his son — telling citizens to avoid pubs to limit the spread of the deadly disease. | In a father-son relationship, it's commonly accepted that the parent does the 'telling off', but it would appear in the case of Boris and Stanley Johnson, it's the UK prime minister who will have to tell his outspoken dad that he's been 'a very naughty boy.' | During a discussion on the coronavirus crisis on ITV's 'This Morning' show on Tuesday, the elder Johnson, 79, vowed that h…
(2020-03-17). 'Shocking and callous': Tory MP rejects concerns over coronavirus low sick pay claims, tells constituent to 'get a life'. rt.com A Conservative MP has felt the fury of Britons scared about the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the poor, after telling one of her constituents concerned about low sick pay to "get a life." | While the coronavirus outbreak is causing heightened tensions amongst citizens around the globe, lawmakers in various countries are attempting to allay fears with a series of measures to tackle the spread of the deadly disease. | However, it would appear Pauline Latham — the Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire — didn't get the memo. She was tweeted by an alleged constituent, who asked whether statutory sick pay of &…
(2020-03-17). US ramps up sanctions devastating Venezuela's health sector as coronavirus spreads. thegrayzone.com Promising to "smash" Venezuela's government during a "maximum pressure March," Trump has imposed crushing sanctions that force Venezuela to spend…
(2020-03-17). UK doctors speak out on coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Reporters for the World Socialist Web Site spoke to two medical doctors on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting Britain's National Health Service and their concerns for the future.
(2020-03-17). US Indifference to Public Health: The Shame of the Nation. globalresearch.ca Both right wings of the US one-party state serve privileged interests exclusively at the expense of public health and welfare. | It's been this way throughout the nation's history, notably since the neoliberal 90s, especially post-9/11 when Republicans and undemocratic Dems …
(2020-03-17). The UK and Spain make coronavirus plans to use private healthcare, with one glaring difference. thecanary.co Both the UK and Spain have made plans to use private healthcare facilities to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic. But there's a glaring difference between the policies. One that speaks volumes about the Conservative government. | Public good vs private profit: | The Spanish government
(2020-03-17). Brazil: Bolsonaro to Be Denounced for Risking the Population. telesurenglish.net The Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) lawmaker Marcelo Freixo will denounce Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro before the World Health Organization (WHO) for putting the population at risk by promoting the concentration of people in a political act against of the National Congress and the Federal Supreme Court held in Brasilia on March 15. | RELATED: | At an event called by those who long for the return to a military regime, Bolso…
(2020-03-17). We Have Met the Enemy, But It May Turn Out to Be Not a Virus But Us. zcomm.org If people think things have gotten bad quickly in Italy, where the whole country is currently on lockdown in an attempt to try and slow the coronavirus pandemic's spread, wait until the disease really gets going her in the US, where it arrived later. We ain't seen nothing yet…
(2020-03-17). Bolsonaro's Son Confirmed Father's Positive Coronavirus Test, Then Lied About It. zcomm.org The question of Bolsonaro's health remains shrouded in mystery. And that mystery is now fueled by his son inadvertently starting a war with a news outlet they trained their followers to worship: Fox News…
(2020-03-17). Insurance Industry Ramps Up Propaganda Against Medicare for All Amid Pandemic. truthout.org As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the United States, laying bare the myriad dysfunctions and inefficiencies of America's for-profit healthcare system, a powerful insurance industry front group is openly ramping up its campaign against systemic healthcare reforms that
(2020-03-17). American Unexceptionalism & COVID-19. counterpunch.org During the SARS-1 epidemic scare in 2002-4, America invaded Iraq. If you followed science, you would know that SARS-1, was a coronavirus that caused an acute respiratory disease that killed on average about 11 out of every 100 infected (but sometimes more depending on health care infrastructure), and was a pandemic bullet the world barely
(2020-03-17). From The Plague Doctor to Plague Culture. counterpunch.org In Italy and France during the 17th century, the plague doctor was a physician who treated victims of the bubonic plague. He would dawn a plague mask which usually resembled the face of a white bird to include a curved beak and glass, goggle-like eye holes. Inside the beak or nose-case were placed various aromas—often
(2020-03-17). Plagues, Pandemics, Paintings, and Personal Gain. counterpunch.org After a lot of Trump Administration obfuscation, dillydallying, denial, sloppy planning, incompetence, inaction, and indecision about the spread and the combatting of the Coronavirus in the United States, and, after much criticism by Democrat politicians and the "liberal" media, the White House apprised the nation that at 9: 00 p.m. EDT, March 11, 2020, President Donald
(2020-03-17). Black Plague, Spanish Flu, Smallpox: All Hold Lessons for Coronavirus. truthdig.com Pandemics are nothing new in history, and their long record across the ages and continents has much to teach us about how best to handle the current outbreak, writes California State University professor Ibrahim Al-Marashi in a fascinating piece at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. | Al-Marashi begins with a tour through the animal origins of both common viruses and lethal pathogens, of which COVID-19 is just the latest example.
(2020-03-17). The impact of the coronavirus crisis in Florence. wsws.org The inadequacies are largely due to the constant cuts that have been made to the national health system over the last two-three decades, under every government, whether center-right or center-left.
(2020-03-17). As coronavirus cases surge in Canada, Trudeau prioritizes tougher border controls. wsws.org Although the number of confirmed coronavirus cases more than doubled in the past two days to 425, Trudeau offered nothing in the way of additional support for the already overstretched health care system.
(2020-03-17). The Stop5GL Foundation Takes Netherlands Government to Court over 5G Rollout, Citing Health Concerns. globalresearch.ca The Stop5GNL Foundation has filed a suit summary proceedings against the Dutch government, to stop it from rolling out 5G. The foundation believes the deployment is unlawful because it does not protect citizens against the consequences of radiation exposure from …
(2020-03-17). Health official warns that 150,000 Australians could die in coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Many of these people will die as a direct result of the failure of the governments, both federal and state, to take the urgently needed action and allocate the necessary medical resources.
(2020-03-17). ILWU & Migrant Organizations Defend Grand Princess Crew & US Workers. indybay.org The Bay Area ILWU and migrant rights organizations joined together to support the Grand Princess crew health and safety as. well as the health and safety conditions of longshore workers and all port workers. They also discussed the fight of all working people to defend and protect their health and safety rights.
(2020-03-17). The Senate Must Pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. truthout.org The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare how ill-prepared the U.S. is to address basic human needs. Unlike every other wealthy nation, the U.S. fails to provide access to health care for everyone, paid time off for workers who are sick, safety standards to protect health workers, adequate payment to caregivers for people with disabilities, or financial support for businesses in times of natural disasters or widespread illness. | The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative R…
(2020-03-17). Years of Austerity Weakened the Public Health Response to Coronavirus. truthout.org Years of austerity at all levels of government, combined with profiteering in the health care sector and the Trump administration's bungled response, have severely weakened the nation's ability to combat the coronavirus outbreak and is putting public health workers on the front lines of the crisis in danger, according to experts and labor advocates. | Underfunded and overworked public health departments are tasked with tracking and stopping the spread of the disease. Hospitals and emergency rooms ar…
(2020-03-17). Coronavirus as a Way of Life. counterpunch.org "Anything we say in advance of a pandemic happening is alarmist; anything we say afterwards is inadequate." — Michael Leavitt, US Health and Human Services Secretary, March 30, 2006 A crew of gathered customers were busying themselves this Friday evening at the BWS (Beer, Wine and Spirits for the uninitiated) along Elizabeth Street in Melbourne,
(2020-03-17). Guyana: Vote Recount Suspended Once Again. telesurenglish.net Guyana suspended the vote count again after the Electoral Commission's headquarters was sprayed with pesticides on Monday, Telesur's special envoy in the country Alejandro Kirk, said Tuesday. | RELATED: | "On Monday, Guyana's health ministry suddenly decided to spray the commission's headquarters with pesticides," Kirk said. | As a result, "the police were forced to evict the Caribbean Community of Nations (Caric…
(2020-03-17). 5G: "The End of All Things". The Health Impacts of Electromagnetic Radiation. globalresearch.ca We have become thoroughly accustomed and habituated to endless advertising by drug makers to buy into the promises of pharmaceutical drugs or to consent to the nutritional value of junk food. Yet the drug and food industries are completely indifferent …
(2020-03-17). Australian governments invoke emergency powers amid COVID-19 disaster. wsws.org These laws contain powers only previously used in wartime, such as arbitrarily detaining, imprisoning or imposing massive fines on people, to be imposed now in the name of protecting public health.
(2020-03-17). With US Hospitals Unprepared for COVID-19, European Students Urged Home. truthout.org The biggest college in Norway urged students to return from countries with "poorly developed" health systems — such as the United States! — as experts warned that the American hospital system would be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. | Norway's University of Science and Technology issued an alert to students studying abroad urging them to "return home." | "This applies especially if you are staying in a country with poorly developed health services. This also applies for countries…
(2020-03-17). S.C. County Issues Shelter-in-Place with No Shelter or Facilities for Those Outside. indybay.org Several hours ago the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency followed up on actions by San Francisco, Marin, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Mateo counties declaring much public assembly a misdemeanor. Meanwhile acting City czar Martin Bernal has declined to provide portapotties, open bathrooms, provide vacant hotel and motel rooms, or declare an eviction moratorium for folks outside and hard-pressed renters inside.
(2020-03-17). After handful of tests, West Virginia officials claim zero coronavirus cases. wsws.org The state has, by many metrics, the unhealthiest and poorest adult population in the US, putting a majority in higher risk categories for COVID-19.
(2020-03-17). Pandemic: The Invention of a Disease Called Fear. People are being "Herded". Disrupting the World Economy. globalresearch.ca The word 'pandemic' bears a similarity to the word 'panic' and indeed 'pandemonium'. In fact 'pandemic' evokes an almost instant flush of fear in those easily manipulated by mass media, before any details have even touched the surface or context …
(2020-03-17). Cuban Drug Could Save Thousands of Lives in Coronavirus Pandemic. globalresearch.ca Cuban medicine could treat thousands of coronavirus patients as production of a "flagship" drug known to combat the disease is set to increase significantly, pharmaceutical bosses said at a press conference on Friday. | President of the BioCubaFarma group Eduardo Martinez…
(2020-03-17). Pakistan province denies central government report of country's first coronavirus death. yenisafak.com The death was announced on a web portal the health ministry launched on Tuesday to keep a track of the spread of the virus.The Punjab government disputed the report and said it would confirm the death after laboratory verification of the patient's test results.
(2020-03-17). Iran's death toll from coronavirus climbs to 988. yenisafak.com Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus has increased to 988, with 135 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a health ministry spokesman told state TV on Tuesday."The death toll is 988 … with 1,178 new infected people in the past 24 hours, now the total number of infected cases is 16,169 across the country," said Kianush Jahanpur, adding that 5,389 people infected with the virus have recovered.
(2020-03-17). Islamic finance body sets up fund on coronavirus impact. yenisafak.com The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB Group) is setting up a special $730 million fund to mitigate the negative health and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.The IsDB Group said on Monday that global supply chain disruptions, demand compression, and macroeconomic instability will have severe economic growth and poverty fallout on member countries, if not managed appropriately.The Strategic Preparedness and Response Facility fund is meant to ease the adverse impacts of coronavirus, according to a bank statement.The fund will include $280 million from the Bank and Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development for…
(2020-03-17). Morocco confirms 2nd death from coronavirus. yenisafak.com Morocco confirmed a second death from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, according to the health ministry.A 75-year-old man from Sale city in north-western Morocco had died from the disease, the ministry said in a statement.The ministry said a Moroccan national in Casablanca who recently visited France was infected with the virus, taking the total infections in the country to 38.On Sunday, Moroccan authorities created a $1 billion fund to upgrade health facilities and help the country's economic sectors in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.The disease, known as COVID-19, emerged in Wuhan, China last December, a…
(2020-03-17). Chinese Scientists Begin Recruiting Volunteers for Clinical Trials of COVID-19 Vaccines. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Chinese scientists have begun a recruitment drive for volunteers to take part in clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of newly developed vaccines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Wang Junzhi, a scholar at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said during a press conference on Tuesday.
(2020-03-17). US States Take Charge of COVID-19 Response. sputniknews.com On this episode of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined by Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist who combines her hands-on clinical experience and public health expertise.
(2020-03-17). Pandemic Stalks But Congress Still Fails to Pass Emergency Legislation. sputniknews.com On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician and vice chair of an Infectious Disease Society of America committee, and Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, an assistant professor of viral pathogenesis and Canada Research Chair in molecular pathogenesis of emerging viruses.
(2020-03-17). How can the US support Iran's response to the coronavirus and bolster diplomacy? iranian.com As Tehran is scrambling to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Iran, Mark Fitzpatrick explains why the United States should facilitate the humanitarian assistance Iran needs to address its current public health crisis. The United States' policy toward Iran is stuck in a rut. Government officials know well that the maximum pressure campaign …
(2020-03-17). Spain Nationalizes Health Care as Its Coronavirus Cases Double. truthout.org Europe is the epicenter of coronavirus, and Spain now has the second most cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 new cases in 24 hours and the number of deaths doubled. We'll go to Madrid for an update, where more than half of the country's cases have been reported. This comes as the Spanish government announced it is nationalizing hospitals and private healthcare companies to better manage the pandemic. We are joined by María Carrión, a freelance journalist and former Democracy Now! producer who is also execu…
(2020-03-16). Piety, Propriety, and Propaganda. dissidentvoice.org 
One of the slogans I learned in an earlier, albeit brief, phase of my life was called the 5 Ps: "Prior planning prevents poor performance." While it is true that planning, which by definition is somehow prior, can improve performance of any task, like all such slogans there is much tautology. Planning can define performance …
(2020-03-16). Getting Viral: Why COVID-19 is Such a Threat to the 60+ Plus Population and Why the Response May Make It Worse. counterpunch.org 
After looking at the demographics, virology, public health dimensions, and earlier parallels (e.g., the 1918 flu epidemic), it seems to me that this whole episode with COVID-19 is being handled incorrectly. This is partly due to Donald Trump's self-serving blunders, but not entirely.