(2020-02-29). 'We've seen no evidence': Social networks blow up 'US officials' claim of 'Russian coronavirus disinformation campaign'. rt.com 
Social media titans Twitter and Facebook have poured cold water on the State Department's latest conspiracy theory, insisting they'd seen no sign "Russian operatives" were spreading falsehoods about COVID-19 on their platforms. | Weighing in after a number of senior State Department officials "In general, our investigation hasn't substantiated th…
(2020-02-28). 'The Shillary Show?' Hillary Clinton is launching a podcast and Twitter isn't on board. rt.com 
News that failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is planning to launch her very own podcast has been met with a collective eye roll and plenty of sarcasm on social media. | Clinton is planning to launch the podcast in late spring, "just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election," Politico reported on Thursday. | The show will be co-produced by iHeartMedia, which distributes a bevy of right-wing radio shows as well as the left-wing Joe Rogan Experience, which has endorsed Clinton's 2016 archrival Bernie Sanders for president. | As if a literal plague weren't bad enough, Hi…
(2020-02-28). Tourist on board coronavirus cruise ship 'Diamond Princess' becomes 1st British death from outbreak. rt.com 
A British man who was on board the quarantined cruise ship 'Diamond Princess' has died in Japan. It's the first British death from the illness which is still spreading across the globe. | Five other passengers from the vessel have already died from the novel coronavirus, which can cause severe respiratory problems, but this was the first death of a foreigner who was on board the cruise ship. | The ship was quarantined with everyone on board by Japanese health authorities earlier this month when a passenger tested positive for the illness. Over 700 other passengers have since been confirmed to have the coronavi…
(2020-02-28). Experts: Government, business must step up fight against corona virus. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Presenting solid facts and contradicting GOP President Donald Trump's rosy assurances, federal health officials are warning the country to take precautions against the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. — and a warning signal went up just after Trump's press conference this week on the looming medical emergency. Meanwhile, two experts on infectious diseases …
(2020-02-28). Trump touts biodefense strategy but slashes funding to detect and combat outbreaks like coronavirus. mronline.org 
t the end of January, at a time when the coronavirus outbreak that began in China was dominating international headlines, The White House announced it was forming a new task force to address the growing crisis, one headed by the secretary of health and human services, Alex Azar. |
(2020-02-28). Iran coronavirus death toll rises to 34 as number of infected hits 388 — Health Ministry. rt.com 
Some 34 people have died so far in Iran due to coronavirus infections, a Health Ministry spokesman said on Friday. The total number of people diagnosed with the disease is 388, he said in an announcement broadcast by state TV. | The death toll in Iran is by far the highest number outside China. The total number of infected people on Thursday stood at 245, including several senior officials. | The outbreak prompted authorities to call off Friday prayers in the capitals of 23 of Iran's 31 provinces, including Tehran and the Shiite Muslim holy cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as some other infected areas, Reuter…
(2020-02-28). Russia on red alert: almost SURROUNDED by Coronavirus cases – braces for epidemic. rt.com 
As the world's biggest country, bordering 16 states, Russia is something of a sitting duck for COVID-19. With eight of those now reporting infections, its reappearance inside Russian borders is perhaps only a matter of time. | Already, two Chinese citizens were diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Siberia's Tyumen and Transbaikalia but they recovered and have been discharged. There has so far been no recorded infection of a Russian national on home soil. | As of Friday, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Lithuania and Norway all have live cases. Other neighboring countries, such as Ukraine…
(2020-02-28). Doctors Without Borders: Cheap Coronavirus Diagnostic Kits Needed in War-Torn Areas & Refugee Camps. democracynow.org 
Across the U.S., officials report a severe shortage of test kits for coronavirus. New York officials say they're preparing their own kits, after kits distributed by the Centers for Disease Control failed validation tests. Meanwhile, new cases of coronavirus continue to spring up worldwide, with Nigeria reporting its first case and one of Iran's vice presidents testing positive. We discuss how MSF USA, or Doctors Without Borders USA, is responding to coronavirus, with the organization's executive director, Avril BenoàÆt.
(2020-02-28). US military bases in South Korea placed on lockdown to stop novel coronavirus spread. rt.com 
The restrictions were paced on the largest US military base abroad after an American soldier tested positive for coronavirus raging in South Korea, which became the second-hardest hit by the outbreak after mainland China. | The new disease control measures were implemented after the risk level was raised to "high," United States Forces Korea (USFK) said on Thursday. | According to the Financial Times, all garrisons were placed under lockdown, including Camp Humphreys located 70km (43,5 miles) from South Korea's capital Seoul, which is the largest US base on foreign soil. Civilian employees and "non-essential"
(2020-02-28). Congressman threatens Don Jr. with 'serious altercation' over claim Dems 'HOPE' people get coronavirus & die so as to derail Trump. rt.com 
Democratic Rep. John Garamendi had some harsh words for Donald Trump Jr. after the president's son said Dems "seemingly hope" the coronavirus comes to the US and "kills millions." | The coronavirus is not only a pandemic, it's also now a political tool for Republicans and Democrats to lob across the aisle at each other. | California Congressman Garamendi perhaps went further than any politician has so far when he spoke about the disease and the political response to it in the US while appearing on MSNBC on Friday. Garamendi was particularly upset with Donald Trump Jr. over an earlier statement the president's…
(2020-02-28). Toxic Agriculture and the Gates Foundation. dissidentvoice.org The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in 2000 and has $46.8 billion in assets (December 2018). It is the largest charitable foundation in the world and distributes more aid for global health than any government. One of the foundation's stated goals is to globally enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. The Gates Foundation …
(2020-02-28). Coonerty Appointee Bullies County Health Officer. indybay.org Damon Bruder, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty's appointee to the County's Syringe Services Program (SSP) Advisory Commission, has made harassing and bullying statements on social media directed at Rachel McCullough-Sanden, an Epidemiologist and HIV Surveillance Coordinator at the County Health Services Agency (HSA). On February 14, a disparaging screen capture of McCullough-Sanden taken from video of a Board of Supervisors meeting was posted to the Santa Cruz, CA: Keepin' It Real Facebook page. The photo was featured on the blog along with criticism of the County Health Department for being late in pos…
(2020-02-28). Eight Negative Arguments Smearing China's Virus Fight Must be Refuted. globalresearch.ca The COVID-19 outbreak in China has begun to decline outside Hubei Province, meanwhile in some countries it is on the rise. This fully shows that the epidemic is a challenge faced by all humanity and needs to be addressed by …
(2020-02-28). Corona and Flu in Beijing: a Report From the Chinese Capital. counterpunch.org Beijing. There is no room for complacency or outright fear. The new coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, sounds menacing and is. But there's another viral epidemic hitting countries around the world: the flu. COVID-19 has, since December, led to more than 75,000 illnesses and 2,000 deaths, primarily in mainland China. But, statistically the flu is more menacing. The Centers
(2020-02-28). Switzerland Suspends Public Events to Contain Covid-19 Outbreak. telesurenglish.net Switzerland's Federal Council Thursday declared that the country is in a "special situation" and announced measures to contain the progress of COVID-19, a disease that has affected 15 people in this European country. | RELATED: | "The Federal Council is aware that its decision has important consequences for the population but it will allow its effective protection," the Swiss authorities said and added t…
(2020-02-28). For a globally coordinated emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic! wsws.org Vast resources must be immediately mobilized to contain the spread of the disease, treat and care for those who are infected, and secure the livelihoods of the hundreds of millions of people who will be affected by the economic fallout.
(2020-02-28). Prominent Iranian physician clears up misconceptions about outbreak & impact of sanctions. iranian.com Prominent Iranian physician & member of the Health Ministry Minoo Mohraz has for her part defended the health ministry's data but has also said the number of people infected has been underreported because sanctions had blocked access to diagnostic kits: twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233409214… twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233409467… twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233409591… twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233409679… twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233409919… twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1233410030… twitter.co…
(2020-02-28). The Fear Virus Pandemic. "Fake News"? "Look at the Numbers. It's not a Pandemic". globalresearch.ca While they raise the greatest alarm for the coronavirus, they hide the fact that seasonal flu, a much more deadly epidemic, has caused in Italy during the 6th week of 2020 — according to the Higher Institute of Health — …
(2020-02-28). Warren Accuses Trump of 'Bungling Every Aspect of This Crisis' as WHO Elevates Coronavirus Threat to Highest Level. commondreams.org The World Health Organization on Friday raised the global risk of the new coronavirus to its highest level and reiterated the necessity of worldwide containment efforts as U.S. President Donald Trump continued to face widespread criticism over how his administration has handled the public health crisis so far. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-28). A Message for Trump: Coronavirus Threat Is About Public Health—Not the Stock Market or Your Reelection. commondreams.org Larry Kudlow, the director of Trump's National Economic Council. (Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-27). 'Princess Diana would've been alive in America': Conservative speaker manages to offend both Brits & French in anti-medicare rant. rt.com 
A speaker at CPAC claimed the late Princess Diana died not because of her tragic car accident, but because France's socialized medicine prevented her from getting proper medical care. | Conservative fears of socialized medicine — a policy that presidential hopefuls like Bernie Sanders have floated — hit fever pitch at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday with a panel discussing how the late Princess Diana would have survived her 1997 car crash in Paris, France if she had been in America. | "Socialized medicine killed Princess Diana," an announcer for a panel on healthcare i…
(2020-02-27). California confirms first possible 'community transmission' of coronavirus as China reports fewest new fatalities in a month. rt.com 
California health officials have detected what may be the first local transmission of the deadly COVID-19 virus in the US — with no known ties to other confirmed cases — as China reported the lowest number of new deaths in weeks.
(2020-02-27). 'Defund racist border wall!' Warren's 'solution' to coronavirus crisis causes mass eye-rolling on Twitter. rt.com 
Senator Elizabeth Warren announced a bill that would use funding for President Donald Trump's "racist border wall" to combat the coronavirus outbreak — a plan that is earning plenty of eye rolls on social media. | Warren is not letting the coronavirus crisis go to waste. The Massachusetts senator tweeted on Thursday a bill that would move funding from construction of the southern border wall in the US to the Department of Health and Human Services and US Aid to fight the disease. | The senator warned that the virus poses a "serious health, diplomatic and economic threat." Her bill would remove "all fundi…
(2020-02-27). "Pence Is Not a Medical Expert": Is the Trump Admin Ready to Stop a U.S. Coronavirus Pandemic? democracynow.org 
The coronavirus disease that was first diagnosed in China's Hubei province has now spread to at least 47 countries and every continent except Antarctica. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency. President Trump sought to play down the threat from coronavirus and announced Vice President Mike Pence would be his point person to coordinate government efforts to prevent a widespread outbreak. As Trump spoke, a new milestone in the novel coronavirus outbreak was reported, in a possible example of community spread: A person was diagnosed with the virus in Northern Calif…
(2020-02-27). Contradicting Trump, federal health officials warn of coronavirus spread. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Presenting solid facts and contradicting GOP President Donald Trump's rosy assurances, federal health officials are warning the country to take precautions against the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S.—and a warning signal went up just after Trump's press conference. Health officials stressed common-sense precautions people can take to prevent the spread of infection: Thorough …
(2020-02-27). Iran's VP for women and family affairs is latest official to test positive for coronavirus. rt.com 
Iranian's vice president for women and family affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has contracted the coronavirus. Three high-ranking officials, including Iran's deputy health minister, were already known to be infected. | "Ms. Ebtekar showed signs of infection with coronavirus and was tested. The results came back positive," IRNA quoted a spokesperson for the vice president as saying. | Earlier in the day, the head of the parliamentary security and foreign relations commission Mojtaba Zonnour said he had also tested positive for the virus. | Iran is enduring a large coronavirus outbreak; 26 people have died from the di…
(2020-02-27). No escape from low growth. mronline.org 
Discussions on the state of the world economy centre around the likely negative impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic and the potential positive effect of the truce reflected in the "phase 1" trade deal between China and India. |
(2020-02-27). Media 'infodemic' causes more damage to Italy than coronavirus outbreak — FM Di Maio. rt.com 
The "infodemic" around COVID-19 is more damaging to Italy than the virus itself, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has said. This is as the number of registered Italian cases jumped by 100 overnight and two more people have died. | "The epidemic of misleading information will do more damage to Italy than the risk of the virus epidemic itself," Di Maio told reporters Thursday. "We have gone from an epidemic risk to an 'infodemic' one." | The spread of "misleading" reports damages not only the fragile economy of the country — that has seen three recessions in just over a decade — but also the reputation…
(2020-02-27). Trump Officials Are Cynically Spreading Lies About the Coronavirus. truthdig.com 
As the epidemic spirals into a pandemic, causing a plunge in the stock market, Donald Trump and Larry Kudlow insist "USA in great shape!"
(2020-02-27). How the Climate Crisis Is Making the Spread of Infectious Diseases Like Coronavirus More Common. democracynow.org 
Sonia Shah is an investigative science journalist and author of "Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond." Her new book is titled "The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move" and will be published in June. She says the climate crisis is making outbreaks of infectious diseases more common, with the destruction of natural animal habitats and the changes in migration bringing humans and animals into ever-closer contact and making new pathogens more likely. Her latest article, published in The Nation, is titled "Think Exotic Animals Are to Blame for the Coronavirus? Th…
(2020-02-27). Save lives, earn money! Chinese city offers $1,000+ REWARD for self-reporting coronavirus symptoms in bid to quell outbreak. rt.com 
A city in China decided that a money giveaway would be the best motivation for people to report coronavirus symptoms to authorities as the death toll from the infection continues to grow. | The new measure is set to "incentivize" residents to report their symptoms to authorities, the disease prevention taskforce of the city of Qianjiang in central Hubei Province said in a notice on Thursday. | According to the scheme, those whose diagnosis is confirmed will be paid 10,000 yuan ($1,426). Likewise, people who cannot be immediately ruled out as having contracted the disease will be given 1,000 yuan ($142.50), whi…
(2020-02-27). Sanders' Key Adviser Details Economic Plan To Counter Detractors. telesurenglish.net A Bernie Sanders presidency could begin modestly with a roughly US$300 billion federal jobs guarantee before pushing for trillions of dollars in new spending on health care, the environment and infrastructure, says a key adviser to the U.S. Democratic front-runner. | RELATED: | A jobs guarantee, which would see the federal government ensure employment for anyone who wanted to work, would be a logical first step for the would-b…
(2020-02-27). British Tory government's general practitioner contracts intensify assault on healthcare. wsws.org Over a 12 month period, 55 million patients had to wait longer than a fortnight to see a GP.
(2020-02-27). Death Toll from Coronavirus Rises to 26 in Iran. telesurenglish.net The outbreak of coronavirus, officially named as COVID-19, in Iran has affected 245 people, Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced on Thursday. | RELATED: | Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said that among the infected people, 26 have died. | Jahanpur said that Iran has raised the number of the laboratories for testing the vir…
(2020-02-27). New study reveals growing health crisis in Greece. wsws.org The health of Greek workers continues to deteriorate after years of austerity measures imposed by Syriza and previous capitalist governments.
(2020-02-27). WHO Warns Against Danger of Complacency in Coronavirus Fight. telesurenglish.net No country should make the "fatal mistake" of assuming it will be spared of the coronavirus, the World Health Organization warned Thursday, as governments across the world initiate emergency protocols to contain the epidemic's rapid spread. | RELATED: | The comments come as new infections reported around the world are now surpassing those in mainland China, whose numbers are on the decline after an aggressive containment campaign. | Chinese au…
(2020-02-27). How Can the US Confront Coronavirus With 28 Million People Uninsured? truthout.org As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, we don't yet know either the full scale of the unfolding global health disaster or the cumulative impact economically. But over the past week, as virus hotspots have emerged in South Korea, in Iran, in Italy and elsewhere, and as more and more countries find cases of the disease, we're beginning to get a sense of the magnitude of what is unfolding. | China has spent two months trying to contain an outbreak. As an authoritarian country it hasn't…
(2020-02-27). 22 Studies Agree: 'Medicare for All' Saves Money. zcomm.org Every single study, regardless of ideological orientation, predicted that it would yield net savings…
(2020-02-27). Climate Crisis Is Increasing the Spread of Infectious Diseases Like Coronavirus. truthout.org Sonia Shah is an investigative science journalist and author of Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond. Her new book is titled The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move and will be published in June. She says the climate crisis is making outbreaks of infectious diseases more common, with the destruction of natural animal habitats and the changes in migration bringing humans and animals into ever-closer contact and making new pathogens more li…
(2020-02-27). The coronavirus pandemic and the need for global socialized medicine. wsws.org A planned, rational deployment of worldwide medical and industrial resources is essential to keep the disease from potentially claiming millions of lives.
(2020-02-27). India: Delhi riots death toll hits 34. yenisafak.com The death toll in ongoing communal riots in India's capital New Delhi has risen to 34, a Health Ministry official said on Thursday.The number of fatalities was 27 on Wednesday but seven more deaths were reported overnight, said the official, requesting anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.He added that more than 170 people have been injured in the violence.However, local media broadcaster NDTV reported that death toll has climbed to 35, leaving more than 200 people injured.Clashes between pro- and anti-citizenship law protesters started on Sunday and have devolved into communal violence between…
(2020-02-27). Macron warns France that coronavirus epidemic is coming. yenisafak.com President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said a coronavirus epidemic was inevitable in France as his government and others worldwide bolstered measures to fight the spread of infection.Macron visited a Paris hospital where a 60-year-old Frenchman this week became the second person to die from the coronavirus in France, and sought to reassure a medical profession angry over healthcare spending that it had his support."We have a crisis before us. An epidemic is on its way," Macron, dressed in a suit and without any protective gear, told a group of doctors.The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people and killed…
(2020-02-27). 'One-fifth of heart attacks occur before 50 in Turkey'. yenisafak.com One-fifth of heart attacks occur before patients turn 50 in Turkey, a country with one of the youngest populations in Europe, according to a Turkish cardiologist."20% of heart attacks in Turkey occur before the age of 50, while the average age in European countries is 60-65," Dr. Ozlem Esen, a professor at Altinbas University's medical school in Istanbul, told Anadolu Agency.Esen said heart attack is in the first place among health problems in Turkey with a rate of 42%.Heart attacks were seen only in patients over 60 years of age 20 years ago, Esen said, adding that it can now be seen among those under the age of…
(2020-02-27). Turkish citizens returning from Iran to be quarantined. yenisafak.com Turkish health minister on Thursday informed the Turkish citizens living in Iran about a 14-day compulsory quarantine period in case they want to return to Turkey.Fahrettin Koca's remarks came in eastern Agri province where he was investigating measures against novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 at the Gurbulak-Bazargan customs gate between Turkey and Iran.Koca urged the Turkish citizens currently living in Iran to refrain from going out especially without wearing a mask and said they also need to ventilate their home.He said the citizens should pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands properly and avoid cl…
(2020-02-27). Two more people die from coronavirus in Italy. yenisafak.com Two more people have died in Italy from coronavirus, bringing the death toll from the worst outbreak of the disease yet seen in Europe to 14, the Civil Protection agency said in a statement on Thursday.The agency chief, Angelo Borrelli, had earlier told reporters that officials were still seeking confirmation that coronavirus was responsible for the latest two deaths. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 528 from some 420 announced on Wednesday, the vast majority in northern Italy.
(2020-02-27). Iranian Vice-President Contracts Coronavirus — Reports. iranian.com Iran has 245 confirmed cases of infection with the COVID-19 disease, including 26 virus-associated deaths. The Islamic Republic's deputy health minister tested positive for the virus earlier this week. The Iranian vice president for women and family affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has come down with the new strain of coronavirus, media reported Thursday. "Ms. Ebtekar showed …
(2020-02-27). Macron Reportedly Warns of Coronavirus 'Epidemic' in France, Says It's Only the 'Beginning'. sputniknews.com In February, France became the first European country to report a death from the novel coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city Wuhan. More than a dozen cases of infection have been confirmed in the country so far.
(2020-02-27). Looming Coronavirus Threat in US Bolsters Case for Medicare for All and Universal Paid Sick Leave. commondreams.org As public health advocates slammed the Trump administration's response the global coronavirus outbreak, which experts warn is expected to spread throughout the U.S., many pointed out that progressive labor and healthcare proposals would likely help keep the virus relatively contained in the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-27). House Democrats and Healthcare Experts Explain Why Medicare for All 'Is a Racial Justice Necessity'. commondreams.org At a Thursday event celebrating the one-year anniversary of House Democrats introducing landmark Medicare for All legislation in the U.S. House, the bill's sponsors and medical and policy experts made the case that establishing a national single-payer healthcare system is essential for racial equity. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-27). Warren and Schakowsky Introduce Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights to Battle Companies That 'Skimp on Wages and Benefits'. commondreams.org Progressives in Congress introduced on Thursday the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act, legislation that aims to improve rights and benefits of laborers who often face financial insecurity and poor health issues associated with precarious job conditions and low pay. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
