newswars--2020-03-08--Italy Places Milan Region Under Quarantine As First Covid-19-Linked Death Reported In Latin America:

Italy Places Milan Region Under Quarantine As First Covid-19-Linked Death Reported In Latin America: Live Updates

• US death toll hits 19 as two more cases in WA .
Update ( 2000ET ) : Though the coronavirus has spread more slowly across the warmer climate of Latin America , the first fatality linked to Covid-19 on the continent has just been reported by the Argentinian health ministry .
• ARGENTINA CONFIRMS FIRST DEATH IN LATIN AMERICA OF PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH CORONAVIRUS – HEALTH MINISTRY STATEMENT In other news , the Washington Post reports that two dozen American tourists are being quarantined on a cruise ship in the Egyptian city of Luxor , according to two passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases of the virus on Saturday .
South Korea , meanwhile , just reported another 367 Covid-19 cases , bringing the total to 7,134 .
Alex Jones breaks down the video of a Chinese report demanding an apology from the U.S. for criticisms over the coronavirus .
According to the Chicago Tribune , students and staff at a Chicago public school have been asked to stay home next week while the school undergoes a “ deep clean ” .
They ’ ve also been advised to stay at home and not leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a previous passenger on the Grand Princess before disembarking on Feb. 21 .
The special education teacher at Vaughn Occupational High School in Portage Park has been hospitalized since becoming the sixth positive case in the state of Illinois – with all the cases having been identified in Cook County .
Students and staff at the school have been asked to stay in self-quarantine until March 18 , unless directed otherwise by the department of public health .
Looking back , over the last 24 hours , four more deaths have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , and two in Washington State from the same Kirkland nursing home as earlier deaths .
The first case confirmed in Washington DC has been described as a resident in his 50s who appears to have contracted the virus in late February , when he started feeling ill. Health officials said the man likely didn ’ t attend the AIPAC conference where several infected individuals attended .
In other US news , a US Marine in Virginia has tested positive at Fort Belavoir .
Officials at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and federal officials to take care of the soldier and ensure the virus doesn ’ t spread .
Gov .
Ralph Northam has been briefed on the situation and the state currently says the risk to the public is low , according to NBC News .
Update ( 1740ET ) : Six more San Francisco residents have tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday , bringing the total case count in the city to eight , public health officials said , according to the San Francisco Chronicle .
All of the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in good condition , the San Francisco Department of Public Health said .
The previous two patients were both hospitalized .
Two of the new patients are in their 20s , three are in their 40s , and the sixth person is in his or her 50s .
Three of the patients are women and three are men .
All of them have had contact with someone who already has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus , public health officials said .
“ These newly confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulation of coronavirus in the community , as expected , given the patterns in our state , region and our own city , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , director of health , said in a statement .
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on twitter that the first case has been confirmed in the nation ’ s capital .
Meanwhile , in Australia , NSW Health has confirmed that a man in his 80s has died in a Sydney hospital , and has tested positive for Covid-19 , making him the third coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Kerry Chant passed on sympathies to the family of the patient .
Update ( 1620ET ) : Canadian officials have confirmed six new cases of the virus in British Columbia on Saturday , bringing the total cases in Canada to 57 .
Two of the new cases were passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship , traveling from between Feb 11 – 21 , Adrian Dix , minister of health , and Dr. Bonnie Henry , British Columbia ’ s provincial health officer said in a press statement Saturday .
Update ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have confirmed another 2 deaths , raising the US death toll to 19 .
• SEATTLE , KING COUNTY SAYS TOTAL DEATHS AT 15 FROM VIRUS Here ’ s an updated map of US cases , courtesy of the Washington Post .
In addition to the cancellation of SXSW in Austin , which has led to an outcry about how going a year without the massive marketing circlejerk could cause the city ’ s economy to implode .
Here ’ s the list of cases broken down by state : Update ( 1420ET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and South Korea , both of which eventually locked down the local epicenter ( s ) of the coronavirus breakout by imposing draconian quasi-quaratines , moments ago Italy announced that on the day the number of new cases in the country exploded by 1,247 hitting a total of 5,883 , the federal government has placed the entire region of Lombardy , the province with the most Italian coronavirus infections , on lockdown .
The government has drafted a decree ( which will likely be announced this evening in Rome ) during an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reports , close all ski resorts , museums and other cultural attractions , and – most importantly – orders that nobody enter or leave the region of Lombardy , as well as 11 other provinces in northern and central Italy .
The Italian government has faced pressure to step up controls as travelers visiting Italy have carried the virus across Europe , Asia and the Middle East , even to North and South America .
Amazingly , the lockdown will last until April 3 , meaning for nearly a month , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be effectively shuttered .
South Korea has imposed similar measures in Daegu , the epicenter of what has become the worst outbreak outside China .
And at one point 760 million Chinese were subjected to some level of restrictions on movement ( with many required to remain inside their homes at all times with only special exceptions ) .
And although South Korea is widely considered home to the biggest outbreak outside China , Italy has reported 233 deaths , the largest number of deaths outside China and Iran .
• ITALY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OR LEAVE REGION OF LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES IN OTHER REGIONS • ITALY ’ S DRAFT DECREE SAYS SCHOOLS IN LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 3 • ITALY DRAFT DECREE ON CORONAVIRUS SHOWS NEW RESTRICTIVE MEASURES FOR NEW AREAS IN REGIONS OF LOMBARDY , VENETO , EMILIA AND PIEDMONT • ITALY DRAFT DECREE URGES PEOPLE NOT TO MOVE AROUND INSIDE AREAS COVERED BY DECREE EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL WORKING NEEDS AND EMERGENCIES • ITALY DRAFT DECREE SAYS ALL LEAVE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS CANCELLED IN LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , SWIMMING POOLS , HEALTH CENTRES AND SPAS TO CLOSE IN THE SAME AREAS • ITALY ’ S DRAFT DECREE CLOSES ALL SKI RESORTS , MUSEUMS , CULTURAL CENTRES IN SAME AREAS • ITALY ’ S DRAFT DECREE SAYS ALL SHOPPING CENTRES TO CLOSE AT WEEKENDS IN SAME AREAS • ITALY ’ S DRAFT DECREE CLOSES ALL SKI RESORTS , MUSEUMS , CULTURAL CENTRES IN SAME AREAS Elsewhere in Europe , health authorities on the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta have raised the number of people with coronavirus to three , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive too .
Iran also reported a more than 1,200 case jump in infections to a total of 5,823 .
One computer scientist who has been modeling outbreaks around the world said Italy ’ s spread has produced “ one of the most alarming charts I have ever seen.
” Earlier in the day on Saturday , Spanish pol According to the Associated Press , the Spanish government has deployed police in a northern town to help enforce a home quarantine placed on a neighborhood with a high number of residents infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of La Rioja said Saturday that the extra measures have been taken to contain the outbreak in Haro , a town of 11,000 residents , where the majority of the 39 cases in the region are located .
Update ( 1350ET ) : Washington state officials are reportedly considering taking over a nursing home in Kirkland where at least six residents have died , possibly the first example in US history of the federal government nationalizing a nursing home , WSJ reports .
Update ( 1345ET ) : French health officials have reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to 949 .
Of those , 16 patients have died , up 5 from 11 .
Update ( 1255ET ) : Gov Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in New York after 21 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed , bringing the state-wide total to 76 , according to NBC 4 New York .
Seven of the cases are in NYC .
Total cases in the tri-state area have hit 80 .
There have been at least 80 total cases found in New York , New Jersey and Connecticut , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wealthy Westchester County , just north of the Bronx .
There have been 57 people to test positive there , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Saturday , almost all of which are connected to the cluster that started with the midtown Manhattan lawyer Lawrence Garbuz and his family .
Ten patients out of the 76 in NY State are currently hospitalized , the rest have been asked to self-quarantine and contact a doctor if their condition worsens , Cuomo said .
Aside from NYC and Westchester , other cases have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York ’ s Saratoga County .
Update ( 1240ET ) : Now that every country in Europe has been infected with the virus , Italian health officials confirmed on Saturday that the national death toll has hit 233 after officials reported another 36 deaths .
• DEATH TOLL IN ITALY OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS RISES TO 233 FROM 197 ON FRIDAY • TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN ITALY RISES TO 5,883 FROM 4,636 ON FRIDAY The epicenter of the outbreak in Europe is seeing shit go straight parabolic .
Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new decree on Saturday with measures to to try and stem the contagion , but it ’ s not clear yet what exactly they ’ re planning .
Meanwhile , as more European countries track infected Italians spreading the virus within their borders , Sweden – of all places – is presenting a model of how to swiftly identify and quarantine those who have been exposed .
All cases of Swedes who traveled to Northern Italy to ski during the holidays have been tracked , all people who came into contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unfortunately , the outbreak is no longer limited to the north of Italy.On Saturday , CNN reports , a US Navy sailor stationed in Naples tested positive for the virus , marking the first case for a US servicemember stationed in Europe .
The servicemember was stationed at a naval support facility in Naples .
They are receiving medical and other support in accordance with CDC guidelines .
Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingarelli , one of the most powerful politicians in Italy , has tested positive for the coronavirus , Italian media reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak , Italy has been the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe ; on Friday , the total number of confirmed cases in the country climbed above 4,500 , with 197 deaths confirmed .
“ I have coronavirus too , ” Zingaretti said in a video posted on Facebook , adding he was in self-isolation at home and that all the people he had been in contact with in the latest days were being contacted for checks .
He said he was well .
As the outbreak has spread to nearly every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe .
On Friday , Slovakia , the last remaining nation in Europe without any confirmed cases of the virus , confirmed its first case and almost immediately implemented a ban on flights from Italy , which has been blamed for spreading the virus across the continent , per NYT .
Since the number of new cases being confirmed outside China surpassed the number of new cases being confirmed inside China early last week , South Korea , Italy , Iran and now the US have emerged as the new epicenters , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling with largely uncontained outbreaks .
Across Europe , bureaucrats have been hesitant to suspend Schengen area free-travel , allowing the virus to effortlessly spread across the continent .
Italy has been the European country hardest hit by the epidemic , with a total of 4,636 cases and 197 deaths on Friday , and is currently reporting more deaths per day form the virus than any other country in the world .
The coronavirus death toll in the United States reached 17 when Florida health officials reported two fatalities , the first in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post reports .
They were the first deaths recorded outside the West Coast , where Washington State and California have emerged as the hardest hit states .
In Iran , officials reported 1,076 new cases of coronavirus and 21 new deaths on Saturday , bringing the total to 5,823 cases and 145 deaths .
And a newly elected Iranina MP has died after two dozen Iranian lawmakers were infected , as well as several senior government officials .
In the Balkans , Bulgaria has closed all schools due to “ influenza panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only reported a handful of suspected cases .
Across the US , there are more than 300 cases reported ( though not yet ‘ confirmed ’ by the CDC ) and at least half of all states have confirmed cases .
On Friday , Hawaii , Kentucky , Oklahoma , Connecticut , Nebraska , Indiana , Minnesota , Pennsylvania and South Carolina all confirmed their first cases of the virus .
In Connecticut , a hospital employee has tested positive for novel coronavirus , the first case detected in the state after several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC .
The patient lives in Westchester County and is currently there under quarantine .
“ We believe she was infected in New York , ” said Kerry Eaton , COO of Danbury Hospital .
As we noted last night , a Hawaii resident who traveled on the Grand Princess but disembarked in Hawaii has been confirmed with the virus .
Over in the tri-state area , where the virus has spread rapidly , nearly 50 cases have been confirmed ( between NYC area , NJ & Connecticut ) .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the NYC area .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear confirmed the state ’ s first case of the virus late Friday afternoon , Kentucky.com reports .
Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin Stitt announced Oklahoma ’ s first case yesterday during a press conference where he was flanked by health officials .
The Tulsa County man had testied positive and is now in quarantine , according to Oklahoma ’ s Newson6 .
Nebraska Gov .
Pete Ricketts and health officials also confirmed their first case on Friday ( though a military base in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ Diamond Princess ’ and Wuhan ) .
According to Nebraska health officials , the patient was traveling in the UK when she became ill. Officials insisted it isn ’ t a case of ‘ community spread ’ , suggesting she caught the infection abroad .
The 36-year-old woman from Omaha first checked into the Methodist hospital emergency room Thursday , after presenting with symptoms of pneumonia .
Before that , she had relatively mild conditions , KETV reports .
Indiana officials Friday urged the public to take necessary precautions after reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
The person is an adult from Marion County who traveled to Boston where he attended a conference , officials said .
He is in stable condition , is self-isolated and does not require hospitalization , according to Indy Star .
The risk to the public is low , health officials said .
They said they have no indications so far that the man transmitted the disease to anyone else .
They also said that the diagnosis did not come as a surprise .
She was confirmed to be infected on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 days before arriving at the hospital , and the state health department is working to find everyone she had contact with .
Universities , other major institutions and event planners canceled public gatherings and took other steps to combat the rapidly spreading virus .
Stanford University said all classes would be conducted online for the remainder of the winter quarter , following the lead of the University of Washington in Seattle .
Minutes ago , NBC Bay Area reported that Stanford officials confirmed a faculty member who works in a clinic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two undergraduates are also under quarantine .
The biggest news overnight was that Austin ’ s South by Southwest festival has been cancelled .
The cancellation is a huge blow to Austin ’ s economy – the event is one of the main drivers of Austin ’ s transformation from a quirky Texas college town to a ‘ destination city ’ for white middle-class post-grads with no real plans or ambition , other than to maybe work on-set during the next Linklater production .
Circling back to Iran , two lawmakers have now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel , which cited reports from Iranian state news agency IRNA .
An Iranian lawmaker died from the novel coronavirus on Saturday , becoming the latest lawmaker or senior government official to succumb to the deadly respiratory illness in a country that is experiencing probably the most lethal outbreak in the world .
In California , negotiations between the state and federal officials about where to dock the ‘ Grand Princess ’ , the cruise ship stranded off the cost of San Francisco with at least 21 infected passengers and crew ( mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source close to the ongoing negotiations told the LA Times that talks would resume on Friday .
The Princess Cruises ship remained at sea last night , but moved 20 nautical miles off the coast for easier delivery of supplies and other ‘ logistical reasons ’ .
Officials have scrambled to provide updates as quickly as possible , but passengers aboard the ship have taken to the Internet to share their experiences independently .
Two women have been posting videos offering their takes on the news .
They offered some interesting details about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure out that the cruise ship might be infected .
Notice how the women are clearly ill , but claim to have been tested and come back negative for the virus .
These two Youtubers shared a copy of the letter they received from the Captain , which was also shared by a Redditor posting in the r/Coronavirus subreddit .
Just like with the Diamond Princess , which reportedly led the staff to work in unbelievably brutal conditions , the staff aboard the Grand Princes , ( so far , mostly staff have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similarly undesirable conditions .

Summary:
21 cases confirmed aboard ‘Grand Princess’
First death reported in Latin America
2 dozen American tourists quarantined on cruise ship
Illinois confirms sixth case, shuts Chicago school
South Korea reports 367 new cases raising total to 7,134
US Marine in Virginia catches coronavirus
San Francisco confirms six new cases
Italy quarantines half the country
British Columbia confirms six cases
Spain quarantines town
First case in Washington DC
US death toll hits 19 as two more cases in WA.
New York cases hit 76
Australia reports third death
* * *
Update (2000ET): Though the coronavirus has spread more slowly across the warmer climate of Latin America, the first fatality linked to Covid-19 on the continent has just been reported by the Argentinian health ministry.
ARGENTINA CONFIRMS FIRST DEATH IN LATIN AMERICA OF PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH CORONAVIRUS – HEALTH MINISTRY STATEMENT
In other news, the Washington Post reports that two dozen American tourists are being quarantined on a cruise ship in the Egyptian city of Luxor, according to two passengers, as Egyptina health officials confirmed 33 new cases of the virus on Saturday.
South Korea, meanwhile, just reported another 367 Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 7,134.
Alex Jones breaks down the video of a Chinese report demanding an apology from the U.S. for criticisms over the coronavirus.
According to the Chicago Tribune, students and staff at a Chicago public school have been asked to stay home next week while the school undergoes a “deep clean”. They’ve also been advised to stay at home and not leave until mid-March, after a classroom assistant – a previous passenger on the Grand Princess before disembarking on Feb. 21.
The special education teacher at Vaughn Occupational High School in Portage Park has been hospitalized since becoming the sixth positive case in the state of Illinois – with all the cases having been identified in Cook County.
Students and staff at the school have been asked to stay in self-quarantine until March 18, unless directed otherwise by the department of public health.
Looking back, over the last 24 hours, four more deaths have been recorded in the US, two in Florida, and two in Washington State from the same Kirkland nursing home as earlier deaths.
The first case confirmed in Washington DC has been described as a resident in his 50s who appears to have contracted the virus in late February, when he started feeling ill. Health officials said the man likely didn’t attend the AIPAC conference where several infected individuals attended.
In other US news, a US Marine in Virginia has tested positive at Fort Belavoir. Officials at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the Virginia Department of Health are working with state and federal officials to take care of the soldier and ensure the virus doesn’t spread.
Gov. Ralph Northam has been briefed on the situation and the state currently says the risk to the public is low, according to NBC News.
* * *
Update (1740ET): Six more San Francisco residents have tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total case count in the city to eight, public health officials said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
All of the people who were newly diagnosed are isolating at home and in good condition, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said. The previous two patients were both hospitalized.
Two of the new patients are in their 20s, three are in their 40s, and the sixth person is in his or her 50s. Three of the patients are women and three are men. All of them have had contact with someone who already has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, public health officials said.
“These newly confirmed cases are an indication of the increasing circulation of coronavirus in the community, as expected, given the patterns in our state, region and our own city,” Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health, said in a statement.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on twitter that the first case has been confirmed in the nation’s capital.
Late this afternoon, testing at the Public Health Lab at the DC Department of Forensic Sciences yielded its first presumptive positive coronavirus (COVID-19) case. Join me live at 7:30 p.m. for a briefing at the John A. Wilson Building. — Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) March 7, 2020
Meanwhile, in Australia, NSW Health has confirmed that a man in his 80s has died in a Sydney hospital, and has tested positive for Covid-19, making him the third coronavirus-related death in Australia. Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant passed on sympathies to the family of the patient.
* * *
Update (1620ET): Canadian officials have confirmed six new cases of the virus in British Columbia on Saturday, bringing the total cases in Canada to 57.
Two of the new cases were passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship, traveling from between Feb 11 – 21, Adrian Dix, minister of health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer said in a press statement Saturday.
* * *
Update (1530ET): Washington state health officials have confirmed another 2 deaths, raising the US death toll to 19.
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY REPORT 13 NEW VIRUS CASES; TOTAL AT 71
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY REPORTS 2 ADDITIONAL DEATHS FROM VIRUS
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY SAYS TOTAL DEATHS AT 15 FROM VIRUS
Here’s an updated map of US cases, courtesy of the Washington Post.
In addition to the cancellation of SXSW in Austin, which has led to an outcry about how going a year without the massive marketing circlejerk could cause the city’s economy to implode.
Here’s the list of cases broken down by state:
* * *
Update (1420ET): Following in the footsteps of China and South Korea, both of which eventually locked down the local epicenter(s) of the coronavirus breakout by imposing draconian quasi-quaratines, moments ago Italy announced that on the day the number of new cases in the country exploded by 1,247 hitting a total of 5,883, the federal government has placed the entire region of Lombardy, the province with the most Italian coronavirus infections, on lockdown.
The first #COVIDー19 cases have been confirmed in my parents’ town in Italy and it feels a bit too close to home. My mum is immunocompromised. Lots of precautions in place, but above all, sociality and small scale economy of small northern towns is deeply challenged currently — Sara Fregonese 🇮🇹🇱🇧🇬🇧 (@SaraFregonese) March 6, 2020
The government has drafted a decree (which will likely be announced this evening in Rome) during an emergency working session that will, according to reports, close all ski resorts, museums and other cultural attractions, and – most importantly – orders that nobody enter or leave the region of Lombardy, as well as 11 other provinces in northern and central Italy.
The Italian government has faced pressure to step up controls as travelers visiting Italy have carried the virus across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, even to North and South America.
Amazingly, the lockdown will last until April 3, meaning for nearly a month, the most productive region of the Italian economy will be effectively shuttered.
South Korea has imposed similar measures in Daegu, the epicenter of what has become the worst outbreak outside China. And at one point 760 million Chinese were subjected to some level of restrictions on movement (with many required to remain inside their homes at all times with only special exceptions).
And although South Korea is widely considered home to the biggest outbreak outside China, Italy has reported 233 deaths, the largest number of deaths outside China and Iran.
The decree details from Reuters:
ITALY DRAFT DECREE TELLS PEOPLE NOT TO ENTER OR LEAVE REGION OF LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES IN OTHER REGIONS
ITALY’S DRAFT DECREE SAYS SCHOOLS IN LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 3
ITALY DRAFT DECREE ON CORONAVIRUS SHOWS NEW RESTRICTIVE MEASURES FOR NEW AREAS IN REGIONS OF LOMBARDY, VENETO, EMILIA AND PIEDMONT
ITALY DRAFT DECREE URGES PEOPLE NOT TO MOVE AROUND INSIDE AREAS COVERED BY DECREE EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL WORKING NEEDS AND EMERGENCIES
ITALY DRAFT DECREE SAYS ALL LEAVE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS CANCELLED IN LOMBARDY AND 11 PROVINCES
ITALY DRAFT DECREE SAYS ALL GYMS, SWIMMING POOLS, HEALTH CENTRES AND SPAS TO CLOSE IN THE SAME AREAS
ITALY’S DRAFT DECREE CLOSES ALL SKI RESORTS, MUSEUMS, CULTURAL CENTRES IN SAME AREAS
ITALY’S DRAFT DECREE SAYS ALL SHOPPING CENTRES TO CLOSE AT WEEKENDS IN SAME AREAS
ITALY’S DRAFT DECREE CLOSES ALL SKI RESORTS, MUSEUMS, CULTURAL CENTRES IN SAME AREAS
Elsewhere in Europe, health authorities on the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta have raised the number of people with coronavirus to three, after the parents of the girl first infected tested positive too.
Iran also reported a more than 1,200 case jump in infections to a total of 5,823.
One computer scientist who has been modeling outbreaks around the world said Italy’s spread has produced “one of the most alarming charts I have ever seen.”
Added new data point on the exponential italian ICU trend (doubling every 2.6 days) It’s one of the most alarming charts I’ve ever seen because 1. Trend has been very stable for weeks even with Italy mitigation measures 2. If it continues health sys. collapses within 2 weeks pic.twitter.com/rohZouVzrC — epsilon (@epsilon3141) March 6, 2020
Earlier in the day on Saturday, Spanish pol
According to the Associated Press, the Spanish government has deployed police in a northern town to help enforce a home quarantine placed on a neighborhood with a high number of residents infected by the virus. The regional government of La Rioja said Saturday that the extra measures have been taken to contain the outbreak in Haro, a town of 11,000 residents, where the majority of the 39 cases in the region are located.
* * *
Update (1350ET): Washington state officials are reportedly considering taking over a nursing home in Kirkland where at least six residents have died, possibly the first example in US history of the federal government nationalizing a nursing home, WSJ reports.
* * *
Update (1345ET): French health officials have reported another 233 cases, bringing the country-wide total to 949. Of those, 16 patients have died, up 5 from 11.
* * *
Update (1255ET): Gov Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in New York after 21 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, bringing the state-wide total to 76, according to NBC 4 New York.
Seven of the cases are in NYC. Total cases in the tri-state area have hit 80.
There have been at least 80 total cases found in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with the biggest portion of infected patientsin NY’s wealthy Westchester County, just north of the Bronx. There have been 57 people to test positive there, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, almost all of which are connected to the cluster that started with the midtown Manhattan lawyer Lawrence Garbuz and his family. Ten patients out of the 76 in NY State are currently hospitalized, the rest have been asked to self-quarantine and contact a doctor if their condition worsens, Cuomo said.
Aside from NYC and Westchester, other cases have been confirmed on Long Island and in Upstate New York’s Saratoga County.
* * *
Update (1240ET): Now that every country in Europe has been infected with the virus, Italian health officials confirmed on Saturday that the national death toll has hit 233 after officials reported another 36 deaths.
DEATH TOLL IN ITALY OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS RISES TO 233 FROM 197 ON FRIDAY
TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN ITALY RISES TO 5,883 FROM 4,636 ON FRIDAY
The epicenter of the outbreak in Europe is seeing shit go straight parabolic.
Italian government officials announced that they would adopt a new decree on Saturday with measures to to try and stem the contagion, but it’s not clear yet what exactly they’re planning.
Meanwhile, as more European countries track infected Italians spreading the virus within their borders, Sweden – of all places – is presenting a model of how to swiftly identify and quarantine those who have been exposed. All cases of Swedes who traveled to Northern Italy to ski during the holidays have been tracked, all people who came into contact with the possibly infected have been quarantined.
Unfortunately, the outbreak is no longer limited to the north of Italy.On Saturday, CNN reports, a US Navy sailor stationed in Naples tested positive for the virus, marking the first case for a US servicemember stationed in Europe.
The servicemember was stationed at a naval support facility in Naples. They are receiving medical and other support in accordance with CDC guidelines.
* * *
Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingarelli, one of the most powerful politicians in Italy, has tested positive for the coronavirus, Italian media reported on Saturday.
Zingarelli
Since the beginning of the outbreak, Italy has been the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe; on Friday, the total number of confirmed cases in the country climbed above 4,500, with 197 deaths confirmed.
“I have coronavirus too,” Zingaretti said in a video posted on Facebook, adding he was in self-isolation at home and that all the people he had been in contact with in the latest days were being contacted for checks. He said he was well.
As the outbreak has spread to nearly every country in North America, Asia and Europe. On Friday, Slovakia, the last remaining nation in Europe without any confirmed cases of the virus, confirmed its first case and almost immediately implemented a ban on flights from Italy, which has been blamed for spreading the virus across the continent, per NYT.
Since the number of new cases being confirmed outside China surpassed the number of new cases being confirmed inside China early last week, South Korea, Italy, Iran and now the US have emerged as the new epicenters, though Europe’s largest economies are all struggling with largely uncontained outbreaks.
Across Europe, bureaucrats have been hesitant to suspend Schengen area free-travel, allowing the virus to effortlessly spread across the continent.
🔘#COVID2019 Daily new confirmed cases in the 8 countries with the most confirmed cases Visit📊https://t.co/lH0XPJPtBe & follow👉@covid2019app for the latest updates pic.twitter.com/QvL04WPjzJ — Jo Di 🏳🌈 (@jodigraphics15) March 7, 2020
Italy has been the European country hardest hit by the epidemic, with a total of 4,636 cases and 197 deaths on Friday, and is currently reporting more deaths per day form the virus than any other country in the world.
The coronavirus death toll in the United States reached 17 when Florida health officials reported two fatalities, the first in the state, late Friday, the Washington Post reports. They were the first deaths recorded outside the West Coast, where Washington State and California have emerged as the hardest hit states.
In Iran, officials reported 1,076 new cases of coronavirus and 21 new deaths on Saturday, bringing the total to 5,823 cases and 145 deaths. And a newly elected Iranina MP has died after two dozen Iranian lawmakers were infected, as well as several senior government officials.
In the Balkans, Bulgaria has closed all schools due to “influenza panic” – even though it’s only reported a handful of suspected cases.
Across the US, there are more than 300 cases reported (though not yet ‘confirmed’ by the CDC) and at least half of all states have confirmed cases. On Friday, Hawaii, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and South Carolina all confirmed their first cases of the virus.
In Connecticut, a hospital employee has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the first case detected in the state after several close calls back in January, per NBC. The patient lives in Westchester County and is currently there under quarantine.
“We believe she was infected in New York,” said Kerry Eaton, COO of Danbury Hospital.
As we noted last night, a Hawaii resident who traveled on the Grand Princess but disembarked in Hawaii has been confirmed with the virus.
Over in the tri-state area, where the virus has spread rapidly, nearly 50 cases have been confirmed (between NYC area, NJ & Connecticut). Here’s a flow-chart showing the progression of infections in the NYC area.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the state’s first case of the virus late Friday afternoon, Kentucky.com reports.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Oklahoma’s first case yesterday during a press conference where he was flanked by health officials. The Tulsa County man had testied positive and is now in quarantine, according to Oklahoma’s Newson6.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and health officials also confirmed their first case on Friday (though a military base in the state hosted some of the evacuees from the ‘Diamond Princess’ and Wuhan). According to Nebraska health officials, the patient was traveling in the UK when she became ill.
Officials insisted it isn’t a case of ‘community spread’, suggesting she caught the infection abroad.
The 36-year-old woman from Omaha first checked into the Methodist hospital emergency room Thursday, after presenting with symptoms of pneumonia. Before that, she had relatively mild conditions, KETV reports.
Indiana officials Friday urged the public to take necessary precautions after reporting the state’s first case of the virus. The person is an adult from Marion County who traveled to Boston where he attended a conference, officials said. He is in stable condition, is self-isolated and does not require hospitalization, according to Indy Star.
The risk to the public is low, health officials said. They said they have no indications so far that the man transmitted the disease to anyone else. They also said that the diagnosis did not come as a surprise.
“The question has never been if Indiana would get a case but when we would see one,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box. “This is an isolated case at the time.”
She was confirmed to be infected on Friday afternoon. She started showing symptoms 10 days before arriving at the hospital, and the state health department is working to find everyone she had contact with.
Universities, other major institutions and event planners canceled public gatherings and took other steps to combat the rapidly spreading virus. Stanford University said all classes would be conducted online for the remainder of the winter quarter, following the lead of the University of Washington in Seattle. Minutes ago, NBC Bay Area reported that Stanford officials confirmed a faculty member who works in a clinic has tested positive for the virus, while two undergraduates are also under quarantine.
The biggest news overnight was that Austin’s South by Southwest festival has been cancelled. The cancellation is a huge blow to Austin’s economy – the event is one of the main drivers of Austin’s transformation from a quirky Texas college town to a ‘destination city’ for white middle-class post-grads with no real plans or ambition, other than to maybe work on-set during the next Linklater production.
Circling back to Iran, two lawmakers have now died, according to the Times of Israel, which cited reports from Iranian state news agency IRNA.
An Iranian lawmaker died from the novel coronavirus on Saturday, becoming the latest lawmaker or senior government official to succumb to the deadly respiratory illness in a country that is experiencing probably the most lethal outbreak in the world.
In California, negotiations between the state and federal officials about where to dock the ‘Grand Princess’, the cruise ship stranded off the cost of San Francisco with at least 21 infected passengers and crew (mostly crew) on board. A state source close to the ongoing negotiations told the LA Times that talks would resume on Friday. The Princess Cruises ship remained at sea last night, but moved 20 nautical miles off the coast for easier delivery of supplies and other ‘logistical reasons’.
Officials have scrambled to provide updates as quickly as possible, but passengers aboard the ship have taken to the Internet to share their experiences independently. Two women have been posting videos offering their takes on the news. They offered some interesting details about how officials put the pieces together to figure out that the cruise ship might be infected. Notice how the women are clearly ill, but claim to have been tested and come back negative for the virus.
These two Youtubers shared a copy of the letter they received from the Captain, which was also shared by a Redditor posting in the r/Coronavirus subreddit.
Here’s the letter:
Just like with the Diamond Princess, which reportedly led the staff to work in unbelievably brutal conditions, the staff aboard the Grand Princes, (so far, mostly staff have been infected) are being put in similarly undesirable conditions.


newswars--2020-03-08--Media Vilifies Preppers And Those Stocking Up As “Selfish Hoarders” As Potential Mass Quarantine Loo

Media Vilifies Preppers And Those Stocking Up As “Selfish Hoarders” As Potential Mass Quarantine Looms

With the Covid19 virus popping up across the country , people who are preppers are adding a few last-minute things to their stockpiles .
Those who aren ’ t preppers are starting from scratch to get what they think they might need to handle a potential quarantine at home .
While most of the folks on this website would read this and think , “ Of course they are ” there are a few who think , “ What a bunch of selfish people , hoarding supplies instead of only taking a little and leaving the rest for other people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are those “ other people ” who failed to prepare and who are upset that they missed their window of opportunity to get the necessary supplies .
But the media and government certainly aren ’ t helping paint those getting prepared in a good light with headlines about “ panic buying ” and “ hoarding.
” Nick Begich joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and it ’ s effect on the global supply chain .
An article on USA Today starts out : The article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impulsive buying binges , ” “ air of aggressive competition , ” “ stripping store shelves of toilet paper , ” and “ the crush of humanity ” at Costco .
The entire article dismisses stocking up as ridiculous and even irresponsible , blaming shoppers for causing shortages .
Experts say not to worry and to stop “ hoarding.
” Supply chain experts say to stop worrying about hoarding basic necessities beyond having on hand the recommended 14-day emergency supply of food and necessities .
Perishable food such as fruits and vegetables are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term .
Supplies of imported frozen meat and fish are more at risk but were already curbed by trade sanctions .
Packaged goods such as cereal and toothpaste and dry goods won ’ t be affected in the near term , either .
For items that are now in shorter supply , such as hand sanitizer , plenty of substitutes exist such as soap .
Some people are even making their own… …Even with images of all those empty shelves flooding social media feeds , supply chain experts urged people to stop , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have a shortage of toilet paper in this country .
We have plenty of toilet paper to go around , ” said Per Hong , a senior partner in the strategic operations practice at Kearney , a global management consultancy .
“ Those supplies will be fully restocked and my ability to go to the store to get those supplies isn ’ t going to go away anytime soon.
” ( source ) I don ’ t know about you , but I certainly wouldn ’ t feel comfortable facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China with only a 14 day supply of food and necessities .
And if what ’ s happened in Italy is anything to go by , your ability to pop out to the store to get more toilet paper absolutely could go away sometime soon .
An article on Los Angeles News Today continues in the same vein with its own experts chiming in .
So according to them , you only need to be prepared for a few days .
No biggie .
Stocking up is occurring around the world .
Wise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies .
According to the Nielsen consumer market research agency , the spread of the coronavirus has folks everywhere “ actively stockpiling emergency supplies.
” Of course , what they call hoarding , I ’ d call preparing for the worst .
Did you notice a word being repeatedly used ?
The word “ hoarding ” is being repeatedly used throughout news reports .
They ’ re already working to paint preppers as bad and selfish people .
They ’ re already vilifying those who hurry out to fill any gaps in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem like a mental illness to get prepared for what could potentially be a long stretch of time at home with only the supplies you have on hand .
This is a frequent trick of propagandists everywhere .
Repeat a word often enough and suddenly everyone begins using it .
Everyone begins to believe that the people labeled with an ugly word are terrible , selfish , and threats to decency .
A friend of mine wrote about an article she had read : This is a recurring theme .
Those who prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are portrayed as victims of the “ hoarders.
” Keep listening because you ’ re going to hear words like “ hoarding ” and “ selfish ” a lot more often as this situation continues to evolve .
State governments and the CDC are at odds State health officials in places like Hawaii and Minnesota have recommended that residents get prepared for what could be a bumpy ride .
Residents of those states are paying attention and stocking up .
The CDC ( irresponsibly ) couldn ’ t disagree more .
( You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been sending out a faulty Covid19 test all this time . )
They are literally telling people not to stock up .
There , there .
Don ’ t worry .
The government will save you .
Go order a pizza and don ’ t worry your silly little head about some virus .
Many see preparation as selfishness .
I ’ ve gotten comments on my own website and also in the group that I run on Facebook that preparedness is a “ selfish ” endeavor .
And it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out how people really feel , often using MSM talking points as their guides .
There was this rather naive comment on a mainstream article .
Someone who is no longer in my Facebook group told us .
A commenter on my own website said : The author of an article about being in quarantine finds those stocking up to be selfish too , which is kind of mind-boggling when you not this author is in the position in which we all worry about finding ourselves .
Watch closely .
You will see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around right up there with “ hoarding.
” Currently , thousands of people in the United States are spending weeks at home under self-quarantine .
I ’ ll bet if you asked them , there are probably all sorts of things they wish they had on hand right now , and this is even with the ability to order things that can be delivered to their doorsteps .
What would happen if all of us within a region faced the type of lockdown happening in northern Italy where there are potential criminal penalties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t you then wish you had made that last-minute run to the store ?
Stocking up is the responsible thing to do .
It means that your family will not be dependent on government services .
It means that nobody has to run out in the middle of a pandemic because there ’ s not any Tylenol and somebody has a fever .
It means you don ’ t have to risk infection in order to have food for your children .
Stocking up to care for yourself means that you won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government resources being dispensed and there will be more for people who did not prepare .
It means you don ’ t need to order deliveries , causing some other person to risk their own health bringing supplies to you after things get bad .
Stocking up is practical .
Whether you ’ ve done it over a period of years , as most of us have , or whether you ’ re topping up now ( which I ’ m doing since I ’ ve been traveling for quite some time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s place is well-supplied ) , taking the steps you need to be prepared is the height of personal responsibility .
There ’ s one really good mainstream article on Scientific American that talks about the wisdom of stocking up .
Aside from that , the mainstream is studded with the usual mockery toward the self-reliant .
Some folks have noted that what is going on right now as shelves get emptied across the country is not prepping – it ’ s panic buying .
While there ’ s a little bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d still rather see people in the stores getting what they need than waiting for a handout .
Over the past couple of weeks , I ’ ve hit the stores myself to replenish a stockpile that my youngest daughter has been using .
I ’ m certainly not panicking but I ’ d be a fool not to fill in some gaps .
Whether you ’ ve had your supplies sitting there for a year or you just picked them up over the previous week , I commend you for making the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly be a lengthy period of quarantine .
Is it better to do this far in advance ?
Sure .
Is it better to do this at the last minute than not at all ?
Also , sure .
For those who have waited longer than might be ideal , check out this guide for panic preppers and this guide that offers substitutes when the merchandise at the store is picked over .
The media will try to make us look bad…again .
Regardless of how the Covid-19 outbreak plays out in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who prepared will be painted with a dark brush by the media .
This is one of those situations in which OpSec is of primary importance .
You don ’ t want your unprepared neighbor to know you ’ re doing just fine with your canned goods and dried fruit after they failed to go to the store .
Our first responsibility is always , without fail , to our own families .
Don ’ t let the mainstream media try and tell you otherwise .

With the Covid19 virus popping up across the country, people who are preppers are adding a few last-minute things to their stockpiles.
Those who aren’t preppers are starting from scratch to get what they think they might need to handle a potential quarantine at home.
While most of the folks on this website would read this and think, “Of course they are” there are a few who think, “What a bunch of selfish people, hoarding supplies instead of only taking a little and leaving the rest for other people.” Often the people with this mindset are those “other people” who failed to prepare and who are upset that they missed their window of opportunity to get the necessary supplies.
But the media and government certainly aren’t helping paint those getting prepared in a good light with headlines about “panic buying” and “hoarding.”
Nick Begich joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and it’s effect on the global supply chain.
An article on USA Today starts out:
Keep calm and stop hoarding. The spread of coronavirus in the U.S. won’t wipe out our toilet paper supply. Or supplies of hand sanitizer, bottled water and ramen. That is, unless the frenzied stampedes for hand sanitizer and bottled water continue at their current pace. (source)
The article goes on to use phrases like “impulsive buying binges,” “air of aggressive competition,” “stripping store shelves of toilet paper,” and “the crush of humanity” at Costco.
The entire article dismisses stocking up as ridiculous and even irresponsible, blaming shoppers for causing shortages.
Experts say not to worry and to stop “hoarding.”
The USA Today article blithely reports:
Supply chain experts say to stop worrying about hoarding basic necessities beyond having on hand the recommended 14-day emergency supply of food and necessities. Perishable food such as fruits and vegetables are unlikely to be limited in the short term. Supplies of imported frozen meat and fish are more at risk but were already curbed by trade sanctions. Packaged goods such as cereal and toothpaste and dry goods won’t be affected in the near term, either. For items that are now in shorter supply, such as hand sanitizer, plenty of substitutes exist such as soap. Some people are even making their own… …Even with images of all those empty shelves flooding social media feeds, supply chain experts urged people to stop, well, freaking out. “We don’t have a shortage of toilet paper in this country. We have plenty of toilet paper to go around,” said Per Hong, a senior partner in the strategic operations practice at Kearney, a global management consultancy. “Those supplies will be fully restocked and my ability to go to the store to get those supplies isn’t going to go away anytime soon.” (source)
I don’t know about you, but I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable facing a possible lockdown like the one in China with only a 14 day supply of food and necessities. And if what’s happened in Italy is anything to go by, your ability to pop out to the store to get more toilet paper absolutely could go away sometime soon.
An article on Los Angeles News Today continues in the same vein with its own experts chiming in.
Los Angeles County health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said residents should be prepared just as they should always be for a natural disaster or other emergency. “That means having some water in your house and some food and your medications that last for a few days,” Ferrer said. “You don’t need to rush out and buy out weeks and weeks worth of supplies, but you (do) need to have what we always ask you to have — enough supplies in your house to get through a few days.” (source)
So according to them, you only need to be prepared for a few days. No biggie.
Stocking up is occurring around the world.
Wise people around the world are gathering up supplies. According to the Nielsen consumer market research agency, the spread of the coronavirus has folks everywhere “actively stockpiling emergency supplies.”
“They’re also starting to think beyond emergency items, such as basic foodstuffs, including canned goods, flour, sugar and bottled water,” according to Nielsen. “Concerns are having a ripple effect into non-food essentials as well. In the U.S., sales of supplements, fruit snacks and first aid kits, for example, are all on the rise.” The agency noted “significant spikes” in hoarding of emergency supplies in China, the United States and Italy, “where consumers are rushing to build what are being labeled ‘pandemic pantries.”(source)
Of course, what they call hoarding, I’d call preparing for the worst.
Did you notice a word being repeatedly used?
The word “hoarding” is being repeatedly used throughout news reports. They’re already working to paint preppers as bad and selfish people. They’re already vilifying those who hurry out to fill any gaps in their supplies. They’re making it seem like a mental illness to get prepared for what could potentially be a long stretch of time at home with only the supplies you have on hand.
This is a frequent trick of propagandists everywhere. Repeat a word often enough and suddenly everyone begins using it. Everyone begins to believe that the people labeled with an ugly word are terrible, selfish, and threats to decency.
A friend of mine wrote about an article she had read:
There’s a single quote that sticks out to me: “The government ended up subsidizing masks so that every family could have them after people decided to hoard them like they were bottled water in a storm.” Do you see what happened there? Those who prepared ahead of time are being vilified. This theme is being repeated over and over again if you start reading what the experts are writing. History tells us that those who are prepared are either hailed the heroes (when they have enough for everyone) or the villains (when they have enough for themselves).
This is a recurring theme. Those who prepare are demonized while those who do not are portrayed as victims of the “hoarders.”
Keep listening because you’re going to hear words like “hoarding” and “selfish” a lot more often as this situation continues to evolve.
State governments and the CDC are at odds
State health officials in places like Hawaii and Minnesota have recommended that residents get prepared for what could be a bumpy ride. Residents of those states are paying attention and stocking up.
The CDC (irresponsibly) couldn’t disagree more. (You know, the same CDC that’s been sending out a faulty Covid19 test all this time.) They are literally telling people not to stock up.
CDC Director Robert Redfield on Thursday told a U.S. congressional hearing that there was no need for healthy Americans to stock up on any supplies. “We should have one unified message,” said Robyn Gershon, a clinical professor of epidemiology at New York University. “When there’s an absence of a good, strong and reassuring official voice, people will get more upset and start doing this magical thinking.” (source)
There, there. Don’t worry. The government will save you. Go order a pizza and don’t worry your silly little head about some virus.
Many see preparation as selfishness.
I’ve gotten comments on my own website and also in the group that I run on Facebook that preparedness is a “selfish” endeavor. And it’s always in the comments that you find out how people really feel, often using MSM talking points as their guides.
There was this rather naive comment on a mainstream article.
The thing I have with INDIVIDUAL preppers is that why not leave it in the store? Why don’t people see the grocery store as a prepper’s storage unit? Prepping is inherently selfish IMO. (source)
Someone who is no longer in my Facebook group told us.
You people are part of the problem. You go out and hoard things when it wouldn’t hurt you to leave some stuff on the shelf for other people. If there aren’t enough supplies for everyone, it is selfish for you to only think of your family. What about everyone else’s family? Oh right, you only care about yourself.
A commenter on my own website said:
What a bunch of selfish jerks you all are. You don’t need 10 packages of toilet paper at a time. What about the other people who can’t afford ten packs of toilet paper?
The author of an article about being in quarantine finds those stocking up to be selfish too, which is kind of mind-boggling when you not this author is in the position in which we all worry about finding ourselves.
I was sorely disappointed by the amount of items that were out of stock after Singaporeans rushed to buy a whole plethora of goods (including instant noodles and toilet paper) when DORSCON Orange happened. Given such uncertain times, I can empathise with the panic. But I couldn’t help but feel that this hoarding mentality is really selfish. Because this means that a good portion of people–those on their weekly grocery runs or others like myself looking to get groceries delivered as I am unable to leave the house–cannot get their hands on essentials. (source)
Watch closely. You will see the word “selfish” getting thrown around right up there with “hoarding.”
These people are wrong.
Currently, thousands of people in the United States are spending weeks at home under self-quarantine. I’ll bet if you asked them, there are probably all sorts of things they wish they had on hand right now, and this is even with the ability to order things that can be delivered to their doorsteps. What would happen if all of us within a region faced the type of lockdown happening in northern Italy where there are potential criminal penalties for being out unnecessarily? Wouldn’t you then wish you had made that last-minute run to the store?
Stocking up is the responsible thing to do. It means that your family will not be dependent on government services. It means that nobody has to run out in the middle of a pandemic because there’s not any Tylenol and somebody has a fever. It means you don’t have to risk infection in order to have food for your children.
Stocking up to care for yourself means that you won’t be a drain on those limited government resources being dispensed and there will be more for people who did not prepare. It means you don’t need to order deliveries, causing some other person to risk their own health bringing supplies to you after things get bad.
Stocking up is practical. Whether you’ve done it over a period of years, as most of us have, or whether you’re topping up now (which I’m doing since I’ve been traveling for quite some time and I want to make sure my daughter’s place is well-supplied), taking the steps you need to be prepared is the height of personal responsibility.
There’s one really good mainstream article on Scientific American that talks about the wisdom of stocking up. Aside from that, the mainstream is studded with the usual mockery toward the self-reliant.
Panic buying vs. Prepping
Some folks have noted that what is going on right now as shelves get emptied across the country is not prepping – it’s panic buying. While there’s a little bit of truth to that, I’d still rather see people in the stores getting what they need than waiting for a handout.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve hit the stores myself to replenish a stockpile that my youngest daughter has been using. I’m certainly not panicking but I’d be a fool not to fill in some gaps.
Whether you’ve had your supplies sitting there for a year or you just picked them up over the previous week, I commend you for making the effort to get prepared for what could possibly be a lengthy period of quarantine.
Is it better to do this far in advance? Sure. Is it better to do this at the last minute than not at all? Also, sure. For those who have waited longer than might be ideal, check out this guide for panic preppers and this guide that offers substitutes when the merchandise at the store is picked over.
The media will try to make us look bad…again.
Regardless of how the Covid-19 outbreak plays out in the United States, rest assured that those who prepared will be painted with a dark brush by the media. This is one of those situations in which OpSec is of primary importance. You don’t want your unprepared neighbor to know you’re doing just fine with your canned goods and dried fruit after they failed to go to the store.
Our first responsibility is always, without fail, to our own families.
Don’t let the mainstream media try and tell you otherwise.


newswars--2020-03-08--“It’s Like Scenes From A Mad Max Movie” – Americans Continue Epic Run On Costco

As concerns of a Covid-19 outbreak increase across the US , Costco stores are experiencing the second weekend of panic-buying of food , water , and hand sanitizers .
Last weekend we noted how the “ great panic of 2020 is underway ” as Americans made a mad dash to Costco stores and other big-box retailers to hoard supplies .
Costco CFO Richard Galanti told investors during an earnings call last week that buying panic has “ been nuts ” adding that he attributes “ this to concerns over the coronavirus.
” Stock prices for Walmart and Target have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , as people preparing for a quarantine situation load up shopping carts with bottled water , canned soup , instant mac and cheese and everything else that they could possibly need to wait out the virus .
But the panic-buying has been leading to shortages and leaving people on edge .
–WaPo On the East Coast , tens of millions of Americans woke up on Saturday morning and heard the news about 44 total confirmed virus cases in New York , with a majority in Westchester , a suburb of NYC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ video of the panic that is developing in NYC this morning .
He shows a long line of cars waiting to get into a Costco in Astoria , a neighborhood in Queens .
ABC13 Houston reported , “ We ’ re seeing extremely long line at the Costco on Richmond this morning .
Many people are trying to stock up on sanity items and water amid the coronavirus fears.
” Stamford Plus magazine tweeted a picture of a Costco in Connecticut with “ much bigger than usual ” crowds .
One Costco shopper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit at an unidentifiable store .
One Twitter user said , “ Costco employee just told everyone 2 toilet paper items each.
” LA Times ’ Laura Blasey said the Costco in Arlington , Virginia , looked like “ the set of the new Mad Max movie ” as hand sanitizers , masks , and rubbing alcohol were all sold out .
Panic buying was also spotted at Costco in Beacon Hill , Boston .
More purchase limits on certain products were seen .
A Costco in Los Angeles this morning saw long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Costco is lit today ” – more buying panic at another Costco tweeted one user .
Buying panic was also seen at a Costco in the UK .
Another Costco in Canada with long lines — and the store hasn ’ t even opened .
One Twitter user reported that a line spans “ down one whole aisle and around to the next ” developed inside one Costco as people are waiting on today ’ s delivery of goods .
The rising fears of a pandemic as confirmed virus cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans to big-box retailers to hoard food and water .
This soon could result in a shortage of goods .
We warned you several years ago that Venezuela was coming to America .
Little did we know it would be caused by a virus .

As concerns of a Covid-19 outbreak increase across the US, Costco stores are experiencing the second weekend of panic-buying of food, water, and hand sanitizers.
Last weekend we noted how the “great panic of 2020 is underway” as Americans made a mad dash to Costco stores and other big-box retailers to hoard supplies. Costco CFO Richard Galanti told investors during an earnings call last week that buying panic has “been nuts” adding that he attributes “this to concerns over the coronavirus.”
Stock prices for Walmart and Target have also benefited from the spread of the deadly virus, as people preparing for a quarantine situation load up shopping carts with bottled water, canned soup, instant mac and cheese and everything else that they could possibly need to wait out the virus. But the panic-buying has been leading to shortages and leaving people on edge. –WaPo
On the East Coast, tens of millions of Americans woke up on Saturday morning and heard the news about 44 total confirmed virus cases in New York, with a majority in Westchester, a suburb of NYC. PIX11 News’ Cristian Benavides tweeted a video of the panic that is developing in NYC this morning. He shows a long line of cars waiting to get into a Costco in Astoria, a neighborhood in Queens.
Here’s another look at the line for Costco in Astoria that continues to grow. As New Yorkers stock up on supplies over coronavirus fears @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/KQ75Yz3J6r — Cristian Benavides (@cbenavidesTV) March 7, 2020
Special report with Alex Jones and Mike Adams
ABC13 Houston reported, “We’re seeing extremely long line at the Costco on Richmond this morning. Many people are trying to stock up on sanity items and water amid the coronavirus fears.”
Stamford Plus magazine tweeted a picture of a Costco in Connecticut with “much bigger than usual” crowds.
The crowds in Costco in Connecticut are much bigger than usual for Saturday #COVID19 #coronavirusinCT pic.twitter.com/fDuUq3O6wL — Stamford Plus (@stamfordplus) March 7, 2020
One Costco shopper was spotted in a hooded bio hazmat suit at an unidentifiable store.
https://twitter.com/joan_rollins/status/1236323237593673733
One Twitter user said, “Costco employee just told everyone 2 toilet paper items each.”
https://twitter.com/shootinnewz/status/1236323221688877056
LA Times’ Laura Blasey said the Costco in Arlington, Virginia, looked like “the set of the new Mad Max movie” as hand sanitizers, masks, and rubbing alcohol were all sold out.
Scenes from the Arlington Costco/the set of the new Mad Max movie pic.twitter.com/f21nlZjKM9 — Laura Blasey (@lblasey) March 7, 2020
Panic buying was also spotted at Costco in Beacon Hill, Boston.
@CBCCalgary this was Costco beacon hill on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/aioOIX9wzg — Clarke Bellamy (@ClarkebYYC) March 7, 2020
More purchase limits on certain products were seen.
At the local Costco – limits as people are panic buying because of #COVIDー19
#SaturdayThoughts #SaturdayMorning pic.twitter.com/rbIqReRJuw — Ali Mohammed (@StandwithAli) March 7, 2020
A Costco in Los Angeles this morning saw long lines wrapping around the parking lot.
“Costco is lit today” – more buying panic at another Costco tweeted one user.
https://twitter.com/quotesdeezy/status/1236332161441071104
Buying panic was also seen at a Costco in the UK.
Panic buying and stockpiling of toilet roll continues. These are the scenes at Costco in Farnborough in Hampshire today. #coronavirus #toiletpaperpanic #panickbuying pic.twitter.com/JLlZVVS7EH — Adam Clark (@adamclarkitv) March 7, 2020
Another Costco in Canada with long lines — and the store hasn’t even opened.
The Apocalypse is here….Yikes! This is at the Costco at Still Creek on a Saturday morning. And it’s still 25 min till opening. LOL pic.twitter.com/bYapV2GwCJ — Dino Singh (@SinghDino) March 7, 2020
One Twitter user reported that a line spans “down one whole aisle and around to the next” developed inside one Costco as people are waiting on today’s delivery of goods.
The line at @Costco for water wraps down one whole aisle and around to the next. Store opened early, and they’re out, waiting on today’s delivery. #costco #panickbuying #coronavirusaus pic.twitter.com/BGb248kEdQ — Sparta Chris (@Sparta_Chris) March 7, 2020
The rising fears of a pandemic as confirmed virus cases and deaths soar will only force more and more Americans to big-box retailers to hoard food and water. This soon could result in a shortage of goods.
We warned you several years ago that Venezuela was coming to America. Little did we know it would be caused by a virus.


newswars--2020-03-08--Greek police launch tear gas at migrants as Turkish officers FIRE BACK

Greek police have launched tear gas at migrants as Turkish officers fired back at the border crossing where thousands are trying to get into Europe and vigilante groups are plotting to send them home .
More clashes erupted Saturday between Greek police and Europe-bound migrants gathered on the Turkey side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies .
Like previous confrontations this week , officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts .
Journalists saw groups of mostly young men trying to pull down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Greek border forces .
At least two migrants were injured .
A Greek government statement issued Saturday said that around 600 people , aided by Turkish army and military police , threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight .
There were several attempts to breach the border fence , and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier , the statement said .
Major breaking news as the War Room is live today , the dreaded South By Southwest has been canceled due to Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major events being canceled due to fears of Coronavirus outbreak .
More are convinced this is another deep state and anti-Trump media hoax to blame on Trump and beat him politically .
More examples of the disaster that currently is the Democrat party ahead of the 2020 election .

Greek police have launched tear gas at migrants as Turkish officers fired back at the border crossing where thousands are trying to get into Europe and vigilante groups are plotting to send them home.
More clashes erupted Saturday between Greek police and Europe-bound migrants gathered on the Turkey side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies.
Like previous confrontations this week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts.
Journalists saw groups of mostly young men trying to pull down a fence with ropes and throwing rocks at the Greek border forces. At least two migrants were injured.
A Greek government statement issued Saturday said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. There were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier, the statement said.
Read more
Major breaking news as the War Room is live today, the dreaded South By Southwest has been canceled due to Coronavirus. This is an ongoing trend of major events being canceled due to fears of Coronavirus outbreak. More are convinced this is another deep state and anti-Trump media hoax to blame on Trump and beat him politically. More examples of the disaster that currently is the Democrat party ahead of the 2020 election.


newswars--2020-03-09--Watch: Trump Addresses Nation Over Coronavirus

President Trump joins Vice President Pence and the coronavirus task force to deliver the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak @ @ @ @ @ after Italy ’ s PM quarantined the entire country to prevent further spread of the @ @ @ @ @ healthcare system faces an implosion over the coronavirus outbreak .

President Trump joins Vice President Pence and the coronavirus task force to deliver the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
The briefing comes hours after Italy’s PM quarantined the entire country to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
The United States healthcare system faces an implosion over the coronavirus outbreak.


newswars--2020-03-09--As Stocks Plunge, TP Meme Demand Surges Amid Coronavirus Fears

Toilet paper has emerged as one of the most essential items on panic-buy shopping lists as Coronavirus worries intensify .
@ @ @ @ @ ve seen TP rationing in Hawaii , women fighting over toilet paper in Australia , @ @ @ @ @ sanitary tissue in supermarkets across the globe .
Now , as the stock market plunges @ @ @ @ @ demand for TP memes is spiking .
One family in Australia bought into the TP @ @ @ @ @ hard and accidentally ended up ordering over 12 years worth of toilet paper by mistake @ @ @ @ @ also documenting the crisis .
Darrin McBreen and John Bowne are joined by Outlaw Morgan @ @ @ @ @ censorship .

Toilet paper has emerged as one of the most essential items on panic-buy shopping lists as Coronavirus worries intensify.
Calgarians are stocking up amid #Coronavirus concerns Costco has been open for not even 10 minutes… and already dozens of people are lined up to get toilet paper #yyc @CTVCalgary pic.twitter.com/efybivVuGN — Mark Villani (@CTVMarkVillani) March 9, 2020
So far, we’ve seen TP rationing in Hawaii, women fighting over toilet paper in Australia, and a run on the sanitary tissue in supermarkets across the globe.
Now, as the stock market plunges in response to COVID-19, demand for TP memes is spiking.
One family in Australia bought into the TP meme hype a little too hard and accidentally ended up ordering over 12 years worth of toilet paper by mistake.
Tik Tok users are also documenting the crisis.
Darrin McBreen and John Bowne are joined by Outlaw Morgan, to discuss big tech censorship.


newswars--2020-03-09--More Coronavirus Censorship: Social Media Companies Partner With WHO To Censor Info

Social media companies have made the decision to partner with “ health authorities ” ( government officials like those who work for the CDC ) to combat “ misinformation ” about the coronavirus .
We all know what this means .
Under the mainstream media ’ s seemingly innocent words lies a rash of new censorship coming down the pipes .
Only the official narrative from those in the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will soon be allowed on social media .
Last week , the social media app TikTok , popular with youths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be partnering with the WHO in an effort to spread veritable information on the novel coronavirus , or COVID-19 , in addition to best public health practices .
“ COVID-19 outbreak has seen a massive ‘ infodemic ’ – an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it , ” the WHO told ABC News .
“ Therefore , WHO is working with various social media platforms , including TikTok , to help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , the right age group , etc . )
, as well as to detect the spread of misinformation on the new coronavirus .
We understand that different platforms might have their specific audience , hence important to make trustworthy information available where people are looking for it.
” So in other words , WHO is asking TikTok to make sure their narrative infects the minds of the young adult and youth audience they are said to attract .
Only the information from the WHO will be deemed relevant to this outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing , but it ’ s becoming obvious authorities are continuing to have problems completing the totalitarian squashing free speech .
The Chinese have taken to using force to prevent information from getting out .
Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg are supporting the “ authority ” on health to and ramming the official narrative down people ’ s throats .
“ We ’ re focused on making sure everyone can access credible and accurate information , ” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement this week .
We all know this is elitist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hear what we want you to read and hear .
”

Social media companies have made the decision to partner with “health authorities” (government officials like those who work for the CDC) to combat “misinformation” about the coronavirus.
We all know what this means. Under the mainstream media’s seemingly innocent words lies a rash of new censorship coming down the pipes.
Only the official narrative from those in the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will soon be allowed on social media.
Last week, the social media app TikTok, popular with youths and young adults, announced it would be partnering with the WHO in an effort to spread veritable information on the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, in addition to best public health practices.
we’ve teamed up with @WHO to get you the trusted health info you need pic.twitter.com/If0aqoj9VH — TikTok (@tiktok_us) February 29, 2020
“COVID-19 outbreak has seen a massive ‘infodemic’ – an over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it,” the WHO told ABC News.
“Therefore, WHO is working with various social media platforms, including TikTok, to help us reach the right audience (the right community, the right age group, etc.), as well as to detect the spread of misinformation on the new coronavirus. We understand that different platforms might have their specific audience, hence important to make trustworthy information available where people are looking for it.”
So in other words, WHO is asking TikTok to make sure their narrative infects the minds of the young adult and youth audience they are said to attract. Only the information from the WHO will be deemed relevant to this outbreak. The censorship surrounding this virus is ongoing, but it’s becoming obvious authorities are continuing to have problems completing the totalitarian squashing free speech.
The Chinese have taken to using force to prevent information from getting out. Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg are supporting the “authority” on health to and ramming the official narrative down people’s throats.
“We’re focused on making sure everyone can access credible and accurate information,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement this week.
“If you search for coronavirus on Facebook, you’ll see a pop-up that directs you to the World Health Organization or your local health authority for the latest information.”
We all know this is elitist speak for “you’ll read and hear what we want you to read and hear.”


newswars--2020-03-09--People Fought Over Rotten Food on Coronavirus-Stricken Cruise, Passenger Claims

Passengers trapped aboard a quarantined cruise ship resorted to desperate measures , fighting over “ rotten ” food , according to one voyager who had reached the limits of her patience .
Margaret Bartlett , 77 , told the BBC she was going “ stir-crazy ” while trapped aboard the Grand Princess , which pulled into the Port of Oakland on Monday after 21 passengers and crew tested positive for coronavirus , forcing the vessel to hold off the coast of Northern California for days .
“ The food is rotten and terrible and we have to fight for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly been trapped inside her cabin .
“ It is not good enough.
” “ We are going stir crazy stuck in the cabin .
It is a bit depressing when we saw land and it was sunny and we couldn ’ t get out.
” A passenger who stayed in cabin just 10 doors away from Mrs. Bartlett reportedly died after contracting the virus .
“ It ’ s been a nightmare the last few days , ” passenger Eddie Castellano told KPIX as the Grand Princess docked in Oakland .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , ” he explained .
“ I see a lot of military .
I see a lot of ambulances… It looks like a war zone .
I ’ m terrified .
I ’ m not going to lie to you .
I ’ ve never been through something like this in my life before… I ’ m worried about the 3,000 people on this boat and their health.
” Authorities estimate it could take up to three days to disembark roughly 3,500 people aboard the ship , due to screening and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC team was lowered onto the ship to test 45 people showing flu-like symptoms , and 21 were found to have contracted coronavirus .
Prof. Anthony Hall of American Herald Tribune joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the draconian lockdown of society in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Also , Ultra 12 is back by popular demand !
Get the ultimate source of energy at 40 % off now !

Passengers trapped aboard a quarantined cruise ship resorted to desperate measures, fighting over “rotten” food, according to one voyager who had reached the limits of her patience.
Margaret Bartlett, 77, told the BBC she was going “stir-crazy” while trapped aboard the Grand Princess, which pulled into the Port of Oakland on Monday after 21 passengers and crew tested positive for coronavirus, forcing the vessel to hold off the coast of Northern California for days.
“The food is rotten and terrible and we have to fight for it,” said Bartlett, who has reportedly been trapped inside her cabin. “It is not good enough.”
“We are going stir crazy stuck in the cabin. It is a bit depressing when we saw land and it was sunny and we couldn’t get out.”
A passenger who stayed in cabin just 10 doors away from Mrs. Bartlett reportedly died after contracting the virus.
“It’s been a nightmare the last few days,” passenger Eddie Castellano told KPIX as the Grand Princess docked in Oakland.
“I see some military outside the ship right now,” he explained. “I see a lot of military. I see a lot of ambulances… It looks like a war zone. I’m terrified. I’m not going to lie to you. I’ve never been through something like this in my life before… I’m worried about the 3,000 people on this boat and their health.”
Authorities estimate it could take up to three days to disembark roughly 3,500 people aboard the ship, due to screening and quarantine procedures.
Last week, a CDC team was lowered onto the ship to test 45 people showing flu-like symptoms, and 21 were found to have contracted coronavirus.
Prof. Anthony Hall of American Herald Tribune joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the draconian lockdown of society in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dan Lyman: Follow @CitizenAnalyst
Also, Ultra 12 is back by popular demand! Get the ultimate source of energy at 40% off now!


newswars--2020-03-09--Breaking: POTUS Shook Self-Quarantined GOP Rep’s Hand

Rep. Doug Collins ( R-Ga. ) announced Monday he will become the third GOP lawmaker to “ self-quarantine ” themselves after coming into contact with an individual during CPAC who later tested positive for Wuhan Coronavirus .
In addition to this revelation , a picture on AP Images shows President Trump shaking hands with Collins at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta , Ga. on Friday , March 6 .
Ironically , President Trump met Collins in Georgia to attend a tour and briefing of CDC Atlanta focusing on how to best respond to coronavirus .
CDC Director Robert Redfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS ) Alex Azar and other officials were also in attendance .
Besides Collins , Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) and Rep. Paul Gosar ( R-Ariz. ) also self-quarantined themselves after they were notified of coming into contact with the individual who carried the virus at CPAC .
ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp told The Washington Post he also interacted with the infected person at CPAC and then shook Trump ’ s hand on the last day of the conference , however , he could not say which contact came first .
Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading New York doctor and political ally of Senator Ted Cruz has gone into self-quarantine over fears he has coronavirus.
” Dr. Alan Berger , a 55-year-old gynecologist who works for NYU Langone Health , has decided to isolate himself but it ’ s unclear if he attended CPAC this year .
The conservative organization will not confirm his presence at this year ’ s event .
“ The CPAC patient was described as a 55-year-old man who was recovering in New Jersey ; Dr. Berger is a 55-year-old man who has self-isolated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Will we soon hear calls to quarantine President Trump for third-person contact of a coronavirus carrier ?

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) announced Monday he will become the third GOP lawmaker to “self-quarantine” themselves after coming into contact with an individual during CPAC who later tested positive for Wuhan Coronavirus.
This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19. While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution. Full statement → pic.twitter.com/74oeaYOBYR — Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 9, 2020
In addition to this revelation, a picture on AP Images shows President Trump shaking hands with Collins at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga. on Friday, March 6.
Ironically, President Trump met Collins in Georgia to attend a tour and briefing of CDC Atlanta focusing on how to best respond to coronavirus.
CDC Director Robert Redfield, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Alex Azar and other officials were also in attendance.
Besides Collins, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) also self-quarantined themselves after they were notified of coming into contact with the individual who carried the virus at CPAC.
ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp told The Washington Post he also interacted with the infected person at CPAC and then shook Trump’s hand on the last day of the conference, however, he could not say which contact came first.
Daily Mail reported on Monday, “A leading New York doctor and political ally of Senator Ted Cruz has gone into self-quarantine over fears he has coronavirus.”
Dr. Alan Berger, a 55-year-old gynecologist who works for NYU Langone Health, has decided to isolate himself but it’s unclear if he attended CPAC this year.
The conservative organization will not confirm his presence at this year’s event.
“The CPAC patient was described as a 55-year-old man who was recovering in New Jersey; Dr. Berger is a 55-year-old man who has self-isolated in New Jersey,” Daily Mail reports.
Will we soon hear calls to quarantine President Trump for third-person contact of a coronavirus carrier?


newswars--2020-03-09--California Heads toward Disaster with Yet Another Rent Control Ballot Measure

The state of California is in danger of exacerbating its affordable housing shortage .
According to this Sacramento Bee article , “ California voters will get the chance to consider a statewide rent control initiative on the November ballot , just two years after they soundly rejected a similar initiative.
” A citizen-initiated petition garnered nearly 1 million signatures to place the measure on the ballot this fall .
Such a measure is the last thing that California , already suffering from an extreme housing shortage , needs .
Some estimates say the state already faces a 3.5 million–unit housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The initiative that is up for a vote in November would allow local governments greater authority to limit rent increases by landlords , largely reversing a 25-year-old state law that places restrictions on local governments ’ ability to impose rent control .
“ The housing affordability and homelessness crises are the most pressing social justice and public health emergencies in our time , especially in Southern California , ” said AIDS Healthcare Foundation president and Los Angeles multimillionaire Michael Weinstein , a leading proponent of the latest ballot initiative .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hailed by advocates as “ tenant protections , ” rent controls instead end up making housing shortages worse and harming the very people who supporters claim will be helped .
Naturally , when the price of a good is capped by nonmarket factors such as government mandates , there will be a tendency for suppliers to lower the supply and for consumers to increase their demand , creating shortages .
When it comes to rent control specifically , however , it is imperative to recognize why such impacts may not be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take some time to fully develop .
Moreover , rent controls produce more negative consequences than just shortages .
When it comes to housing , in the short run there is a relatively fixed number of housing units available .
Therefore , in the short run , supply is fairly price inelastic—that is , supply is not very responsive to a change in pricing for housing units .
So when rent controls are imposed , the stock of available apartments , condos , etc.
, does not change much .
Similarly , demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the short run as well .
People take time to change their housing arrangements , so if rent control is imposed , the increase in demand does not happen overnight .
It ’ s in the long run , however , that the negative impact of rent controls is truly felt—and most sharply by low-income tenants and potential renters , who we are told by advocates will be the ones helped by rent control measures .
Both supply and demand for housing units are far more price elastic over the long term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will respond by building fewer units .
With rents suppressed by law , there is less incentive to build new units .
Over time some housing units will be transitioned into office space or some other more profitable use .
On the demand side , renters and potential renters will respond over time to the lowered rents by increasing their demand for housing units .
For instance , some young people will see the affordable rents as an opportunity to move out of their parents ’ house , while others will be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead occupy a unit of their own .
And the shortages created by depressed supply combined with heightened demand will create several other negative consequences .
First , shortages will empower landlords to discriminate using nonprice mechanisms to ration apartments .
Because the number of eager renters will far outstrip the supply available , landlords will face little market punishment if they turn away renters based on factors such as race or nationality .
Furthermore , landlords will have little incentive to invest in maintaining and upgrading the housing units , as any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely blunted by the cap on what they can charge .
Tenants will be forced to accept lower-quality housing .
Shortages will also invite landlords to engage in shady , under-the-table arrangements with potential tenants .
Those tenants willing to slip the biggest bribe to landlords will go to the head of the line .
Deceptive practices to skirt rent controls will also become popular , such as landlords charging , say , $ 500 a month for rent but also $ 1,000 for the “ furnishings ” of the apartment—which may end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table or chair .
Low-income renters will be priced out of these black market dealings .
Predictably , when elected officials eventually see the negative consequences of rent control , such as discrimination , the low quality of units , or under-the-table arrangements , they will enact more government restrictions and regulations in an attempt to prevent those results of their previous intervention .
As Mises warned us , “ intervention begets more intervention.
” The fact that rent controls create shortages of housing units is fairly well agreed upon by economists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” however , persist in demanding greater government controls over the pricing of housing units .
It becomes that much more critical , then , to remind observers that the negative impacts of rent controls will appear over the long term .
If we just look at results in the short term after rent controls are imposed , advocates may be able to claim victory , alleging that the shortages and other negative impacts predicted by opponents haven ’ t occurred .
Lastly , those negative impacts of shortages go beyond mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and black market dealings by landlords will all be felt most harshly by the very same people rent control advocates claim to be helping .

The state of California is in danger of exacerbating its affordable housing shortage.
According to this Sacramento Bee article, “California voters will get the chance to consider a statewide rent control initiative on the November ballot, just two years after they soundly rejected a similar initiative.”
A citizen-initiated petition garnered nearly 1 million signatures to place the measure on the ballot this fall.
Such a measure is the last thing that California, already suffering from an extreme housing shortage, needs. Some estimates say the state already faces a 3.5 million–unit housing deficit, according to the Bee article.
The initiative that is up for a vote in November would allow local governments greater authority to limit rent increases by landlords, largely reversing a 25-year-old state law that places restrictions on local governments’ ability to impose rent control. “The housing affordability and homelessness crises are the most pressing social justice and public health emergencies in our time, especially in Southern California,” said AIDS Healthcare Foundation president and Los Angeles multimillionaire Michael Weinstein, a leading proponent of the latest ballot initiative. “We must take action to stop it now.” Hailed by advocates as “tenant protections,” rent controls instead end up making housing shortages worse and harming the very people who supporters claim will be helped.
Naturally, when the price of a good is capped by nonmarket factors such as government mandates, there will be a tendency for suppliers to lower the supply and for consumers to increase their demand, creating shortages.
When it comes to rent control specifically, however, it is imperative to recognize why such impacts may not be very noticeable in the short term but rather take some time to fully develop. Moreover, rent controls produce more negative consequences than just shortages.
When it comes to housing, in the short run there is a relatively fixed number of housing units available. Therefore, in the short run, supply is fairly price inelastic—that is, supply is not very responsive to a change in pricing for housing units. So when rent controls are imposed, the stock of available apartments, condos, etc., does not change much. Similarly, demand for housing units will be relatively inelastic in the short run as well. People take time to change their housing arrangements, so if rent control is imposed, the increase in demand does not happen overnight. It’s in the long run, however, that the negative impact of rent controls is truly felt—and most sharply by low-income tenants and potential renters, who we are told by advocates will be the ones helped by rent control measures.
Both supply and demand for housing units are far more price elastic over the long term. On the supply side, landlords will respond by building fewer units. With rents suppressed by law, there is less incentive to build new units. Over time some housing units will be transitioned into office space or some other more profitable use. On the demand side, renters and potential renters will respond over time to the lowered rents by increasing their demand for housing units. For instance, some young people will see the affordable rents as an opportunity to move out of their parents’ house, while others will be less likely to take on roommates and will instead occupy a unit of their own.
And the shortages created by depressed supply combined with heightened demand will create several other negative consequences.
First, shortages will empower landlords to discriminate using nonprice mechanisms to ration apartments. Because the number of eager renters will far outstrip the supply available, landlords will face little market punishment if they turn away renters based on factors such as race or nationality.
Furthermore, landlords will have little incentive to invest in maintaining and upgrading the housing units, as any potential return on that investment will be severely blunted by the cap on what they can charge. Tenants will be forced to accept lower-quality housing.
Shortages will also invite landlords to engage in shady, under-the-table arrangements with potential tenants. Those tenants willing to slip the biggest bribe to landlords will go to the head of the line. Deceptive practices to skirt rent controls will also become popular, such as landlords charging, say, $500 a month for rent but also $1,000 for the “furnishings” of the apartment—which may end up being little more than a folding table or chair. Low-income renters will be priced out of these black market dealings.
Predictably, when elected officials eventually see the negative consequences of rent control, such as discrimination, the low quality of units, or under-the-table arrangements, they will enact more government restrictions and regulations in an attempt to prevent those results of their previous intervention.
As Mises warned us, “intervention begets more intervention.”
The fact that rent controls create shortages of housing units is fairly well agreed upon by economists. Emotion-driven advocates of such “tenant protections,” however, persist in demanding greater government controls over the pricing of housing units.
It becomes that much more critical, then, to remind observers that the negative impacts of rent controls will appear over the long term. If we just look at results in the short term after rent controls are imposed, advocates may be able to claim victory, alleging that the shortages and other negative impacts predicted by opponents haven’t occurred.
Lastly, those negative impacts of shortages go beyond mere market shortages. Discrimination, lower quality, and black market dealings by landlords will all be felt most harshly by the very same people rent control advocates claim to be helping.