(2020-03-13). Beijing won't disown spokesman's theory of US hand in coronavirus outbreak. rt.com 
China has declined to distance itself from the accusations made by a foreign ministry spokesman alleging US involvement in the coronavirus epidemic, arguing that opinions vary on how the health crisis started. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang wouldn't comment on Friday about remarks made by colleague Zhao Lijian. Instead, the ministry official stated that the international community had differing opinions about the origin of the Covid-19, Reuters reported. Geng also chose not to discuss whether Zhao's theory — that it may have been the US military that brought the deadly disease to Wuhan…
(2020-03-13). Even Jeremy Hunt is 'concerned' by the UK's coronavirus strategy. thecanary.co 
The Government's approach to tackling coronavirus is "concerning", former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said as new measures to delay the spread of the virus come into effect.Hunt, chair of the House of Commons Health select committee, questioned the Government's decision not to cancel large gatherings after Boris Johnson warned many more families would "lose loved ones before their time".Asked on BBC Newsnight what he thought about the decision not to cancel large gatherings, Hunt said: "I think it is surprising and concerning that we're not doing any of it at all when we have just four weeks before we get to…
(2020-03-13). Iranian security forces to clear streets & impose nationwide lockdown within 24 HOURS as Tehran struggles to contain Covid-19. rt.com 
A senior Iranian general has announced that security forces are deploying across the country to close down shops and roads, in what essentially amounts to a nationwide lockdown as the Islamic Republic reels from coronavirus. | Security personnel will be charged with emptying all "shops, streets and roads" in Iran with the next 24 hours, Major General Mohammad Bagheri said in televised remarks reported by state media. | Iranians have been ordered to stay at home and comply with all directives issued by health authorities. | According to Tasnim News, Iran also plans to add some 1,000 stationary and mobile clinic…
(2020-03-13). 'No tests': AP reporter trying to get Covid-19 test sent from pillar to post by health authorities, told to 'stay home' on Twitter. rt.com 
AP reporter Steve Peoples had no luck trying to get tested for the Covid-19 virus after he presented to a primary care center and was subsequently bounced around to various other health facilities with no tests available anywhere. | Peoples tweeted on Friday that he had been experiencing "mild symptoms" — a headache, mild fever and cough — but that when he arrived at his primary care center in north Jersey, they told him to go to the emergency room instead. | I'm presenting mild symptoms (headache, mild fever, mild cough) and want to get tested in north Jersey. Primary care tells me to go to ER. ER…
(2020-03-13). Europe now center of coronavirus pandemic, death toll has passed 5,000 — WHO chief. rt.com 
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has surpassed 5,000 worldwide and Europe has become the epicenter of the outbreak, the head of the World Health Organization has said. | WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at Friday's daily briefing that the death toll has passed the "tragic milestone". He told the virtual press conference that Europe has become the epicenter of the outbreak and the continent has more cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. | "More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic," he…
(2020-03-13). Italy sees a one-day record of 250 Covid-19 DEATHS, officials say. rt.com 
Italy has reported 250 new deaths due to the Covid-19 virus — a one-day record since the country experienced the biggest outbreak of positive cases across Europe. | The latest spate of deaths has brought the Italian death toll to 1,266, up from 1,016 on Thursday, officials said. | The total number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus in Italy also rose from 15,113 on Thursday to 17,660 on Friday. The outbreak was first identified in Italy's northern regions in late February and has spread rapidly since. | The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that Europe was now the center of the global…
(2020-03-13). Louisiana becomes 1st state to postpone Democratic primary, delaying for 2 months due to coronavirus outbreak. rt.com 
Louisiana has postponed its 2020 presidential primaries, initially scheduled for next month, until June 20 a spokesman for the secretary of state told CNBC, citing concerns over the coronavirus epidemic. | The state becomes the first to postpone its primaries amid worries over the virus, which has caused schools and businesses to shut down across the nation. The presidential primary was originally scheduled for April 4. | Municipal elections, scheduled for May 9, will also be postponed until July 25. | "We want to protect the health and safety of all Louisianans by doing our part to prevent the spread of this…
(2020-03-13). Trudeau's wife tests POSITIVE for coronavirus, Canada's PM has "no symptoms" but remains in self-isolation. rt.com 
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's wife, Sophia Gregoire Trudeau, has tested positive for Covid-19 after she showed flu-like symptoms upon return from the UK. The PM, who has been in self-quarantine, is said to be "in good health." | The PM's other half began displaying symptoms consistent with those reported by patients who developed pneumonia due to the novel coronavirus on Wednesday night, which prompted her to seek the help of a doctor and she was tested for the virus. | The tests came back positive, the PM's office reported on Thursday night. | Following medical recommendations, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was test…
(2020-03-13). Europe is now the center of coronavirus pandemic, death toll has passed 5,000 — WHO chief. rt.com 
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has now surpassed 5,000 and Europe has become the center of the outbreak, the head of the World Health Organization has said. | WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the death toll passed the "tragic milestone" at Friday's daily briefing. | Tedros noted that Europe has become the center of outbreak and warned world governments that a raft of measures are needed to tackle the disease. He said that any country that thinks it could not fall victim to a large outbreak of the Covid-19 illness is making a "deadly mistake". | DETAILS TO FOLLOW…
(2020-03-13). Ankara switches migration summit to teleconference, Erdogan to hold talks with French & German leaders. rt.com 
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks about solving a brewing migration crisis, with French and German leaders next week, by teleconference rather than at a summit as originally planned, according to a Turkish official. | The decision comes as countries grapple with the spread of Covid-19. Erdogan has postponed his own foreign visits for an unspecified period of time, Reuters reported, citing his spokesman. | Earlier this week, Erdogan said he would convene a summit on the migrant issue, to be held in Istanbul on March 17 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron…
(2020-03-13). 'Where was your patient zero?' Chinese official speculates AMERICANS may have infected Wuhan at army games & calls to 'come clean'. rt.com 
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lijian Zhao has demanded US authorities reveal what they're hiding about the origins of Covid-19, going as far as to suggest the coronavirus may have been brought to China by the US military. | Pointing to a video of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield apparently admitting the US had several deaths from Covid-19 before they were able to test for it, Zhao called on the American watchdog to come clean in a tweet posted on Thursday. | 2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are…
(2020-03-13). Australia's home affairs minister tests positive for coronavirus. rt.com 
Australia's minister for home affairs, Peter Dutton, has announced that he has contracted coronavirus. The senior Australian official said that he has been hospitalized. | In a statement posted to his official Twitter page, Dutton explained that he was tested for COVID-19 after waking up with a "temperature and sore throat." | Dutton was hospitalized after the test returned positive. The minister said that he "feels fine" and will provide updates as they become available. | Australia will ban all public gatherings of more than 500 people starting on Monday, as the government attempts to stop toe spread of the…
(2020-03-13). PM Abe gets emergency powers from Japan parliament to tackle coronavirus outbreak. rt.com 
Japan's parliament on Friday approved a bill giving PM Shinzo Abe emergency powers that will let him close schools, halt large gatherings and requisition medical supplies, as Japan tries to slow the coronavirus outbreak. | The bill amends a 2012 law drawn up following a flu epidemic in 2009. It was approved by upper house lawmakers after the lower house passed the legislation on Thursday. The PM would have to declare a state of emergency in order to use the new powers. | Abe has requested schools to close and organizers of events to cancel large gatherings, but so far has not had the power to make them comply.
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus epidemic responses reveal differences in capitalist and socialist values. peoplesworld.org 
BEIJING—The world has a Public Enemy No. 1, and it's the novel coronavirus. Capable of causing severe pneumonia among those it infects, the virus first wreaked havoc on the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province and has since spread at an alarming rate. At present, thousands have died and over 100,000 have been infected …
(2020-03-13). PM Johnson postpones May's elections in England including London mayor till 2021 to avoid clash with coronavirus peak. rt.com 
The UK government has announced that local and mayoral elections scheduled for May are to be postponed for one year due to the Covid-19 epidemic to avoid the expected peak of the virus in late spring. | Voters in England were scheduled to go to the polls on May 7 — including for the London Mayoral contest — but just hours after the PM's spokesperson said they were "working to facilitate" the elections, they have now been taken off the 2020 political calendar. | Responding to the move, London Mayor Sadiq Khan —who was up for re-election— has taken to Twitter to insist that he "will continu…
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus fears '50% panic,' could be over by summer — top Russian scientist. rt.com 
While some countries are experiencing a scramble for toilet paper and certain prominent politicians are calling the pandemic a hoax, the real experts are a bit more rational about Covid-19. | In Russia, one senior scientist believes the crisis could have stabilized by the middle of summer. | "It can be predicted that the spread in the world will subside by June-July. In China, the peak incidence rate passed on February 2," says Alexander Shestopalov, head of the experimental modeling and pathogenesis department of infectious diseases at the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine.
(2020-03-13). "Capitalism is a disease hotspot" mronline.org 
The real danger of each new outbreak is the failure or—better put—the expedient refusal to grasp that each new Covid-19 is no isolated incident. The increased occurrence of viruses is closely linked to the proliferation of capitalist food production and distribution. |
(2020-03-13). NBA will not penalize coronavirus-hit player Gobert after video of him DELIBERATELY wiping hands on mics sparks outrage — report. rt.com 
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will reportedly face no disciplinary action over antics at a recent press conference, where he mocked coronavirus fears by touching reporters' microphones — immediately before testing positive himself. | Gobert — who has incurred the wrath of NBA fans and media professionals for making light of the virus and potentially exposing many others to the disease with his stunt — will likely be spared any punishment, Yahoo Sports's Chris Haynes reported, citing league sources. | This is the video of Rudy Gobert touching all the microphones and potentially infecting innocent…
(2020-03-13). Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus pandemic, unlocking $50bn in funding. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, unlocking additional powers and funding for disaster response and getting FEMA involved in the efforts to curb the disease. | "To unleash the full power of the federal government," Trump said in an address from the White House Rose Garden on Friday, "I am officially declaring a national emergency." Trump said that the declaration will free up $50 billion in funding to tackle the spread of the illness. | Trump added that he is "asking every hospital in the country" to activate their emergency preparation plans, a…
(2020-03-13). Sports stars vs coronavirus: What are famous athletes doing amid the pandemic? (PHOTOS, VIDEO). rt.com 
After swathes of international sports events were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, sport stars have taken to social media to share videos to battle the doom and gloom caused by the pandemic. | Many athletes whose competitive schedule has been seriously affected by the spread of the deadly Covid-19 disease continue to train in the hopes that the pandemic will be over soon. |
(2020-03-13). Headlines for March 13, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Infections Around the Globe Reach 135,000 People, Nearly 5,000 Dead, U.S. Coronavirus Infections Rise to 1,650 as Actual Number Believed to Be Higher | , Dow Jones Plummets 10% in Biggest Drop Since 1987 | , Trump Administration Faces Backlash for Handling of Coronavirus Outbreak, Testing | , Brazilian President Bolsonaro's Aide Tests Positive for COVID-19 Days After Meeting with Trump, Philippines President Duterte Orders Lockdown in Manila Amid Coronavirus Pandemic | , Advocates Afraid of Deadly Coronavirus Outbreak in Immigration Jails Plagued by Medical Neglect, Democratic Presidential Debate Relo…
(2020-03-13). Nurses protest weakening of coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance by CDC. indybay.org The impeached President Donald J. Trump just held a national press conference and declared that he is suspending all travel from Europe to the United States starting tomorrow for the next 30 days, but the restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom for some reason. The Trump administration sees the coronavirus as a PR disaster for his administration, instead of a health crisis and has been trying to downplay the seriousness of the spreading pandemic. The impeached President Trump has also just falsely claimed that the US is better prepared to fight against the coronavirus than any other nation on the planet…
(2020-03-13). Amid the Worse Public Crisis in Decades, Trump Admin Finds the Time and Money to Bomb Iraq. mintpressnews.com While the government has found plenty of money to carry out wars around the globe (the Trump administration increased the military budget to $934 billion), when it comes to policies protecting public health, money is always apparently lacking.
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus, Epidemics and Capitalism: The Bugs Are in the System. indybay.org Radical Women supports and recommends this thoughtful analysis of the novel coronavirus by our sister organization, the Freedom Socialist Party. The statement raises excellent demands to protect workers, women, the poor, and people of color being scapegoated for the crisis.
(2020-03-13). The FDA Is Forcing the CDC to Waste Time Double Testing Some Coronavirus Cases. truthout.org A federal directive that's supposed to speed up the response to a pandemic is actually slowing down the government's rollout of coronavirus tests. | The directive, issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, requires that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sister agency, retest every positive coronavirus test run by a public health lab to confirm its accuracy. The result, experts say, is wasting limited resources at a time when thousands of Americans are waiting in line…
(2020-03-13). Patients denied care as Macron announces coronavirus lockdown in France. wsws.org French health authorities have already announced that they will try to deny testing and care to many of those they suspect to be infected with the coronavirus.
(2020-03-13). Prisoners Made to Produce Coronavirus Masks and Hand Gels. telesurenglish.net Prisoners are being used to produce face masks and hand gels in the United States, and Hong Kong after the RELATED: | The women have complained about their health and low pay as they earn around HK$800 (US$102) a month for non-…
(2020-03-13). Watch Labour legend Tony Benn nail the US medical system's inadequacy to deal with the coronavirus. thecanary.co The World Health Organization has
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus overwhelms mitigation measures across Latin America. wsws.org The late and deficient response by the Latin American ruling elite is being overwhelmed because it is guided by efforts to cover up, not address, the inequalities in access to testing and health care.
(2020-03-13). During Coronavirus Crisis, What If You Can't Stay Home? indybay.org Recommendations to support the health of people experiencing homelessness during the Coronavirus State of Emergency | Last updated Monday, March 9th @2: 50pm…
(2020-03-13). US authorities in disarray and paralysis in face of Covid-19 emergency. wsws.org Health officials have been denied the ability to even accurately assess the extent of COVID-19 infections and, on the basis of such information, recommend the appropriate response.
(2020-03-13). UCSF NNU-CNA Nurses & Corvid-19 "When Nurses Aren't Safe, Patients Aren't Safe" indybay.org National Nurses Union CNA nurses at UCSF held a press conference to talk about the serious health and safety protection that is critical to healthcare providers and patients. They reported that they have to re-use masks, are understaffed and there is a lack of communication from management.
(2020-03-13). Editorial: Fed takes action to save Wall Street, not the people. fightbacknews.org The U.S. Federal Reserve has pledged $1.5 trillion to calm Wall Street's worries as the COVID-19 pandemic rattles stock markets and wealthy investors. | But what the people need is more testing done for free, and health care for all. What workers need are unemployment benefits and income support for the self-employed. Working people need protection from eviction and relief from debts. What nurses and other medical workers need is more masks and other protective equipment. | With more than 1500 confirmed infections in the United States, the novel coronavirus is not a foreign threat from Europe, as Trump seems to b…
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus threatens to overwhelm UK National Health Service. wsws.org As of Thursday morning, just 29,764 people had been tested nationally in the UK for coronavirus.
(2020-03-13). Massachusetts health care professionals warn of Covid-19 testing shortage and lack of worker protections. wsws.org Doctors and nurses are frustrated over the lack of testing kits for the coronavirus as well the lack of protective equipment for health care workers in hospitals.
(2020-03-13). Ontario's "Roadmap to Wellness" continues austerity for youth mental health services even as demand spikes. wsws.org The Ford government is refusing to provide tens of thousands of children and adolescents with ready access to mental health care services that they urgently need.
(2020-03-13). Nurses Demand More Protection & Medicare for All. zcomm.org Nurses with the NNU held a national day of action to demand better protections for healthcare workers and the public…
(2020-03-13). White House Removes Public Health Experts from Coronavirus Discussions. globalresearch.ca The White House held dozens of meetings about coronavirus response that excluded government experts because
(2020-03-13). A Double-Sided Flyer to City Council on the Homeless Health Crisis. indybay.org A flyer distributed at the City Council Tuesday night 3-10-20, one side by me, the other by Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry, due back in town tomorrow after three weeks away. | I touch on the futility and foolishness of missing or locked sanitary facilities; Keith proposes his own 7-point program to address the escalating health and housing crisis.
(2020-03-13). US CDC Director Robert Redfield Admitted that Coronavirus Deaths Have Been Miscategorized as Flu. globalresearch.ca The US has been lying all along. | Robert Redfield, CDC director, testifying to Congress, today admitted that virus deaths have been miscategorised as the flu. | He also stated that the standard practice has been to first test people for …
(2020-03-13). Tests for Free, Vaccines for Free. thenation.com Tests for Free, Vaccines for Free…
(2020-03-13). Free Tests, Free Vaccines: Remove the Wealth Barriers to Fighting COVID-19. thenation.com Free Tests, Free Vaccines: Remove the Wealth Barriers to Fighting COVID-19…
(2020-03-13). UAW Michigan Workers On Elections, Coronavirus, GM Strike, Democracy & Internationalism. indybay.org Pacifica and WorkWeek reporter Steve Zeltzer interviews UAW 909 Detroit retiree Frank Hammer and UAW 598 Flint Truck Assembly worker Sean Crawford about primary elections in Michigan as well as the struggles for auto workers. They also discuss the lack of protection from the coronavirus epidemic expanding into US auto plants. They also discuss the corruption crisis in the UAW, green technology and international solidarity efforts by auto workers.
(2020-03-13). Bolsonaro Claims His Second COVID-19 Test Was Negative. telesurenglish.net According to both local media and international news agencies, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for Covid-19. | The 64-year far-right politician appeared on Thursday on a Facebook live wearing a mask on his face. | His initial test was carried out after the arrival of the Brazilian delegation from the United States. | Bolsonaro was in contact with his communication secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, who also tested positive for the disease.‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã This top official was also in cont…
(2020-03-13). Coronavirus Scaremongering, US-China Economic Rivalry. The Geopolitics of an Unfolding Global Crisis. globalresearch.ca An underlying theme behind the Western political and media focus on the coronavirus, is to damage and undermine China's international standing, the country where this disease is commonly purported to have spread forth from. Prominent American politicians like Mike Pompeo…
(2020-03-13). Brazil's Bolsonaro is Covid-19 Positive in His First Test. telesurenglish.net According to both local media and international news agencies, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for Covid-19. | The 64-year far-right politician appeared on Thursday on a Facebook live wearing a mask on his face. | His initial test was carried out after the arrival of the Brazilian delegation from the United States. | Bolsonaro was in contact with his communication secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, who also tested positive for the disease.‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã This top official was also in cont…
(2020-03-13). Trump Declares State of Emergency Over Coronavirus. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Donald Trump declared Friday a national emergency over the fast-spreading coronavirus, opening the door to providing more federal aid to fight the disease under the Stafford Act at a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. local time. | A PBS journalist confronted him with the fact that he fired the entire Pandemic Response Team in 2018 without replacing any staff because of budget cuts. | "You said you don't take responsibility for the slow response to coronavirus, but your administration disbanded the White House office on pandemics?" she asked. | "That's a nasty question…," replied Trump. "Whe…
(2020-03-13). Canada: Trudeau Isolated After Wife Tested Covid-19 Positive. telesurenglish.net Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in isolation and awaiting the results of the Covid-19 test, after his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was diagnosed with the disease. | RELATED: | "The Prime Minister's wife began showing flu-like symptoms and a mild fever upon her return from London, UK," according to a Canadian government press release. | "Unfortunately, the results of Sophie's Covid-19 test are positive. Ther…
(2020-03-13). Sex in the Age of Coronavirus: Experts Share Tips on How to Keep Your Love Life Safe. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Wuhan-originated novel coronavirus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has infected over 127,000 people globally, with 75 cases confirmed in India.
(2020-03-13). Russian Health Ministry Says 8 Discharged After Recovering From Coronavirus. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Eight people who had been diagnosed with coronavirus in Russia have been discharged completely recovered, Russian Health Ministry said in a statement Friday.