(2020-03-23). How to Wage War, FDR-Style, on Our Pandemic. commondreams.org President Donald Trump looks on next to Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a meeting at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland on March 3, 2020. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-03-22). No need to test EVERYONE, but when lockdowns are lifted Covid-19 cases could JUMP back up, WHO warns. rt.com 
Countries affected by the Covid-19 epidemic may have to deal with a resurgence of the disease after they lift lockdowns, a top WHO official has warned. To create a vaccine could take at least a year, he said. | "If we don't put in place the strong public health measures now, when those movement restrictions and lockdowns are lifted, the danger is the disease will jump back up," Dr. Mike Ryan has stressed. | Ryan, who serves as the head of the Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organization, also made an apparent reversal on previous advice from the UN body, saying there was no need to test everyo…
(2020-03-22). 'Million dollar question!' Belgian health minister jokes on how long coronavirus lockdown will last. rt.com 
Belgium has been put on almost total lockdown as Europe battles the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has effected tens of thousands. Yet, Belgian health minister believes the virus will calm down in eight weeks or so. | When asked by a reporter about how long restriction imposed by the government to supposedly stop the spread of the disease will last, Minister Maggie De Block jokingly said it was a "million dollar question." | "We are now heading toward the peak of the epidemic, after which the curve will descend. I think this situation will last for at least another eight weeks. It would be the normal curve,"
(2020-03-22). France's coronavirus death toll surges by 112 to 674. rt.com 
France saw a major spike in Covid-19 deaths on Sunday as 112 more people were confirmed dead, bringing the total number to 674. Cases of infection sharply increased as well, now standing at 16,018. | Some 7,240 of the infected are hospitalized, including 1.746 in intensive care units. | The global death toll of the coronavirus pandemic has already surpassed 13,000 and over 300,000 of cases have been registered. The epicenter of the epidemic has shifted to Europe, hitting Italy and Spain particularly hard, while China has seemingly managed to get its outbreak under control.
(2020-03-22). Military to offer local support amid the UK's 'accelerating' coronavirus crisis. thecanary.co 
Military planners have been called in to help with localised support systems as people at high risk from the coronavirus were urged to stay home for at least 12 weeks.The move came as Boris Johnson called for Britons to resist visiting their parents on Mother's Day, with the prime minister warning the Covid-19 outbreak is "accelerating".The government and health officials have urged the 1.5 million people in England considered most at risk from the disease because of their health conditions to begin "shielding" themselves by staying at home.Letters will go out this week "strongly advising" them not to go out for…
(2020-03-22). War-ravaged Syria suffers its FIRST case of Covid-19 — state media. rt.com 
Syria's health minister has confirmed that the first case of coronavirus, which has already reached pandemic levels, has been reported in the country. | The person person in question came from abroad, it was announced. Meanwhile, Health Minister Nizar al-Yaziji told SANA state news agency that the "necessary measures" have been taken to deal with the case. | Earlier on Sunday, the official said that the nation — suffering from years-long civil war and a terrorist surge — was actively preparing for a potential coronavirus outbreak on its territory. | Medical authorities in Aleppo already established a…
(2020-03-22). 'They have been LYING from the start,' lawyer tells RT as medics sue French PM, ex-minister over Covid-19 inaction. rt.com 
French medics are seeking the prosecution of top officials over their allegedly negligent response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the evidence is an interview with an ex-health minister, who called government action a masquerade. | Three French medics filed a legal complaint this week against Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and former minister of solidarity and health, Agnes Buzyn. The two senior officials, the complaint alleges, failed to perform their duty and organize a proper response to the coronavirus outbreak, which by now has gripped most of Europe and put France on standstill. | As early as January,…
(2020-03-22). 'Stay indoors & healthy': India holds coronavirus 'self-curfew drill' as infections reach 300,000 globally. rt.com 
As a part of a drill to increase Covid-19 pandemic awareness and prepare for the worst, India has launched a 14-hour 'self curfew' to test Indians' readiness for social isolation and quarantine. | "Let us all be a part of this curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against [the] Covid-19 menace," Indian PM Narendra Modi tweeted minutes before the 'self-curfew' went into effect. | The steps we take now will help in the times to come. | In a few minutes from now, the Let us all be a part…
(2020-03-22). Calls rise to ban self-isolaters retreating to Wales and other rural parts of the UK. thecanary.co 
Self-isolaters should be banned from travelling to rural parts of Wales during the coronavirus crisis, according to a Plaid Cymru politician.Party leader Adam Price has written to first minister Mark Drakeford demanding he stops people travelling to caravan parks, second homes and tourist accommodation across the country.He said there are concerns about an influx of people into rural communities — putting even more pressure on local health and social care services. | I've just sent an urgent letter to
(2020-03-22). Covid-19 cases rise to 367 in Russia after 61 more people tested positive for disease. rt.com 
Health workers recorded 61 new cases of Covid-19 in Russia, bringing their total number to 367, the authorities said on Sunday. | The new patients, 54 of which were identified in Moscow, recently returned from trips to Switzerland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain and France. The latter two countries remain among the hardest hit by the ongoing pandemic, with more than 28,000 and 14,000 confirmed cases respectively. | On Friday, the Kremlin denied holding talks on the possibility of placing Moscow on a lockdown. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that there are no plans to close the city's busiest public transit s…
(2020-03-22). Japan and IOC are resisting pressure to postpone Tokyo Olympics… but for how much longer? rt.com 
With the sporting landscape decimated by the coronavirus pandemic currently overwhelming the world, the one major event yet to be called off is this summer's Tokyo Olympics, leaving athletes in a type of competitive limbo. | Most sports leagues across the globe have shut their doors for the health and safety of athletes, staff and fans alike. | The UEFA European Championships, also originally scheduled for this summer, have been pushed back to 2021 while uncertainty remains as to when major sporting leagues in Europe, the US and beyond will once again resume operations. | However, the one event yet to be serio…
(2020-03-22). Italy's coronavirus death toll jumps by 651 as number of cases nears chilling 60,000. rt.com 
The death toll of the major coronavirus outbreak plaguing Italy has reached 5,476, while a total number of confirmed cases is nearing 60,000, according to the latest figures from health authorities. | Italy experienced a major surge in the number of coronavirus deaths on Sunday, as 651 more people succumbed to the illness. Still, the figure did not surpass the Saturday spike, when the country saw the largest one-day number of deaths. | The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 59,138 — almost a one fifth of the infected worldwide. | Lombardy remains the worst-affected r…
(2020-03-22). 1 critical as magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits capital of Croatia, damages buildings and iconic cathedral (VIDEO, PHOTOS). rt.com 
Strong quakes have struck Croatia's capital Zagreb leaving at least one person in critical condition and damaging buildings downtown, including the city's main historic cathedral. | A 15-year-old child is in critical condition after Zagreb was hit by a 5.3-magnitude earthquake, which was followed by a 5.1-magnitude tremor 40 minutes later. The epicenters of the two quakes were located 8km (five miles) and 7km (4.3 miles) from the city, respectively. | Health officials had reported that the child had died before later retracting their comments. | Sna≈æan potres pogodio je Zagreb u nedjelju ujutro. &…
(2020-03-22). France reports first Covid-19-related death of hospital doctor. rt.com 
France has lost its first practicing doctor to coronavirus, the nation's Minister for Solidarity and Health Olivier Veran has announced. The unidentified hospital health professional succumbed to the virus on Saturday night. | No further details about the fatality has been offered by the minister, who made the announcement on Sunday. Local media said the victim was an emergency doctor from Compiegne, a region of France hit badly by the pandemic. The medic reportedly died shortly after being transported to Lille. | France has almost 15,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 562 deaths reported so far. While not hit…
(2020-03-22). Iconic opera star Placido Domingo tests positive for coronavirus. rt.com 
Opera superstar Placido Domingo has said he's contracted the dreaded Covid-19 virus, taking a moment to urge his fans to follow basic health guidelines, as the death toll from the pandemic keeps growing. | "I feel it is my moral duty to announce to you that I have tested positive for COVID19, the Corona virus," the singer said on Facebook on Sunday. | Domingo and his family will remain in self isolation "as long as it is deemed medically necessary." | The star got tested for the virus after he "experienced fever and cough symptoms" and the results came back positive. |
(2020-03-22). Spain's coronavirus death toll SPIKES by nearly 400 as number of cases passes 28,000. rt.com 
The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Spain leaped to 1,720 on Sunday, an increase of nearly 400 in just one day, as the number of infected people soared over 28,000. | The Spanish health ministry announced the 30 percent increase in confirmed deaths and revealed that the number of Covid-19 cases in the Iberian country had climbed to 28,572, an increase of over 3,600 from Saturday's 24,926 figure. | The one-day rise in deaths of 394 was notably higher than the previous day's increase of 324. Health officials said that more than 1,000 have died in the area around the capital Madrid and 1,785 people are in…
(2020-03-22). 'I thought about it … but I didn't': CNN's Tapper tries to explain not fact-checking AOC over coronavirus 'hoax' claim. rt.com 
Jake Tapper of CNN has admitted to not fact-checking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on his show after she'd said the administration called the coronavirus a "hoax," but claimed it was okay because Trump "lies so often." | Tapper remained silent on Sunday when Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) criticized the Trump administration's response to the pandemic on CNN's 'State of the Union' show, claiming that the White House had at one point labeled the disease a "hoax." | In reality, the administration never labeled the coronavirus a hoax, though Donald Trump last month did call media coverage part of a hoax when he critic…
(2020-03-22). Coronavirus surges in New York as 4,800 new cases recorded, death toll hits 114. rt.com 
The number of people infected with the Covid-19 illness in New York has dramatically surged with 4,800 new cases recorded on Sunday. A total of 15,168 people in the state are carrying the disease and 114 have died. | State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the spike on Sunday as the Mayor of New York city Bill de Blasio described the outbreak as the biggest domestic crisis since the Great Depression. | "If we don't get more ventilators in the next 10 days people will die who don't have to die," de Blasio said, according to the Reuters news agency. | Earlier Sunday, Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institu…
(2020-03-22). Angela Merkel goes into home QUARANTINE after contacting virus-infected doctor. rt.com 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been placed under house quarantine, after it was revealed that she'd had contact with a medic that has since tested positive for coronavirus. | The news, which immediately made headlines, was confirmed by the government spokesman Steffen Seibert. | A doctor that vaccinated Merkel on Friday, against a bacterium that causes pneumonia, among other diseases, has himself tested positive for the virus, Seibert said in a statement, without revealing any further details about the medic. | "The chancellor has decided to immediately place herself under house quarantine," he said, addi…
(2020-03-22). Hospitals '10 days away' from shortages of essential supplies, Mayor De Blasio warns, as Covid-19 cases in NYC top 8,000. rt.com 
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio believes April will be 'a lot worse' than March when it comes to coronavirus, and wants the US military 'mobilized' in response to the disease. | Speaking on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' De Blasio took a jab at the federal government, claiming he sees very little positive about its response to the spread of coronavirus. | "It's only getting worse," he said, adding that, "New Yorkers and Americans deserve the blunt truth." | That blunt truth, according to the mayor, includes the fact that hospitals will be running short on fundamental supplies like ventilators in the coming month a…
(2020-03-22). Coronavirus cases in Germany rise by nearly 2,000 in one day as death toll hits 55. rt.com 
The number of Covid-19 cases in Germany climbed to 18,610 and the death toll rose to 55, as almost 2,000 more people were confirmed as having the disease on Sunday. | The Robert Koch Institute announced a fresh round of alarming statistics on Sunday morning, showing that 1,948 additional people have contracted the virus. | The federal agency, which is responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany, said a total of 55 people have died after testing positive for the illness, an increase of 9 from Saturday's tally. The figures are based on data collected up until midnight on Saturday. | The institute a…
(2020-03-22). Russian military planes carrying medics and equipment fly to devastated Italy to help combat Covid-19 pandemic (VIDEO). rt.com 
Six of the nine military transport planes prepared by Russia to deliver help to Italy in its desperate fight against the Covid-19 infection have departed an air base near Moscow. | The Ilyushin Il-76 planes are heading to the Pratica di Mare Air Base of the Italian Air Forces near Rome, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The planes are carrying Russian military medics and specialists in infectious diseases, as well as equipment necessary for diagnostics and disinfection of the deadly coronavirus. | | ©Russian Defense Ministry | Earlier, the ministry prepared nine transport planes on the Chkalovskiy…
(2020-03-22). For America's Urgent Health and Safety, Trump Needs to Resign! commondreams.org U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus response while flanked by Vice President Mike Pence during a briefing with health insurers at the White House on March 10, 2020. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-03-22). "Trickle-Down" Economic Plans Not Enough for Coronavirus Challenge. zcomm.org Just a little while ago, people said we couldn't afford this program helping college students with immense debt, or healthcare for everyone. We always could have afforded these things. It was just our prioritization was wrong.
(2020-03-22). Five Demands for Emergency COVID-19 Survival. indybay.org With the Bay Area and now all of California on coronavirus lockdown, millions going without paychecks and health insurance, prisoners and unsheltered folks at great risk of contracting the virus, wheatpaste posters have gone up in Oakland making five reasonable demands to increase our collective chance at survival.
(2020-03-22). Our Shameless 'War President' Goes to Battle. commondreams.org In his usual regal style, Trump has been taking responsibility for every aspect of the virus epidemic. That's dangerous. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-03-22). Climate Science Deniers Are Also Downplaying COVID-19 Risks. truthout.org On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO)
(2020-03-22). ACLU Demands the Release from Prisons and Jails of Communities Vulnerable to COVID-19. indybay.org ACLU Also Calls for Release of People Currently in Pretrial Detention Because of Cash Bail to Prevent a Public Health Crisis…
(2020-03-22). Italy's Misleading Figures on the C-Virus. indybay.org In addition to false positives from the C-virus testing kits, we have these figures from Italy's Italian Institute of Health (ISS):…
(2020-03-22). WorkWeek On SF Housing With Dean Preston, ILWU Port Safety & UCSF AFSCME Cancer Cluster. indybay.org WorkWeek interviews SF Supervisor Dean Preston about the housing crisis and the fight against evictions. Next WorkWeek hears about UAW auto worker wildcats over the failure to protect the health and safety of auto workers. We interview UAW 551 Chicago Ford worker Scott Houldierson. | Next WorkWeek hears about the conditions of Bay Area Longshore workers who are members of ILWU Local 10 with Trent Willis, president of the Local. | Last, WorkWeek interviews Stella Miranda, the wife of a UCSF AFSCME 3299 worker whose worksite was on radioactive contaminated land at the Hunters Point shipyard. | She talks about what…
(2020-03-22). Italy's Coronavirus Nightmare Could Happen in U.S. Within Days or Weeks. zcomm.org "Right now, the major concern that I have, and that other public health experts have, is the risk of outstripping health care capacity"
(2020-03-22). Is the Global Pandemic a Product of the Elite's Malthusian Agenda and U.S. Bio-warfare? dissidentvoice.org On March 11th, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be a global pandemic, the first since the H1N1 swine flu in 2009. Initially reported in the city of Wuhan in Central China in December, just four months later there are now over 150,000 cases in …
(2020-03-22). Cuba in the Time of the Coronavirus. zcomm.org The Cuban government, accustomed to natural disasters, noted that its 2014 legislation determines that when natural, technological and health disasters prevent employees from performing their jobs, workers shall receive their entire salaries for one month and 60% for the rest of the time their work is suspended.
(2020-03-22). San Francisco Food Not Bombs Is Still Sharing Food. indybay.org San Francisco Food Not Bombs will keep its regular schedule during the San Francisco Department of Public Health's Shelter In Place Order.
(2020-03-22). At Port of Oakland, ILWU Tells SAA We Want Health/Safety Protection from COVID-19. indybay.org ILWU Local 10 and 34 leaders and rank and file had a press conference in front of SSA in Oakland demanding that they have proper health and safety in their port jobs. Tra-Pack was forced to clean the equipment and they are demanding the same action from SSA. They also discussed the issue of the conditions of the Grand Princess Crew docked in Hunters Point…
(2020-03-22). We Need Testing and Trust — Not Travel Bans, Says Epidemiologist. truthout.org We are all facing the consequences of the Trump administration's many failures in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, from the disastrously low number of tests that have been administered to identify and treat those with the virus to the misleading presidential statements and absence of national leadership in implementing aggressive and timely public health measures for physical distancing aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. | Predictably, Trump and his supporters claim that he is doing a tremendo…
(2020-03-22). Coronavirus medical supplies donated by Alibaba's Ma arrive in Ethiopia. yenisafak.com The first batch of protective and medical equipment donated by Chinese billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma was flown into the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, as coronavirus cases in Africa rose above 1,100.The virus has spread more slowly in Africa than in Asia or Europe but has a foothold in 41 African nations and two territories. So far it has claimed 37 lives across the continent of 1.3 billion people.The shipment is a much-needed boost to African healthcare systems that were already stretched before the coronavirus crisis, but nations will still need to ration supplies at a time of global scar…
(2020-03-22). Turkey says over-65 COVID-19 curfew has exceptions. yenisafak.com Turkey Sunday gave new details, including exceptions, of a curfew for people 65 or older or people with chronic illnesses.Vital public officials and pharmacists will be exempt from the restrictions, said the Interior Ministry.Doctors, healthcare professionals, mayors, provincial directors, social service officers and other required public officials will continue to work so long as they do not face any serious health conditions such as cancer, it added.The ministry added that people who must travel or leave home may do so after requesting official permission over the designated hotlines such as 112, 155, and 156.C…
(2020-03-22). Medical charity MSF deploys coronavirus treatment centre in Iran. yenisafak.com Medical charity MSF is setting up a 50-bed emergency centre to treat severe COVID-19 cases in Iran, the French organisation said on Sunday.A team of nine MSF intensive care medics will staff the facility on the grounds of the Amin hospital in the central province of Isfahan, the charity said, as Iran grapples with the worst outbreak of coronavirus in the region."The size of the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran is particularly worrying," MSF said, citing the country's 20,610 cases and 1,556 deaths as of March 20, according to official figures. In recent days, Tehran freed a French academic in a prisoner swap that also sa…
(2020-03-22). Spain's coronavirus deaths surpass 1,700, cases over 28,000. yenisafak.com Spain's death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared to 1,720 on Sunday from 1,326 the day before, according to multiple media outlets citing the latest health data.The number of registered cases in the country rose to 28,572 on Sunday from 24,926 in the previous tally announced on Saturday, the reports added.
(2020-03-22). Iraq confirms 3 more deaths from coronavirus. yenisafak.com Iraq confirmed three more deaths from coronavirus in Baghdad on Sunday, bringing the country's total fatalities to 20, according to the health ministry.A ministry statement said 19 people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, taking the overall infections to 233, while 57 people have recovered from the disease.As precautionary measures due to the coronavirus, most of Iraq's provinces decided to close their borders, including Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, while some provinces decided to impose a lockdown.Last week, Baghdad shut down schools and universities for 10 days and banned travel to virus-hit pro…
(2020-03-22). Afghanistan reports 10 new coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Authorities in Afghanistan on Sunday reported 10 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, including two in the capital Kabul for the first time, taking the total to 34.Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz told a press conference that the 10 new cases nationwide — out of 97 tests — include two foreign diplomats based in Kabul, but declined to give more details.Feroz demanded the government declare a complete lockdown in the frontline state of Herat bordering Iran, which has emerged as the epicenter behind the spread of virus in Afghanistan, with thousands of deportees entering on a daily basis.
(2020-03-22). Iraq extends curfew in Baghdad to contain coronavirus. yenisafak.com Iraq's government has extended a curfew on travel in and out of Baghdad until March 28 as part of strict measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, it said in a statement on Sunday.It said it had also decided to extend a ban on all inbound and outbound flights from the country's airports until March 28.Under the curfew imposed on March 17 no persons can travel into or out of Baghdad.At least 230 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed so far in Iraq, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, and 20 people have died.
(2020-03-22). Spain to extend state of emergency over coronavirus for 15 more days. yenisafak.com The Spanish government has decided to extend for another 15 days the 15-day state of emergency announced on March 14 to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, El Pais and El Mundo newspapers reported on Sunday.Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez communicated the decision to regional leaders during a videoconference call, the reports said. The nationwide state of emergency bars people from all but essential outings.The death toll from Europe's second-worst outbreak of the virus jumped to 1,326 from 1,002 the day before, according to Spanish Health Ministry data released on Saturday. The number of cases rose to 24,92…
(2020-03-22). Coronavirus shutdown not a recession but an investment in survival: Fed's Bullard. yenisafak.com In normal times massive unemployment and a collapse in economic output would be tragic.This time, as the coronavirus cloisters millions of Americans and shuts down the U.S. economy, it should instead be saluted as an investment in public health that lays the groundwork for a rapid rebound.That is the view of St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard, who argues that a potential $2.5 trillion hit coming to the economy is both necessary and manageable if officials move fast and keep it simple. It may seem an unconventional view in a moment of global anxiety, but Bullard argues the shutdown measures now bein…
(2020-03-22). Britain's Johnson warns that health service could be overwhelmed by coronavirus. yenisafak.com Britain's National Health Service (NHS) could be "overwhelmed" by the coronavirus like the Italian health system in just two weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Sunday in the face of rising numbers of deaths.The death toll in Italy
(2020-03-22). Virologists Sent to Italy Have Practical Experience in Combating Viral Infections – Moscow. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Virologists, who were sent to Italy to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, have extensive practical experience, as they took part in eliminating outbreaks of African Swine Fever, anthrax and were involved in developing a vaccine against Ebola, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
(2020-03-22). Paris on Lockdown for Sixth Day to Slow Rate of COVID-19 – Video. sputniknews.com As of 21 March, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France was 14,459, according to the country's Health Ministry. Johns Hopkins University reported that on 22 March, 14,485 COVID-19 cases were detected in France, and that 562 have people died.
(2020-03-22). Fiddle While Rome is Burning: Strip Club in New York City Throws Coronavirus-Themed Party. sputniknews.com New York City currently has one of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in the United States — 4,400. This accounts for almost 30 percent of all cases in the country. The governor of New York has told all residents to stay indoors in order to prevent the spread of the infectious disease.
(2020-03-22). 5 Key Demands: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Face of the Coronavirus. commondreams.org The coronavirus outbreak must be defeated in a way that moves us forward. (Image: CDC) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
