Monthly Archives: May 2020

2020-05-19: News Headlines

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-05-19). We Don't Have To Choose Between Our Health And The Economy. dissidentvoice.org The United States is at a critical moment in the COVID-crisis. This week, the nation is likely to surpass 100,000 deaths and new hotspots in the south and midwest are developing. Forty-two states have either started "reopening" their economies or imminently plan to do so without putting in place essential public health measures to prevent the spread …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-05-19). AFL-CIO sues Trump's OSHA to force firms to protect workers from virus. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Fed up with the Trump government's refusal to force firms to protect workers from the coronavirus, the AFL-CIO is suing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to force it to do so. The suit, filed May 18, in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for D.C., which handles most cases involving federal agencies and their …

Sam Pizzigati (2020-05-19). Civil Disobedience, Billionaire-Style. counterpunch.org Last week, billionaire Elon Musk defied local public health officials and reopened his flagship Tesla auto assembly plant in Fremont, California. Public safety officials had ordered that plant shut down — over Musk's fierce opposition — almost two months earlier. "Dumb" concern about the coronavirus, Musk had ragedwith that shutdown impending, had morphed into a

David Trujillo, Ismael Parra (2020-05-19). Socialist lessons learned: The political shifts brought by the coronavirus. peoplesworld.org Rev. Dr. William Barber of the New Poor People's Campaign has been preaching: "This virus is teaching us that from now on, living wages, guaranteed health care for all, unemployment and labor rights are not far-left issues but issues of right vs. wrong and life vs. death." Expanding on those truths, here are some more …

Media Lens (2020-05-19). An Illusion Of Protection: The Pandemic, The "Criminal" Government And Public Distrust of The Media. dissidentvoice.org Any notion that the UK government actually considers that its primary responsibility is to protect the health and security of the country's population ought to have been demolished in 2020. The appalling death toll that continues to mount during the coronavirus pandemic is largely rooted, not merely in government 'incompetence', but in criminal dereliction of …

F. William Engdahl (2020-05-19). The Warp Speed Push for Coronavirus Vaccines. globalresearch.ca The US White House has appointed a coronavirus "Vaccine Czar" from Big Pharma to oversee something dubbed Operation Warp Speed. The goal is to create and produce 300 million doses of a new vaccine to supposedly immunize the entire US …

Stephen Lendman (2020-05-19). The Myth of a COVID-19 Vaccine to the Rescue. globalresearch.ca Aided by establishment media fear-mongering, the public mind is being manipulated to support COVID-19 mass vaxxing as a way to protect against coronavirus infections. | Unmentioned is that all vaccines are toxic and hazardous to human health. | Taking them risks contracting …

graham (2020-05-19). Private healthcare hospitals poised to cash in on exploding surgery waiting list. truepublica.org.uk The COVID-19 crisis caused NHS Doctors to postponed more than 2million operations after non-emergency surgery was cancelled for at least three months to free up beds for coronavirus patients. This number was just less than eight weeks of booked operations that currently costs the NHS £1billion a month. "We have to do a really major …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic expands in-person care on all campuses. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Mayo Clinic will expand in-person care on all of its campuses as COVID-19 executive orders are lifted for elective procedures by governors in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin. "Our patients' health and safety is always our top priority," says Amy Williams, M.D., Mayo Clinic Executive Dean for Practice. "We have taken several extra precautions to …

Massoud Nayeri (2020-05-19). Poverty Forces Chileans to Cook in 'the Common Pot'. globalresearch.ca Capitalism is a system to accumulate capital. People are only a commodity in this system. The Coronavirus crisis has enabled the capitalists to pay less for the healthy laborers to make more profit. The rest are left to their own …

WSWS (2020-05-19). US health care system devastated by COVID-19 as the markets clamor to reopen the economy. wsws.org Health care workers throughout the US have been furloughed as health care systems are facing economic devastation caused by the pandemic. A second surge in economically hard-hit areas will confront an equally devasted health care infrastructure.

The BMJ (2020-05-19). COVID-19: Testing Testing. globalresearch.ca The following article published by the British Medical Journal provides a critical perspective on the health impacts and political implications of the Lockdown. | Lockdown is a crude instrument. On its own it can't eliminate covid-19, but it buys a …

Newsclick (2020-05-19). Global north has forgotten that private sector wants ill-health. peoplesdispatch.org The increasing corporatisation of the health sector has meant that private interests not only play a huge role in determining policy, but also control licensing. This is a threat for countries like India.

Joshua K. Leon (2020-05-19). Nations Fight Extreme Patenting to Ensure Access to COVID-19 Relief. progressive.org The pandemic is spurring fresh efforts to rein in the ability of Big Pharma to put profits over public health.

Ashley Curtin (2020-05-19). 5G Wireless Radiation: Scientists Warn Harmful Biologic, Health Effects. "We Are Flying Blindly" globalresearch.ca New 5G cellular wireless technology is already rolling out in some states. But as a country, there is little to no research on the health effects of the new technology. As one United States' senator put it, we are "flying …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). FDA issues emergency use authorization for algorithm designed to improve detection of heart failure during COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization to Eko, a digital health company, for the heart screening algorithm developed by Mayo Clinic. The AI-driven algorithm can detect weak heart pump, which is commonly detected by echocardiogram, a test that is not normally conducted during a physical exam, requires specially trained technicians to record, and requires prolonged contact with …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Minute: Health benefits of gardening. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Practicing social distancing means more time spent at home. And many people use this time to start a garden in their backyard. There's a saying that you reap what you sow. And in the case of a vegetable garden, a rich harvest may bring more than dinner. Anya Guy, a Mayo Clinic dietitian, says gardening …

Staff (2020-05-19). Harvard Doctor: As States Rush to Reopen, Lack of COVID-19 Testing Is "Achilles Heel" for U.S. democracynow.org President Trump claimed Monday he's been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, even though multiple studies show the drug can be dangerous and is not an effective treatment for COVID-19. This comes as the U.S. COVID-19 death count tops 90,000 and all 50 U.S. states prepare to partially reopen by Memorial Day. We speak with Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of Harvard University's Global Health Institute, who says that testing needs to vastly improve in order for widespread reopenings. He calls the lack of accurate tests in the U.S. the nation's "Achilles heel," saying, "The testing saga will go down as one…

Staff (2020-05-19). Headlines for May 19, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Claims He Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine Despite FDA Warnings, Navajo Nation Has Highest Coronavirus Infection Rate in the U.S., 60-Year-Old Burmese Refugee Becomes Eighth COVID-19 Victim at Colorado Meat Plant, 74-Year-Old Man at California ICE Prison Dies of Suicide, Trump Attacks WHO as U.S. and China Trade Barbs over Pandemic Response, Early COVID Vaccine Trials Show Positive Results, Outbreak at Refugee Center in Germany Infects at Least 70 people, France and Germany Propose 500 Billion-Euro Coronavirus Assistance Fund for EU, Sà£o Paulo's Hospitals "Near Collapse" as Brazil Becomes Third Most Infe…

The Canary (2020-05-19). Scientists dismiss claims 'mega doses' of vitamin D can protect against Covid-19. thecanary.co Scientists have dismissed "very misleading" social media reports that so-called "mega doses" of vitamin D can protect against coronavirus.Some articles have claimed that the vitamin can act as a protective measure — which scientists say is "not true" and prompted an urgent need to inform the public.However, they have emphasised the importance of maintaining a healthy level of vitamin D in the body.Professor Colin Smith, the University of Brighton's professor of functional genomics, said: "There are currently some very misleading articles doing the rounds on social media about mega doses of vitamin D as a Cov…

The Canary (2020-05-19). IT experts unconvinced on effectiveness of Covid-19 contact tracing app. thecanary.co Less than a quarter of IT experts believe the UK's coronavirus (Covid-19) contact tracing app will be effective, according to a survey.Just under half (45%) said they were undecided about it, while almost a third (32%) believe the tool will not be useful in helping to contain Covid-19.The app is currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight as part of the government's "test, track and trace" strategy to ease the country out of lockdown.Health secretary Matt Hancock had indicated that a roll-out across the rest of England was on the cards for mid-May, but Downing Street has said the aim is to launch more widely in…

RT (2020-05-19). WHO member states agree to independent investigation of agency's coronavirus response. rt.com Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed on Tuesday to an independent probe into the UN agency's coronavirus response. Countries taking part in the WHO's annual assembly adopted a resolution by consensus urging a joint response to the crisis. The event was held virtually for the first time. | The resolution was tabled by the European Union and called for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the international response to the pandemic, which has so far infected more than 4.8 million people and killed over 318,000, AFP said. | The investigation should include a probe into…

RT (2020-05-19). Czech authorities cite biggest jump in coronavirus cases in 4 weeks as they begin reopening economy. rt.com The number of new coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic showed its biggest daily rise in four weeks and climbed above 100 for the first time this month, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. | It said that 111 new cases were recorded on Monday, bringing the total in the central European country to 8,586. The ministry reported no new deaths, leaving the toll at 297, Reuters said. | Authorities have been reopening the economy in recent weeks by getting most shops back up and running along with cinemas, theatres and outdoor dining places. There are plans to let restaurants open indoor areas next week. | The gove…

RT (2020-05-19). Study Trump cited in his latest attack on WHO does NOT EXIST, says editor-in-chief of prestigious medical journal. rt.com US President Donald Trump cited a study supposedly published in the Lancet medical journal as he once again accused the WHO of ignoring early Covid-19 warnings. Now, the Lancet chief editor says there has been no such publication. | "Dear President Trump, you cite the Lancet in your attack on WHO. Please let me correct the record," Dr. Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the prestigious British medical journal, wrote on Twitter on Monday. Trump referred to the outlet in his latest letter to the World Health Organization head, Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus, in which he warned that Washington would perm…

RT (2020-05-19). WATCH: UK Speaker of the House shows zero tolerance for Tory MP struggling with Zoom video call. rt.com The Speaker of the UK's House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, showed little sympathy for a Conservative lawmaker struggling to be heard at her home via Zoom — not once, but twice — during a parliamentary session in Westminster. | During questions put to Health and Social Care Minister Matt Hancock regarding the issue of coronavirus and care homes on Tuesday, Hoyle called on Jane Stevenson, the Tory MP for Wolverhampton North East, to make her contribution via Zoom. | Stevenson is then seen staring quite blankly at her screen and speaking for a few brief moments before realising that she was muted and so…

RT (2020-05-19). 'Fat shaming is cool now?' Pelosi's jab at Trump's weight sends #MorbidlyObese trending & the 'Resistance' can't get enough. rt.com US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was cheered by President Donald Trump's critics after dubbing him "morbidly obese," even making the phrase trend online, but many have condemned what they see as a double standard over "fat shaming." | Pelosi's comment came during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday, telling the pundit she was concerned about the president's health after he said he was taking hydroxychloroquine — a controversial treatment for Covid-19 which Trump says he's taking as a preventative measure. Speaking on air, Pelosi "diagnosed" the US leader as "morbidly obese." | "I would rather h…

RT (2020-05-19). 'No time to waste': Trump gives WHO 30 days to make 'major improvements' before US PERMANENTLY freezes funding. rt.com US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt American funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) for good, giving the agency 30 days to clean up its act while insisting it mishandled the Covid-19 pandemic. | This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory! In a scathing letter addressed to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom on Monday night…

RT (2020-05-19). Paper gold trade is now bigger than ALL of Germany's reserves. rt.com The price of gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) steadied on Tuesday at the equivalent of $1,733 per ounce after retreating on the news of a potential coronavirus vaccine by drug maker Moderna. | Gold ETFs are not equal to physical gold, as they are simply securities backed by the commodity designed to track the gold price. | Gold bullion, which hit an eight-year high just before the news, lost $40 per ounce for US dollar traders by the start of Tuesday's London trade. It has also dropped over two percent from new all-time highs in British pound and euro currency terms. | "Gold sold off on upbeat trader attitude…

RT (2020-05-19). Censorship detected? Russian Embassy says NYT 'refused' to publish comparative Covid-19 death statistics in official's letter. rt.com Russia's Embassy in the US has accused the NYT of refusing to publish a comparison of the Covid-19 death rates in Moscow, London, and New York. The paper earlier accused Russia of "underreporting" the death rate from the disease. | On May 11, the New York Times ran a story which claimed to have solved the "mystery" of Russia's relatively lower death rate from Covid-19, which is below the world average. Citing official statistics, the paper noted that Moscow's number of overall deaths in April exceeded its five-year average for the same period by more than 1,700. Together with the city's official death toll fro…

RT (2020-05-19). China's provinces offer farmers cash to end exotic animal trade. rt.com Farmers in China are being offered cash to stop breeding exotic animals as pressure grows to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade that has been blamed for the coronavirus outbreak. Authorities have, for the first time, pledged to buy out breeders in an attempt to curb the practice, AFP reported on Tuesday, citing animal rights activists. | In recent months, China has banned the sale of wild animals for food, citing the risk of diseases spreading to humans. The trade remains legal for other purposes, including research and traditional medicine. | Two central provinces have outlined details of a buyout progr…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Recipe: Asparagus, tomato and red pepper French bread pizza. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Are you craving the taste of a pizza but not the guilt and all the calories?Consider trying this healthy remake of French bread pizza that could turn into your new favorite Friday night treat. It's easy, delicious and approx. 265 calories per slice. Dietitian's note: For a crispier pizza, bake on a pizza stone

Thomas Magstadt (2020-05-19). Capitalism, contagion, and moral hazard: A cure worse than the disease? nationofchange.org Experience in this unprecedented health crisis is conclusive: Absent an impartial referee there is nothing to prevent a mythical free market from decaying into crony capitalism and causing irreparable damage to society, economy, and a badly battered political system.

WSWS (2020-05-19). Millions of Americans, including front-line workers' families, face loss of employer-sponsored health insurance in pandemic. wsws.org The families of health care workers, first responders and other workers deemed essential who have died from COVID-19 now face the prospect of losing their health coverage due to the cut-off of their loved ones' employer-sponsored insurance.

WSWS (2020-05-19). The policy of "malign neglect": How the Russian oligarchy sacrifices the health and lives of the people. wsws.org The government's policy of malign neglect has provoked an initial upsurge in opposition from the working class, including Gazprom workers in Yakutia, northern Russia.

WSWS (2020-05-19). World health conference dominated by US-China conflict as coronavirus spreads across the globe. wsws.org Washington sought to turn Monday's annual conference of the World Health Organization into an arena for its relentless campaign to scapegoat China.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Spring cleaning takes on a new importance during COVID-19 pandemic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released reopening guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools and homes. Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert, suggests taking a practical approach to spring cleaning. If no one in your household has been infected, he says standard spring cleaning practices …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Masking your kids during COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Do you or don't you wear a mask? If you do, what material is best? And what about children? Questions around masks during the COVID-19 pandemic abound, especially in light of the recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all Americans wear masks in public settings. "The direction around face masks has …

commondreams (2020-05-19). Campaigners Condemn UK for Putting Big Pharma Profits Ahead of Coronavirus Vaccine at WHO. commondreams.org ______________________________…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses how the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is changing, and how scientists and researchers are rapidly gaining new knowledge about the virus and the disease that it …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic's comprehensive COVID-19 research. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org "At Mayo, we've developed a comprehensive research portfolio, or what we call a COVID-19 research task force, in order to respond to every area that we need to learn more about this virus. We have scientists doing research in epidemiology. We have people doing research in immunology and vaccine development, in virology, in translational work, in …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid ticks. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org If you're practicing social distancing this summer by spending some solo time outdoors, you still might not be alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tick bites should be top of mind. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/zDfVaSUOYBc Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0: 58) is in the downloads at the end of…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 research at Mayo Clinic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Thanks to its combination of practice, education, and research, Mayo Clinic has a strong foundation to respond quickly to a medical crisis such as COVID-19. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread worldwide, a research task force was formed at Mayo Clinic to review and approve research proposals related to the virus and the disease it causes. …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Q and A: COVID-19 and people with disabilities. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Dear Mayo Clinic: My father, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, lives with me and my family, including three children. While my husband can work at home, I am still required to go on-site for my job. Although I practice social distancing, I am wondering if I need to do anything differently in caring for …

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-05-19). Poor New York City Neighborhoods Seeing Deaths From Covid at More Than Twice the Rate of Affluent Areas. commondreams.org New data from the New York City Health Department reveals the stark gap between the number of Covid-19 deaths in the city's poor neighborhoods and those in wealthier areas. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

United We Dream (2020-05-19). United We Dream: Immigrants, COVID-19, Jobs & Healthcare Virtual Town Hall. indybay.org Online…

Dan Bacher (2020-05-19). ExxonMobil Seeks to Restart Three Platforms Idled After Refugio Oil Spill. indybay.org "On the anniversary of this deadly oil spill, in the middle of a public health crisis, Santa Barbara should embrace a clean energy future," said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "We need to end offshore drilling, not bring it back to life with another dirty oil pipeline."

Kate Zeller (2020-05-19). World Health Assembly Wrestles with Coronavirus. indybay.org As the global coronavirus death toll tops 300,000 people, the leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) prepare to hold their leadership meetings virtually from May 18th – 19th.

Labor Video Project (2020-05-19). Jail Tesla Billionaire Elon Musk & Defend Health & Safety: Workers Speak Out At Tesla. indybay.org Workers spoke out against the bullying and intimidation of billionaire Elon Musk who has started his Tesla factory violating a shelter in place law. He challenged the Fremont police and Governor Newsom to arrest him but they are allowing him to open without any CA-OSHA inspections. Newsom has continued the destruction of CA-OSHA and there are less than 200 inspectors for the 18 million workers in California and only 1 doctor and 1 nurse at CA. OSHA.

Staff (2020-05-19). As States Rush to Reopen, Lack of COVID-19 Testing Is "Achilles Heel" for US. truthout.org President Trump claimed Monday he's been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, even though multiple studies show the drug can be dangerous and is not an effective treatment for COVID-19. This comes as the U.S. COVID-19 death count tops 90,000 and all 50 U.S. states prepare to partially reopen by Memorial Day. We speak with Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of Harvard University's Global Health Institute, who says that testing needs to vastly improve in order for widespread reopenings. He call…

Staff (2020-05-19). Trump's "VERY Promising" Vaccine Is at Least a Year Away, Leaked Memo Suggests. truthout.org A leaked memo from the Pentagon suggests the Department of Defense does not hold the same optimistic tone that President Donald Trump does when it comes to how fast a vaccine for coronavirus could be developed. | The document, which is not the official view of the Pentagon, warns of a "globally-persistent" coronavirus environment in the U.S. for some time to come, and states that a vaccine likely won't be available to the public until "at least the summer of 2021." | "We have a long path ahead,…

2020-05-18: News Headlines

Stephanie Kenific (2020-05-18). Chicago nursing home workers achieve historic contract. liberationnews.org Nursing homes are among the places hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew Brake (2020-05-18). "Don't gamble with our health:" Casino workers rally in Indianapolis. liberationnews.org More than 100 cars descended on the state capitol with horns blaring.

Eds. (2020-05-18). Socialism, capitalism, and cholera in 19th-century Hamburg. mronline.org I certainly didn't expect to spend the start of 2020 wading through nearly 700 pages about the 1892 Hamburg cholera epidemic, but I'm glad I did. Death in Hamburg, British historian Richard J. Evans' social history of the epidemic, is a page-turner, his passion for the topic nothing short of infectious.

Eds. (2020-05-18). Trump unveils plan that would see Big Pharma reap massive profits from COVID-19 vaccine. mronline.org President Trump has revealed a plan to mobilize the US military to deliver mass vaccinations across the country, coupled with Operation Warp Speed, a "Manhattan project-style" race to produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

Ted Glick (2020-05-18). Opening Up for Demonstrations? zcomm.org Stop racist killings! Act together to end the pandemic! Living wages or income now! A Green New Deal and Medicare for All! Trump must go!

Stephen Lendman (2020-05-18). Trump Tightens Restrictions on Huawei, China Threatens Retaliation. globalresearch.ca Even during a major public health crisis compounded by economic collapse — a domestic perfect storm — the Trump regime continues waging war on China by other means, including its blame game, wanting Beijing held responsible for its own failures….

Ben Eder (2020-05-18). World Health Assembly 2020: Is our response to COVID-19 adequate? peoplesdispatch.org Activists of the People's Health Movement talk about the World Health Assembly that begins today, the key issues that will come up for discussion, and the collapse of the global governance system in the realm of public health…

Dr. Katrin Korb (2020-05-18). Video: German Medical Doctor Katrin Korb's Analysis of Big Pharma's "Dubious Vaccine" globalresearch.ca German Medical Doctor Katrin Korb discusses COVID-19, the lockdown and the vaccine during a protest held in Oldeburg. | Below is the transcript of her speech. | *** | Dear fellow citizens, | I'm thankful for being able to stand here today. My name …

news.un (2020-05-18). Coronavirus impact on world's indigenous, goes well beyond health threat. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on the world's indigenous peoples that stretches well beyond the immediate threat to their health, the new UN independent expert on the rights of indigenous peoples said on Monday.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). FDA issues emergency use authorization for algorithm designed to improve detection of heart failure during COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization to Eko, a digital health company, for the heart screening algorithm developed by Mayo Clinic. The AI-driven algorithm can detect weak heart pump, which is commonly detected by echocardiogram, a test that is not normally conducted during a physical exam, requires specially trained technicians to record, and requires prolonged contact with …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic receives $26 million from BARDA for COVID-19 convalescent plasma expanded access program. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Mayo Clinic was awarded a $26 million contract today from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The financial support is for the Expanded Access Program (EAP) for convalescent plasma to fight COVID-19. …

Karen Greenberg (2020-05-18). So Long to American Exceptionalism. commondreams.org The virus has put the realities of wealth inequality, health insecurity, and poor work conditions under a high-powered microscope. (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Dr. Jack Rasmus (2020-05-18). The Deepening US Health Care Affordability and Coverage Crisis. globalresearch.ca The current pandemic is wreaking havoc with the US and global economy, accelerating and deepening the general economic crisis—and threatening to provoke a global financial crisis that will exacerbate the decline and usher in a great depression no doubt even …

Esha Bhandari (2020-05-18). Coronavirus 'Immunity Passports' are not the Answer. aclu.org As governments the world over seek ways to jumpstart economic activity, one proposal is a so-called "immunity passport" that would allow certain people who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies to return to work before others. We at the ACLU have serious concerns about the adoption of any such proposal, because of its potential to harm public health, incentivize economically-vulnerable people to risk their health by contracting COVID-19, exacerbate racial and economic disparities, and lead to a new health surveillance infrastructure that endangers privacy rights. , , An immunity passport system is fundamentall…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic expands in-person care on all campuses. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Mayo Clinic will expand in-person care on all of its campuses as COVID-19 executive orders are lifted for elective procedures by governors in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin. "Our patients' health and safety is always our top priority," says Amy Williams, M.D., Mayo Clinic Executive Dean for Practice. "We have taken several extra precautions to …

WSWS (2020-05-18). Trump fires State Department inspector general. wsws.org Over the past six weeks, Trump also has removed the inspectors general of the Intelligence Community, Defense and Health and Human Services.

Helen Buyniski (2020-05-18). Fear and Uncertainty: The Modern-Day Cult of Corona. "Gotta to Have Faith" globalresearch.ca Fear and uncertainty have dominated the media coverage of the Covid-19 epidemic. | The novel coronavirus is depicted not as a pedestrian pathogen certain to be beaten into submission by the miracles of modern science any day now, but as …

The Levant (2020-05-18). Over 250 Artists, Writers Urge Israel to Stop Siege of Gaza. globalresearch.ca More than 250 global artists and writers including rocker Peter Gabriel, director Ken Loach and actor Viggo Mortensen have appealed to Israel to stop the "siege" of Gaza. | The coronavirus epidemic could have a devastating effect in "the world's largest …

Staff (2020-05-18). How Will COVID-19 Change the World? Historian Frank Snowden on Epidemics From the Black Death to Now. democracynow.org Pandemics, like revolution, war and economic crises, are key determinants of historic change. We look at the history of epidemics, from Black Death to smallpox to COVID-19, and discuss how the coronavirus will reshape the world with leading medical historian Frank Snowden, author of "Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present." He is a professor emeritus at Yale University who has been in Italy since the pandemic began, and himself survived a COVID-19 infection.

Staff (2020-05-18). Headlines for May 18, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Deaths on Track to Surpass 100,000 by June with Most States Partially Reopened , House Dems Probe Firing of State Dept. Watchdog, Pass $3 Trillion Stimulus Bill, Trump Names Ex-Pharma Exec and Army General to Lead Coronavirus Vaccine Effort, CDC Hits Back After WH Trade Adviser Criticism: CDC Director Is "Appointed by President Trump", Obama Slams Trump Admin Response to Crisis: "A Lot of Them Aren't Even Pretending to Be in Charge.", Belgian Medical Workers Stage Protests Against Gov't Response to Pandemic, Italy Opens Up Businesses, Starts Holding Public Masses as Part of "Calculated Risk", Ind…

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-18). Profiting From Coronavirus. strategic-culture.org Much has been written about the possibility for a new and better kind of world to emerge after coronavirus. Yet our governments cannot conceive of any model for fighting this threat to the whole world, other than the capitalist, money-making model. The much-touted "race to develop a vaccine" is not a race to save lives. It is a race to make billions.

RT (2020-05-18). Group that TRACKED protesters' cell phones accuses them of spreading Covid-19 across US… even if they DIDN'T leave their cars. rt.com A Democrat-linked advocacy group is blaming the spread of Covid-19 on anti-lockdown protesters in the US after tracking their cell phones cross-country. Despite the tempting partisan narrative, though, many never left their cars. | Anti-lockdown demonstrators traveled hundreds of miles to attend protests, almost certainly spreading the coronavirus to places where infections were rare, according to the Committee to Protect Medicare, a supposedly non-partisan group run by a former Democratic congressional candidate. The group provided a comprehensive analysis of smartphone location data from rallies in Michigan,…

RT (2020-05-18). Saudi-backed Yemen's govt accuses Houthis of covering up coronavirus outbreak, calls for global assistance. rt.com Yemen's Saudi-backed government accused the Houthi movement of covering up a big outbreak of coronavirus in areas it holds. The Aden-based government also called for urgent global assistance to help Yemen's war-ravaged health sector deal with Covid-19, Reuters said. | The United Nations warned that the country could suffer a "catastrophic" food security situation due to the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus is spreading undetected among the population in the country, control of which is divided between the government in the south and the Houthi group in the north. | The government ha…

RT (2020-05-18). Beijing says it's premature 'to immediately begin investigation' into coronavirus origins. rt.com China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was premature to immediately launch an investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus. Spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing that the vast majority of countries in the world believe the pandemic is not yet over. | The ministry also said separately that President Xi Jinping will give a video speech for the opening ceremony of the World Health Assembly later on Monday. | Health ministers from around the world are expected to call for an independent evaluation of the World Health Organization's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic during a WHO meetin…

RT (2020-05-18). Iraqi govt considers imposing full lockdown in Baghdad areas amid uptick in coronavirus cases. rt.com Iraq will impose a complete lockdown on some areas of the capital, the new health minister said on Monday, as in coronavirus cases have jumped in recent weeks since curfew hours were relaxed. | The new government under PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi was sworn into power just two weeks ago following a five-month leadership vacuum. Ministers have to respond to the pandemic and a severe economic crisis brought on by falling oil prices. | Areas of Baghdad believed to play a role in spreading the virus will face a full lockdown as of Wednesday for a period of two weeks, Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said in a statement.

RT (2020-05-18). Pompeo throws yet another accusation at WHO for being pro-China, after delays to Taiwan getting observer status. rt.com By delaying the decision to grant Taiwan observer status, the World Health Organization (WHO) is further undermining its credibility and exposing its pro-China bias, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed. | WHO member nations unanimously voted to postpone the decision to grant Taiwan observer status until later in the year, in order to avoid shifting the focus away from the Covid-19 pandemic. This was in spite of the country having previously participated in a non-voting observer capacity between 2009 and 2016. | According to Pompeo, by delaying this decision, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebre…

RT (2020-05-18). All mixed up: It's more than just an opioid crisis, polydrug use is poisoning Americans. rt.com Now that deaths because of opioids are plateauing in America, another reborn epidemic is poisoning the country's drug users. It's polydrug use — the mixing of substances that catalyze each other in a spectrum of deadly cocktails. | According to USA Today, a new super-potent form of methamphetamine, dubbed Meth 2.0, is sweeping across America. The newspaper claims Meth 2.0 is behind a steep rise in methamphetamine use that has led to a sharp increase in fatalities. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that overdose deaths involving methamphetamine have recently spiked by tw…

RT (2020-05-18). France & Germany suggest ‚Ǩ500 BILLION fund to help Europe recover from Covid-19 epidemic. rt.com France and Germany have agreed on establishing a joint European recovery fund amounting to ‚Ǩ500 billion (US$543 billion) that will be given out as grants to the economic sectors and regions most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have announced a joint initiative aimed at helping the European Union recover from the devastation the novel coronavirus pandemic has inflicted on its economy. The plan involves allocating a vast sum for the specialized recovery fund within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) — a…

RT (2020-05-18). Italian lawmaker demands Bill Gates be ARRESTED for 'crimes against humanity'… But WHY? rt.com An Italian lawmaker has managed to bring the conspiracy blame-game to an entirely new level, exercising her parliamentary privilege to blast Bill Gates as a "vaccine criminal" and globalist tool. | Bill Gates and his latest anti-coronavirus efforts have been at the center of the wildest theories that explore possible sinister motives behind the billionaire's activities. In arguably the most high-profile outcry last week, an Italian MP for Rome Sara Cunial delivered a speech rarely (if ever at all) heard in any parliament. | In her passionate address, Cunial called upon fellow lawmakers to defy any plans for…

RT (2020-05-18). Spain may reopen borders to tourists in late June, transport minister says. rt.com Spain aims to reopen borders to visitors around the end of June as its coronavirus lockdown fully winds down, Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos said on Monday. Madrid last week surprised its EU partners by imposing a two-week quarantine on all overseas travelers and effectively keeping borders closed, Reuters said. | Spain then explained that the measures were needed to avoid importing a second wave of the Covid-19 disease. However, the move was meant to be temporary and the transport minister said it would be phased out in parallel with travel being allowed within Spain, whose regions are easing restriction…

Dispatches from the Edge (2020-05-18). Military Spending and the Pandemic. globalresearch.ca "There have been as many plagues as wars in history, yet plagues and wars take people equally by surprise" —Albert Camus | "The Plague" | Camus' novel of a lethal contagion in the North African city of Oran is filled with characters …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Masking your kids during COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Do you or don't you wear a mask? If you do, what material is best? And what about children? Questions around masks during the COVID-19 pandemic abound, especially in light of the recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all Americans wear masks in public settings. "The direction around face masks has …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Spring cleaning takes on a new importance during COVID-19 pandemic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released reopening guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools and homes. Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert, suggests taking a practical approach to spring cleaning. If no one in your household has been infected, he says standard spring cleaning practices …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic's comprehensive COVID-19 research. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org "At Mayo, we've developed a comprehensive research portfolio, or what we call a COVID-19 research task force, in order to respond to every area that we need to learn more about this virus. We have scientists doing research in epidemiology. We have people doing research in immunology and vaccine development, in virology, in translational work, in …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses how the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is changing, and how scientists and researchers are rapidly gaining new knowledge about the virus and the disease that it …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Why you need to keep your child's vaccine schedule during COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Millions of children may be at risk of missing or delaying their routine childhood vaccines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine specialist, says she understands being thoughtful about taking your children outside the home for doctor's visits during this time. "The current situation with the novel coronavirus shows us how scary …

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-05-18). Despite Criticisms, Madagascar Moves Ahead with COVID-Organics. globalresearch.ca While Western and Europeans and Asians race to find vaccines for coronavirus, Africa can no longer wait for that scientific discovery that experts have said it would, most probably, be ready in a year or two. Some experts have argued …

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-05-18). Hacking for Vaccines. Intellectual Property and Espionage. globalresearch.ca If you cannot discover or create something, best steal it. It has been the operating principle for everything from wealth to technology. With the efforts to discover a vaccine to the novel coronavirus being all but bound by solidarity, the …

Greg G. Wolff (2020-05-18). Influenza Vaccination and Respiratory Virus Interference Among Department of Defense Personnel During the 2017—2018 Influenza Season. globalresearch.ca Receiving influenza vaccination may increase the risk of other respiratory viruses, a phenomenon known as virus interference. Test-negative study designs are often utilized to calculate influenza vaccine effectiveness. The virus interference phenomenon goes against the basic assumption of the test-negative …

Howard Lisnoff (2020-05-18). Staying Above Water During the Pandemic. counterpunch.org Depression is a serious disease. In its most serious manifestation, clinical depression, a person can hardly function or not function at all. A best guess is that there are untold millions of people in the US and around the world who are now suffering from either mild depression, or its more serious form as Covid-19

WSWS (2020-05-18). Spike in Kawasaki-like disease linked to coronavirus in France and Italy, one child dies. wsws.org This is a damning indictment of capitalist governments internationally which are reopening schools and asserting that the virus does not harm children.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Possible neurological effects of COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Originally identified as a respiratory disease, some COVID-19 patients exhibit neurologic symptoms including stroke, loss of consciousness, headache, and even the loss of taste and smell. What's unknown is whether these are direct effects of the virus entering the nervous system, or consequences of the disease's effect on the body. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid ticks. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org If you're practicing social distancing this summer by spending some solo time outdoors, you still might not be alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tick bites should be top of mind. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/zDfVaSUOYBc Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0: 58) is in the downloads at the end of…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-05-18). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 research at Mayo Clinic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Thanks to its combination of practice, education, and research, Mayo Clinic has a strong foundation to respond quickly to a medical crisis such as COVID-19. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread worldwide, a research task force was formed at Mayo Clinic to review and approve research proposals related to the virus and the disease it causes. …

United We Dream (2020-05-18). United We Dream: Immigrants, COVID-19, Jobs & Healthcare Virtual Town Hall. indybay.org Online…

Kate Zeller (2020-05-18). World Health Assembly Wrestles with Coronavirus. indybay.org As the global coronavirus death toll tops 300,000 people, the leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) prepare to hold their leadership meetings virtually from May 18th – 19th.

Labor Video Project (2020-05-18). Jail Tesla Billionaire Elon Musk & Defend Health & Safety: Workers Speak Out At Tesla. indybay.org Workers spoke out against the bullying and intimidation of billionaire Elon Musk who has started his Tesla factory violating a shelter in place law. He challenged the Fremont police and Governor Newsom to arrest him but they are allowing him to open without any CA-OSHA inspections. Newsom has continued the destruction of CA-OSHA and there are less than 200 inspectors for the 18 million workers in California and only 1 doctor and 1 nurse at CA. OSHA.

Dan Bacher (2020-05-18). ExxonMobil Seeks to Restart Three Platforms Idled After Refugio Oil Spill. indybay.org "On the anniversary of this deadly oil spill, in the middle of a public health crisis, Santa Barbara should embrace a clean energy future," said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "We need to end offshore drilling, not bring it back to life with another dirty oil pipeline."

Workers Solidarity Action Network (2020-05-18). Rally At Tesla: Jail Musk! Workers Health & Safety First & Lives Over Profit. indybay.org Tesla North Gate | Industrial Dr & Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538 | www.google.com/maps/place/Tesla+factory/…: 0x86cfbef39088e346!8m2!3d37.5039468!4d-121.9622337?hl=en…

The Canary (2020-05-18). EU calls for independent probe of the WHO's pandemic response. thecanary.co The European Union and other countries have called for an independent evaluation of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) response to the coronavirus pandemic "to review experience gained and lessons learned". | The resolution has the support of more than half of the WHO's member countries and will be discussed this week at the decision-making body of the UN health agency, being held virtually this year. | The proposal is intended to initiate "a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the WHO's efforts to coordinate the international response to Covid-19, including the function…