newspunch--2020-04-02--Chinese city BANS Eating Cats and Dogs With ‘Historic New Law’ in Wake of Coronavirus Pandemic

Shenzhen has become the first city in China to ban its residents from eating dog and cat meat after passing a groundbreaking new law in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government prohibit the consumption of pets including dogs and cats for decades , and the new legislation is the first of its kind in China .
The legislation was passed Wednesday by lawmakers in Shenzhen , a city of more than 13 million people , and will take effect on May 1 , according to a government notice .
DailyMail report : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ‘ historic decision ‘ which marked ‘ a watershed moment ’ in the animal protection in China .
The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed , skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals .
Apart from dogs , the regulations bar snake , frog and turtle meat from the dinner table .
The news comes after China banned all trade and consumption of wild animals , a practice believed responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The officials have described the regulation as the ‘ universal civilisation requirement for a modern society ’ .
They said they had considered the city ’ s practical situation before including the extra animal species , which are not wildlife .
The aim is to ‘ further satisfy the daily needs of the people ’ .
According to the document , nine types of livestock are suitable for people to eat .
They are pigs , cows , sheep , donkeys , rabbits , chickens , ducks , geese and pigeons .
Residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals permitted by law .
Commenting on the necessity for the government to create ‘ a white list ’ , one spokesperson previously said the authority wanted to make it easier for people to know what can be eaten .
‘ There are so many animal species in nature .
In our country alone , there are more than 2,000 kinds of protected wild animal species .
‘ If the local authority is to produce a list of the wild animals that can not be eaten , it will be too lengthy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals can be eaten , ’ the official said .
Dr Peter Li , China policy specialist for animal protection charity Humane Society International , said in a statement : ‘ With Shenzhen taking the historic decision to become mainland China ’ s first city to ban dog and cat meat consumption , this really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year .
‘ The majority of these companion animals are stolen from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the streets , and are spirited away on the backs of trucks to be beaten to death in slaughterhouses and restaurants across China .
‘ Shenzhen is China ’ s fifth largest city so although the dog meat trade is fairly small there compared with the rest of the province , its true significance is that it could inspire a domino effect with other cities following suit.
’ China ’ s top legislative committee in February passed new legislation to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals .
Beijing is yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the passage of the proposal was ‘ essential ’ and ‘ urgent ’ in helping the country win its war against the epidemic , wrote state newspaper People ’ s Daily .
The exact source of the novel coronavirus , known as SARS-CoV-2 , remains unconfirmed .
Scientists speculate that it originated in bats , snakes , pangolins , or some other animal .
In China alone , the health crisis has claimed 3,312 lives and infected more than 81,500 people .
And globally , at least 46,000 people have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in January that tests proved that humans caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market .
Conservationists accuse China of tolerating a shadowy trade in exotic animals for food or use in traditional medicines whose efficacy is not confirmed by science .
Scientists say SARS likely originated in bats , later reaching humans via civets .
The virus , known as SARS CoV , killed 775 people and infected more than 8,000 globally during an epidemic between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cat-like creature , were among dozens of species listed as for sale by one of the merchants at the Wuhan market according to a price list that circulated on China ’ s internet .

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Shenzhen has become the first city in China to ban its residents from eating dog and cat meat after passing a groundbreaking new law in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government prohibit the consumption of pets including dogs and cats for decades, and the new legislation is the first of its kind in China.
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Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
The legislation was passed Wednesday by lawmakers in Shenzhen, a city of more than 13 million people, and will take effect on May 1, according to a government notice.
DailyMail report: One charity group hailed the passage as a ‘historic decision‘ which marked ‘a watershed moment’ in the animal protection in China.
The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals.
Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government ban the consumption of dogs for years, and the new accord is the first of its kind in the country. The picture shows dogs resting after being rescued from a truck heading towards the Yulin Dog Meat Festival on June 22, 2017.
Apart from dogs, the regulations bar snake, frog and turtle meat from the dinner table.
The news comes after China banned all trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the country’s deadly virus epidemic.
The officials have described the regulation as the ‘universal civilisation requirement for a modern society’.
Each year, the city of Yulin in China’s southern Guangxi region celebrates this enormously controversial event. “It’s been a tradition for years for us to celebrate the festival. We can’t change it simply because they (animal lovers) love dogs,” a local resident told AP.
They said they had considered the city’s practical situation before including the extra animal species, which are not wildlife. The aim is to ‘further satisfy the daily needs of the people’.
According to the document, nine types of livestock are suitable for people to eat. They are pigs, cows, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons.
Residents are also allowed to dine on aquatic animals permitted by law.
Commenting on the necessity for the government to create ‘a white list’, one spokesperson previously said the authority wanted to make it easier for people to know what can be eaten.
‘There are so many animal species in nature. In our country alone, there are more than 2,000 kinds of protected wild animal species.
‘If the local authority is to produce a list of the wild animals that cannot be eaten, it will be too lengthy and cannot answer the question exactly what animals can be eaten,’ the official said.
China passed new legislation this week to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals. In the file photo above, a man looks at caged civet cats in a wildlife market in Guangzhou on January 4, 2004. The cat-like creatures triggered the SARS outbreak in 2003
Dr Peter Li, China policy specialist for animal protection charity Humane Society International, said in a statement: ‘With Shenzhen taking the historic decision to become mainland China’s first city to ban dog and cat meat consumption, this really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year.
‘The majority of these companion animals are stolen from people’s back yards or snatched from the streets, and are spirited away on the backs of trucks to be beaten to death in slaughterhouses and restaurants across China.
‘Shenzhen is China’s fifth largest city so although the dog meat trade is fairly small there compared with the rest of the province, its true significance is that it could inspire a domino effect with other cities following suit.’
China’s top legislative committee in February passed new legislation to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals.
Beijing is yet to revise its wild animal protection law, but the passage of the proposal was ‘essential’ and ‘urgent’ in helping the country win its war against the epidemic, wrote state newspaper People’s Daily.
The exact source of the novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, remains unconfirmed. Scientists speculate that it originated in bats, snakes, pangolins, or some other animal.
In China alone, the health crisis has claimed 3,312 lives and infected more than 81,500 people.
And globally, at least 46,000 people have died and more than 917,000 have contracted the disease.
Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in January that tests proved that humans caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market.
Conservationists accuse China of tolerating a shadowy trade in exotic animals for food or use in traditional medicines whose efficacy is not confirmed by science.
Scientists say SARS likely originated in bats, later reaching humans via civets.
The virus, known as SARS CoV, killed 775 people and infected more than 8,000 globally during an epidemic between 2002 and 2003.
Civets, a cat-like creature, were among dozens of species listed as for sale by one of the merchants at the Wuhan market according to a price list that circulated on China’s internet.
Other items included rats, snakes, giant salamanders and live wolf pups.


newspunch--2020-04-02--British American Tobacco Claims It Is Developing a ‘Coronavirus Vaccine’ Made From Tobacco Plants

Tobacco giant British American Tobacco , the maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes , claims it is developing a coronavirus vaccine made from tobacco plants and manufacturing of three million doses per week could start in June .
The vaccine is being developed by British American Tobacco ’ s subsidiary firm Kentucky BioProcessing ( KBP ) in the US , using tobacco plant technology .
KBP has previous experience of fighting outbreaks .
It helped develop an effective drug for Ebola in 2014 , called ZMapp .
DailyMail report : The unproven vaccine is currently being tested on animals .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine through rigorous human trials which could otherwise take the best part of a year and make the June date impossible .
British American Tobacco ( BAT ) said it will be able to manufacture up to three million doses a week , if it gets support from the UK Government .
BAT said it had pivoted its vast resources – the company is worth £65.5billion – to fighting the pandemic .
The London-headquartered firm added that it would sell the tests to the Government ‘ at cost ’ , meaning without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently barred from doing deals with governments under World Health Organisation rules , but BAT said it planned to contact the WHO .
The company said it had approached the US Food and Drug Administration and UK ’ s Department of Health and Social Care about its vaccine .
It hopes to hopes to partner with the government agencies to bring the vaccine to clinical studies this month .
In a statement it said : ‘ If testing goes well , BAT is hopeful that , with the right partners and support from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses of the vaccine could be manufactured per week , beginning in June.
’ The vaccine is being developed by BAT ’ s subsidiary firm Kentucky BioProcessing ( KBP ) in the US , using tobacco plant technology .
BAT said KBP researchers have managed to clone a portion of the coronavirus ’ s genetic sequence and developed a potential antigen .
An antigen is any substance which the body recognises as an outsider and attacks with the immune system By injecting someone with a coronavirus antigen – whether an entire one or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into producing the immune response it would need to fight off the virus for real .
This would mean that the body would know how to tackle the virus if someone caught the illness in the future , meaning they could get rid of it before developing symptoms .
Kentucky BioProcessing has inserted the antigen into tobacco plants where the living structures of the plants will help it to grow and reproduce .
Once harvested , the antigens are extracted and purified and inserted into the body as a vaccine .
The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conventional methods .
Traditional vaccines see antigens manufactured in cultures of bacterial cells or yeast , which need to be refrigerated and take months to accumulate .
Plant-based vaccines take just weeks to grow and can survive at room temperature – making them less expensive to create .
With live vaccines , there is always a chance it can become contaminated and hosts so-called pathogens , which cause human disease .
The WHO says the likelihood of this happening in plants , however , is ‘ almost negligible ’ , making them potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of scientific research at BAT , said : ‘ Vaccine development is challenging and complex work .
‘ But we believe we have made a significant breakthrough with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against COVID-19 .
‘ We fully align with the United Nations plea , for a whole-of-society approach to combat global problems .
‘ We are committed to contributing to the global effort to halt the spread of COVID-19 using this technology.
’ Professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St George ’ s University of London , said it was highly unlikely the vaccine would be ready any time soon .
He said : ‘ The press release by KBP reports an important milestone for the company , but they are still a long way from making a vaccine .
‘ Importantly , it still needs to be determined how safe their vaccine will be and how potent in inducing protective immunity in humans .
‘ The manufacturing system is really fast , hugely scalable and potentially cheaper than the conventional manufacturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , eggs for influenza virus vaccine ) .
‘ In particularly it is a technology that might make vaccines more affordable and accessible for people in low and middle income countries .
‘ This is important for a disease which is spreading to every country in the world .
It will be no use making an expensive vaccine , which is only accessible by rich people in the first world.
’ It comes after the British doctor overseeing the international hunt for a coronavirus vaccine said a jab could be ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Melanie Saville , from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations ( CEPI ) , said a vaccine could be rolled out under an ’ emergency protocol ’ before it has been officially licensed for use .
She said there would need to be a ‘ prioritisation for those who need it most ’ which would likely see NHS workers and those most vulnerable getting it first .
However she told the Daily Mail that British citizens in isolation would ‘ remain vulnerable ’ until a vaccine is developed .
The Oslo-based CEPI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
It has just received £210million in UK foreign aid money – making Britain the world ’ s largest donor .
Last night , major US healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson announced that it had a potential vaccine that could be available for emergency use in early 2021 .
But it is still behind Boston-based biotech firm Moderna , funded by CEPI , which began human testing earlier this month .
Another potential vaccine is being developed at the University of Oxford .
Dr Saville said : ‘ Normally vaccine development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years .
What we are trying to do is reduce that to a 12-18 month time frame.
’ She said the vaccine could be available to some as soon as January .
‘ If all were to go well , we could anticipate there should be a vaccine that could be used more widely , at least under some kind of emergency authorisation process ’ , she said .
Such a process would see vaccines that have had clinical trials and are deemed safe by scientists rolled out before they have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the World Health Organisation and international organisation Gavi , which receives £300million in UK aid a year , will play a critical role in determining which countries need it first and who exactly .
The objective is to get millions of doses ready but crucially that will still leave billions waiting .
She added : ‘ At the beginning it takes a while to make the very large doses of vaccines that are needed .
‘ That is why there really does need to be a prioritisation for those who need it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity will be developed so that it will be very widely available.
’ This could be health care workers ‘ who obviously it is very important to keep them healthy and safe ’ , or other vulnerable groups , she said .
Asked if there was a danger of rolling out the vaccines before they have been officially approved , Dr Saville said : ‘ Always safety is paramount with vaccines so it is always important to make sure you are following volunteers in clinical trials carefully.
’ She said lockdown and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the capacity to ‘ blunt the curve in terms of the number of cases ’ .
She said : ‘ That actually buys time for the vaccine developers , so all of the people in isolation are going to remain vulnerable .
’

Tobacco giant British American Tobacco, the maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes, claims it is developing a coronavirus vaccine made from tobacco plants and manufacturing of three million doses per week could start in June.
The vaccine is being developed by British American Tobacco’s subsidiary firm Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) in the US, using tobacco plant technology.
BYPASS THE CENSORS Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox. Email *
Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
KBP has previous experience of fighting outbreaks. It helped develop an effective drug for Ebola in 2014, called ZMapp.
DailyMail report: The unproven vaccine is currently being tested on animals. But BAT is calling on Whitehall to fast-track the vaccine through rigorous human trials which could otherwise take the best part of a year and make the June date impossible.
British American Tobacco (BAT) said it will be able to manufacture up to three million doses a week, if it gets support from the UK Government.
The vaccine is being developed by BAT’s subsidiary firm Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) in the US, using tobacco plant technology
BAT said it had pivoted its vast resources – the company is worth £65.5billion – to fighting the pandemic.
The London-headquartered firm added that it would sell the tests to the Government ‘at cost’, meaning without making any profit.
Tobacco firms are currently barred from doing deals with governments under World Health Organisation rules, but BAT said it planned to contact the WHO.
The company said it had approached the US Food and Drug Administration and UK’s Department of Health and Social Care about its vaccine.
It hopes to hopes to partner with the government agencies to bring the vaccine to clinical studies this month.
In a statement it said: ‘If testing goes well, BAT is hopeful that, with the right partners and support from government agencies, between 1million and 3million doses of the vaccine could be manufactured per week, beginning in June.’
The vaccine is being developed by BAT’s subsidiary firm Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) in the US, using tobacco plant technology.
BAT said KBP researchers have managed to clone a portion of the coronavirus’s genetic sequence and developed a potential antigen.
An antigen is any substance which the body recognises as an outsider and attacks with the immune system
By injecting someone with a coronavirus antigen – whether an entire one or a part – can trick the body into producing the immune response it would need to fight off the virus for real.
This would mean that the body would know how to tackle the virus if someone caught the illness in the future, meaning they could get rid of it before developing symptoms.
Kentucky BioProcessing has inserted the antigen into tobacco plants where the living structures of the plants will help it to grow and reproduce.
Once harvested, the antigens are extracted and purified and inserted into the body as a vaccine.
A vaccine could be rolled out under an ’emergency protocol’ before it has been officially licensed for use
The WHO says plant-derived vaccines have several advantages over conventional methods.
Traditional vaccines see antigens manufactured in cultures of bacterial cells or yeast, which need to be refrigerated and take months to accumulate.
Plant-based vaccines take just weeks to grow and can survive at room temperature – making them less expensive to create.
With live vaccines, there is always a chance it can become contaminated and hosts so-called pathogens, which cause human disease.
The WHO says the likelihood of this happening in plants, however, is ‘almost negligible’, making them potentially safer.
Dr David O’Reilly, director of scientific research at BAT, said: ‘Vaccine development is challenging and complex work.
‘But we believe we have made a significant breakthrough with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against COVID-19.
‘We fully align with the United Nations plea, for a whole-of-society approach to combat global problems.
‘We are committed to contributing to the global effort to halt the spread of COVID-19 using this technology.’
Professor Julian Ma, a virus expert at St George’s University of London, said it was highly unlikely the vaccine would be ready any time soon.
He said: ‘The press release by KBP reports an important milestone for the company, but they are still a long way from making a vaccine.
‘Importantly, it still needs to be determined how safe their vaccine will be and how potent in inducing protective immunity in humans.
‘The manufacturing system is really fast, hugely scalable and potentially cheaper than the conventional manufacturing systems we use for vaccines (for example, eggs for influenza virus vaccine).
‘In particularly it is a technology that might make vaccines more affordable and accessible for people in low and middle income countries.
‘This is important for a disease which is spreading to every country in the world. It will be no use making an expensive vaccine, which is only accessible by rich people in the first world.’
It comes after the British doctor overseeing the international hunt for a coronavirus vaccine said a jab could be ready for health workers by January next year.
Dr Melanie Saville, from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said a vaccine could be rolled out under an ’emergency protocol’ before it has been officially licensed for use.
She said there would need to be a ‘prioritisation for those who need it most’ which would likely see NHS workers and those most vulnerable getting it first.
However she told the Daily Mail that British citizens in isolation would ‘remain vulnerable’ until a vaccine is developed.
The Oslo-based CEPI is funding eight COVID-19 vaccine trials across the world. It has just received £210million in UK foreign aid money – making Britain the world’s largest donor.
Last night, major US healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson announced that it had a potential vaccine that could be available for emergency use in early 2021.
But it is still behind Boston-based biotech firm Moderna, funded by CEPI, which began human testing earlier this month.
Another potential vaccine is being developed at the University of Oxford.
Dr Saville said: ‘Normally vaccine development can take maybe ten years, maybe 20 years. What we are trying to do is reduce that to a 12-18 month time frame.’
She said the vaccine could be available to some as soon as January.
‘If all were to go well, we could anticipate there should be a vaccine that could be used more widely, at least under some kind of emergency authorisation process’, she said.
Such a process would see vaccines that have had clinical trials and are deemed safe by scientists rolled out before they have been officially approved for use.
Dr Saville said the World Health Organisation and international organisation Gavi, which receives £300million in UK aid a year, will play a critical role in determining which countries need it first and who exactly.
The objective is to get millions of doses ready but crucially that will still leave billions waiting.
She added: ‘At the beginning it takes a while to make the very large doses of vaccines that are needed.
‘That is why there really does need to be a prioritisation for those who need it most, with a view that the capacity will be developed so that it will be very widely available.’
This could be health care workers ‘who obviously it is very important to keep them healthy and safe’, or other vulnerable groups, she said.
Asked if there was a danger of rolling out the vaccines before they have been officially approved, Dr Saville said: ‘Always safety is paramount with vaccines so it is always important to make sure you are following volunteers in clinical trials carefully.’
She said lockdown and social distancing measures were important so the NHS has the capacity to ‘blunt the curve in terms of the number of cases’.
She said: ‘That actually buys time for the vaccine developers, so all of the people in isolation are going to remain vulnerable.’


newspunch--2020-04-02--Pentagon Orders 100,000 Body Bags For FEMA

The Pentagon has placed an order for 100,000 green nylon body bags as government experts predict the coronavirus will claim the lives of more than 200,000 Americans .
By Thursday morning the US death toll had surpassed 5,000 deaths and 90 percent of the country was on lockdown to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 .
With more than 215,000 cases , the government was expected to get the next 50,000 body bags from a stockpile , however preparations are being made to triple up as hospitals and morgues in states including New York become overwhelmed with victims and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report : On Tuesday , a forklift was used to help lift dead bodies onto a refrigerated truck outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center .
The COVID-19 death toll in the city is 1,139 and 47,439 confirmed cases and hospitals have been using bed sheets to wrap bodies because they no longer have body bags .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) did not have a specific delivery date for the military-style remains pouches , sources told Bloomberg Wednesday .
The green nylon body bags are usually distributed to war zones and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet ) by 38 inches ( 3.2 feet ) .
A source said , the bags have not yet been ordered but the Defense Logistics Agency ’ s Troop Support unit , which manages the Pentagon ’ s stockpile , was looking into the request .
A FEMA spokesperson said there will be ‘ prudent planning ’ that includes preparing for ‘ mortuary contingencies ’ .
After it was predicted the death toll in the US would hit 200,000 President Trump told the country to brace for a tough time ahead .
‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , ’ Trump said at a White House coronavirus briefing on Tuesday .
‘ Our strength will be tested , our endurance will be tried.
’ On Monday , the vice director of operations for the the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Major General Jeff Taliaferro , said they ‘ are in close partnership ’ with FEMA to ‘ identify what their needs are .
Taliaferro said Monday ’ s ‘ mission assignments ’ included requests for prepackaged Meals Ready to Eat ( MRE ) , and ‘ other supplies ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from FEMA for a mortuary affairs support team for New York ’ .
Taliaferro added they are ‘ in the process of identifying ’ personnel .
FEMA is working with state and regional health and emergency managers to distribute pouches where needed .
However a new report has claimed Trump was warned about the devastating effects of a coronavirus on January 6 , 2017 .
‘ The most likely and significant threat is a novel respiratory disease , particularly a novel influenza disease , ’ the USNORTHCOM Branch Plan 3560 : Pandemic Influenza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Coronavirus infections [ are ] common around the world.
’ The Pentagon document , obtained by The Nation , leans on findings from 2012 ’ s Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) , a type of coronavirus , and ‘ incorporates insights from several recent outbreaks ’ .
The 103-page documents warns that an outbreak could reach pandemic levels due to a number of factors that are the case with the 2019 virus ; unsanitary living conditions , crowded workplaces , and proximity to international airports .
It also warns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in PPE .
‘ Competition for , and scarcity of resources will include…non-pharmaceutical MCM [ Medical Countermeasures ] ( e.g.
, ventilators , devices , personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves ) , medical equipment , and logistical support , ’ is mentioned in the document .
‘ This will have a significant impact on the availability of the global workforce.
’ The document also predicts a lack of hospitals beds .
‘ Even the most industrialized countries will have insufficient hospital beds , specialized equipment such as mechanical ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat their populations during clinically severe pandemic , ’ it states .
The document has been shared after the likes of California and New York ’ s governors have stressed they are fast running out of space to accommodate COVID-19 patients and Navy hospital ships Mercy and Comfort have supplied 1,000 extra beds for patients who are not suffering from coronavirus .
Recent images out of New York and New Jersey have shown medical workers hauling bodies into refrigerated trucks .
The states have the highest COVID-19 death tolls in the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 908 on Wednesday while new infections across the country increased by 25,676 .
More than 40 percent of the country ’ s fatal cases come from New York state where the death toll rose by 391 to 1,941 .
New York state also saw an increase of 7,917 cases to bring the total number of new infections to 83,712 .
New Jersey is second behind New York with 267 deaths and 18,997 infections .
Michigan now has the third highest death toll in the country after reporting a spike in its figures over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , bringing its death toll to 259 .
Michigan has more than 7,600 confirmed cases .

The Pentagon has placed an order for 100,000 green nylon body bags as government experts predict the coronavirus will claim the lives of more than 200,000 Americans.
By Thursday morning the US death toll had surpassed 5,000 deaths and 90 percent of the country was on lockdown to try and slow the spread of COVID-19.
BYPASS THE CENSORS Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox. Email *
Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
With more than 215,000 cases, the government was expected to get the next 50,000 body bags from a stockpile, however preparations are being made to triple up as hospitals and morgues in states including New York become overwhelmed with victims and are running out of space.
DailyMail report: On Tuesday, a forklift was used to help lift dead bodies onto a refrigerated truck outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center. The COVID-19 death toll in the city is 1,139 and 47,439 confirmed cases and hospitals have been using bed sheets to wrap bodies because they no longer have body bags.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not have a specific delivery date for the military-style remains pouches, sources told Bloomberg Wednesday.
The green nylon body bags are usually distributed to war zones and measure up at 94 inches (7.8 feet) by 38 inches (3.2 feet).
FEMA did not have a specific delivery date for the next 100,000 military-style remains pouches. Pictured, dead bodies are loaded onto a truck outside Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York on Tuesday
A source said, the bags have not yet been ordered but the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support unit, which manages the Pentagon’s stockpile, was looking into the request. A FEMA spokesperson said there will be ‘prudent planning’ that includes preparing for ‘mortuary contingencies’.
After it was predicted the death toll in the US would hit 200,000 President Trump told the country to brace for a tough time ahead.
‘This is going to be a painful two weeks,’ Trump said at a White House coronavirus briefing on Tuesday. ‘Our strength will be tested, our endurance will be tried.’
On Monday, the vice director of operations for the the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Jeff Taliaferro, said they ‘are in close partnership’ with FEMA to ‘identify what their needs are.
Taliaferro said Monday’s ‘mission assignments’ included requests for prepackaged Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), and ‘other supplies’ as well as ‘a mission assignment from FEMA for a mortuary affairs support team for New York’. Taliaferro added they are ‘in the process of identifying’ personnel.
FEMA is working with state and regional health and emergency managers to distribute pouches where needed.
However a new report has claimed Trump was warned about the devastating effects of a coronavirus on January 6, 2017.
‘The most likely and significant threat is a novel respiratory disease, particularly a novel influenza disease,’ the USNORTHCOM Branch Plan 3560: Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Disease Response, states. ‘Coronavirus infections [are] common around the world.’
The Pentagon document, obtained by The Nation, leans on findings from 2012’s Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a type of coronavirus, and ‘incorporates insights from several recent outbreaks’.
The 103-page documents warns that an outbreak could reach pandemic levels due to a number of factors that are the case with the 2019 virus; unsanitary living conditions, crowded workplaces, and proximity to international airports.
It also warns that it would be worsened by a shortage in PPE.
‘Competition for, and scarcity of resources will include…non-pharmaceutical MCM [Medical Countermeasures] (e.g., ventilators, devices, personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves), medical equipment, and logistical support,’ is mentioned in the document. ‘This will have a significant impact on the availability of the global workforce.’
The document also predicts a lack of hospitals beds.
‘Even the most industrialized countries will have insufficient hospital beds, specialized equipment such as mechanical ventilators, and pharmaceuticals readily available to adequately treat their populations during clinically severe pandemic,’ it states.
The document has been shared after the likes of California and New York’s governors have stressed they are fast running out of space to accommodate COVID-19 patients and Navy hospital ships Mercy and Comfort have supplied 1,000 extra beds for patients who are not suffering from coronavirus.
Recent images out of New York and New Jersey have shown medical workers hauling bodies into refrigerated trucks. The states have the highest COVID-19 death tolls in the country.
New deaths from the coronavirus rose by 908 on Wednesday while new infections across the country increased by 25,676.
More than 40 percent of the country’s fatal cases come from New York state where the death toll rose by 391 to 1,941. New York state also saw an increase of 7,917 cases to bring the total number of new infections to 83,712.
New Jersey is second behind New York with 267 deaths and 18,997 infections.
Michigan now has the third highest death toll in the country after reporting a spike in its figures over night. The state recorded 75 new deaths, bringing its death toll to 259. Michigan has more than 7,600 confirmed cases.


newspunch--2020-04-02--President Trump to Illegals Not Getting Stimulus Checks: ‘You Came in ILEGALLY’

President Trump was asked by a reporter Wednesday about “ undocumented ” immigrants not getting a stimulus check as part @ @ @ @ @ package .
“ Well , you know , you are saying undocumented , meaning they @ @ @ @ @ Trump responded .
“ A lot of people would say that we have a lot @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be working , so what are you going to do ?
” @ @ @ @ @ about the situation for illegal immigrants during a tough economic period .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ , I must be honest with you , but they came in illegally and we @ @ @ @ @ that are citizens in our country that won ’ t be able to have jobs @ @ @ @ @ Breitbart.com reports : The president said he hoped that the economy would grow back quickly @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Its a really sad situation and it ’ s something we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ said .

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President Trump was asked by a reporter Wednesday about “undocumented” immigrants not getting a stimulus check as part of the coronavirus economic rescue package.
“Well, you know, you are saying undocumented, meaning they came in illegally,” Trump responded. “A lot of people would say that we have a lot of citizens right now that won’t be working, so what are you going to do?”
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Trump admitted he felt bad about the situation for illegal immigrants during a tough economic period.
“It’s a very sad question, I must be honest with you, but they came in illegally and we have a lot of people that are citizens in our country that won’t be able to have jobs,” Trump said.
Breitbart.com reports: The president said he hoped that the economy would grow back quickly after the virus was defeated.
“Its a really sad situation and it’s something we’re working on,” he said.


newspunch--2020-04-02--President Duterte Issues ‘Shoot to Kill’ Order Against Quarantine Violators

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a “ shoot to kill ” order to police for anyone violating the coronavirus quarantine lockdown .
“ Shoot them dead , ” Duterte ordered in an impromptu address on national television on Wednesday night .
Referring to people violating the lockdown , Duterte ordered the police , military , and district ( barangay ) officials to shoot dead any quarantine violators causing “ trouble ” in the streets .
“ I will not hesitate .
My orders are to the police and military , also the barangay [ district officials ] , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arises that people fight and your lives are on the line , shoot them dead .
Do you understand ?
Dead .
Instead of causing trouble , I ’ ll send you to the grave.
” Breitbart.com reports : The president ’ s surprise national address on Wednesday night came hours after a group of Quezon City residents demanding government aid staged a rally on Wednesday morning .
Quezon City is located northeast of Manila , the capital , an area currently on lockdown due to the Chinese coronavirus .
Police dispersed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arresting at least 21 .
According to police , the leftist group Kadamay instigated the protesters and spread false information .
Duterte accused the group of attempting to stir public sentiment against the government .
However , some members of the group claimed they had taken to the streets due to hunger following a delay in the shipment of government aid during the lockdown .
In his speech on Wednesday night , Duterte addressed the Quezon City protest hours earlier .
“ Do not intimidate government .
Do not challenge government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president said .
Duterte then assured residents government assistance would eventually arrive , despite delays .
“ Just wait for the delivery even if it ’ s delayed , it will arrive and you will not go hungry .
You will not die of hunger.
” Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon , where Quezon City and Manila are located , on “ total lockdown ” on March 16 , prompting some to speculate at the time that the stricter measures might translate to martial law .
However , in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 16 , President Duterte clarified the enhanced guidelines .
“ Let me make myself clear , this is not martial law , ” he said .
Since then , the Philippine government has implemented a severe crackdown on people violating quarantine mandates .
Duterte has threatened criminal charges and prison for quarantine violators .
On March 25 , police arrested hundreds of quarantine violators in Cagayan Valley , Luzon .
Rappler journalist Aika Rey was the first to report Duterte ’ s “ shoot to kill ” orders to police officers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duterte has repeatedly ordered the arrest of the founder of Rappler , Maria Ressa .
He accuses Ressa of allegedly running a media organization owned by non-Philippine citizens , a crime in the country .
Ressa denies the charges and has accused Duterte of silencing dissident press .
On March 24 , the Philippine Congress granted President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to combat the spread of the Chinese coronavirus , including the right to punish the spreading of fake news by up to two months in prison .
In a national address on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have contracted the Chinese coronavirus while treating patients and died were “ lucky ” to have died in service to the country .
He added , “ It would be an honor to die for your country , I assure you.
” The Philippines has experienced a recent surge in its number of Chinese coronavirus cases .
On Tuesday , the country reported its largest daily increase in Chinese coronavirus deaths and infections .
At press time on Wednesday , the Philippines had 2,311 infections and 96 deaths from the Chinese coronavirus @

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a “shoot to kill” order to police for anyone violating the coronavirus quarantine lockdown.
“Shoot them dead,” Duterte ordered in an impromptu address on national television on Wednesday night.
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Referring to people violating the lockdown, Duterte ordered the police, military, and district (barangay) officials to shoot dead any quarantine violators causing “trouble” in the streets.
“I will not hesitate. My orders are to the police and military, also the barangay[district officials], that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead. Do you understand? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I’ll send you to the grave.”
WATCH:
Breitbart.com reports: The president’s surprise national address on Wednesday night came hours after a group of Quezon City residents demanding government aid staged a rally on Wednesday morning. Quezon City is located northeast of Manila, the capital, an area currently on lockdown due to the Chinese coronavirus. Police dispersed the protesters for violating the enhanced community quarantine, arresting at least 21.
According to police, the leftist group Kadamay instigated the protesters and spread false information. Duterte accused the group of attempting to stir public sentiment against the government. However, some members of the group claimed they had taken to the streets due to hunger following a delay in the shipment of government aid during the lockdown.
In his speech on Wednesday night, Duterte addressed the Quezon City protest hours earlier.
“Do not intimidate government. Do not challenge government. You’ll surely lose,” the president said. Duterte then assured residents government assistance would eventually arrive, despite delays. “Just wait for the delivery even if it’s delayed, it will arrive and you will not go hungry. You will not die of hunger.”
Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon, where Quezon City and Manila are located, on “total lockdown” on March 16, prompting some to speculate at the time that the stricter measures might translate to martial law. However, in his statement announcing Luzon’s lockdown on March 16, President Duterte clarified the enhanced guidelines.
“Let me make myself clear, this is not martial law,” he said.
Since then, the Philippine government has implemented a severe crackdown on people violating quarantine mandates. Duterte has threatened criminal charges and prison for quarantine violators. On March 25, police arrested hundreds of quarantine violators in Cagayan Valley, Luzon.
Rappler journalist Aika Rey was the first to report Duterte’s “shoot to kill” orders to police officers in a series of tweets on Wednesday. Duterte has repeatedly ordered the arrest of the founder of Rappler, Maria Ressa. He accuses Ressa of allegedly running a media organization owned by non-Philippine citizens, a crime in the country. Ressa denies the charges and has accused Duterte of silencing dissident press.
On March 24, the Philippine Congress granted President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to combat the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, including the right to punish the spreading of fake news by up to two months in prison.
In a national address on Monday night, Duterte said medical workers who have contracted the Chinese coronavirus while treating patients and died were “lucky” to have died in service to the country. He added, “It would be an honor to die for your country, I assure you.”
The Philippines has experienced a recent surge in its number of Chinese coronavirus cases. On Tuesday, the country reported its largest daily increase in Chinese coronavirus deaths and infections. At press time on Wednesday, the Philippines had 2,311 infections and 96 deaths from the Chinese coronavirus.


newspunch--2020-04-02--Mad Maxine: ‘Idiot’ Trump Must ‘Pray for Forgiveness’ for Coronavirus

Rep. Maxine Waters ( D-CA ) has blasted “ idiotic ” President Trump over his response to the spread of the coronavirus , demanding that he prays to God for forgiveness .
“ Trump , stop congratulating yourself !
You ’ re a failure & you ’ ve mishandled this # COVID19 disaster !
You ’ re not knowledgeable & you don ’ t know more than experts & generals , ” Waters wrote on Twitter Monday .
“ Your ignorance & incompetence are appalling & you continue to demonstrate that every time you open your mouth !
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings & called COVID19 concerns a hoax , ” Water continued .
“ Trump , you incompetent idiot !
You sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings & called COVID19 concerns a hoax .
You ’ ve endangered doctors , nurses , aids , [ sic ] orderlies , & janitors – all risking their lives to save ours .
Pray 4 forgiveness for the harm that you ’ re causing !
” she added .
Breitbart.com reports : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump on Sunday of ignoring early warnings of the pandemic .
“ As you know , we had an office of pandemic affairs basically in the office of the president that was shut down , closed down , not funded by the president of the United States , ” the California Democrat told MSNBC host Joy Reid .
“ That ’ s the kind of office that does the planning , that anticipates , that makes sure that supplies and everything that ’ s needed can be readily available when you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though we didn ’ t have that kind of planning in addition to that , the early notifications I ’ m told were ignored.
” Despite Waters ’ accusations , the Trump administration has made significant progress in boosting testing nationwide and launched a public-private partnership called “ Project Airbridge ” in an effort expedite the delivery of medical supplies to the U.S. On Sunday , the first flight landed in New York carrying 130,000 N95 masks , 1.8 million face masks and gowns , and over 10.3 million gloves .
Additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will partner with GE to build 50,000 ventilators 100 days .
White House Defense Production Act Coordinator Peter Navarro lauded the announcement .
“ Just as Ford in the last century moved its manufacturing might seamlessly from auto to tank production during World War II , the Ford team is working with GE Healthcare to use its awesome engineering and manufacturing capabilities to voluntarily help this nation solve one of its most pressing problems .
We salute that effort and look forward to the first ventilators rolling off the Michigan assembly line in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be there to salute that milestone , ” Navarro said in a statement .
As of Tuesday morning , the U.S. has 164 , 719 coronavirus cases and 3,170 deaths , according to data via John Hopkins University .

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Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) has blasted “idiotic” President Trump over his response to the spread of the coronavirus, demanding that he prays to God for forgiveness.
“Trump, stop congratulating yourself! You’re a failure & you’ve mishandled this #COVID19 disaster! You’re not knowledgeable & you don’t know more than experts & generals,” Waters wrote on Twitter Monday.
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“Your ignorance & incompetence are appalling & you continue to demonstrate that every time you open your mouth!”
“Trump, you incompetent idiot! You sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings & called COVID19 concerns a hoax,” Water continued.
Trump, stop congratulating yourself! You’re a failure & you've mishandled this #COVID19 disaster! You're not knowledgeable & you don’t know more than experts & generals. Your ignorance & incompetence are appalling & you continue to demonstrate that every time you open your mouth! — Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) March 30, 2020
“Trump, you incompetent idiot! You sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings & called COVID19 concerns a hoax. You’ve endangered doctors, nurses, aids, [sic] orderlies, & janitors – all risking their lives to save ours. Pray 4 forgiveness for the harm that you’re causing!” she added.
Trump, you incompetent idiot! You sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings & called COVID19 concerns a hoax. You've endangered doctors, nurses, aids, orderlies, & janitors – all risking their lives to save ours. Pray 4 forgiveness for the harm that you're causing! — Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) March 30, 2020
Breitbart.com reports: Waters’ comments come after she accused President Trump on Sunday of ignoring early warnings of the pandemic.
“As you know, we had an office of pandemic affairs basically in the office of the president that was shut down, closed down, not funded by the president of the United States,” the California Democrat told MSNBC host Joy Reid. “That’s the kind of office that does the planning, that anticipates, that makes sure that supplies and everything that’s needed can be readily available when you have this kind of disaster. And so even though we didn’t have that kind of planning in addition to that, the early notifications I’m told were ignored.”
Despite Waters’ accusations, the Trump administration has made significant progress in boosting testing nationwide and launched a public-private partnership called “Project Airbridge” in an effort expedite the delivery of medical supplies to the U.S. On Sunday, the first flight landed in New York carrying 130,000 N95 masks, 1.8 million face masks and gowns, and over 10.3 million gloves.
Additionally, Ford announced on Monday that it will partner with GE to build 50,000 ventilators 100 days. White House Defense Production Act Coordinator Peter Navarro lauded the announcement. “Just as Ford in the last century moved its manufacturing might seamlessly from auto to tank production during World War II, the Ford team is working with GE Healthcare to use its awesome engineering and manufacturing capabilities to voluntarily help this nation solve one of its most pressing problems. We salute that effort and look forward to the first ventilators rolling off the Michigan assembly line in record time – and we’ll be there to salute that milestone,” Navarro said in a statement.
As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. has 164, 719 coronavirus cases and 3,170 deaths, according to data via John Hopkins University.


newspunch--2020-04-03--Bloomberg Groups Tell Governors to IGNORE Trump’s ‘Essential’ Label for Gun Stores

Two of Michael Bloomberg ’ s anti-Second Amendment groups have demanded that state governors “ ignore ” President Trump ’ s “ essential business ” classification for gun stores .
Bloomberg ’ s gun control groups , Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety , are urging governors to ignore federal measures and shut down gun stores amid the coronavirus outbreak .
On March 28th , President Trump ’ s Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) issued guidance concerning the coronavirus shutdown restirctions .
DHS declared that gun stores and manufacturers across the country would be classified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Breitbart.com reports : A post on the Everytown/Moms Demand Action website quotes Moms Demands Action ’ s Shannon Watts saying , “ The gun lobby has fear-mongered to stoke gun sales throughout this pandemic , pedaling the lie that more guns make us safer .
The Trump administration just gave that myth its seal of approval , proving once again that President Trump cares more about lining gun dealers ’ pockets than saving American lives.
” The post stresses that the Trump Administration guidelines are “ advisory ” and should “ not…be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Everytown ’ s John Feinblatt said , “ It ’ s shameful and nonsensical that the Trump administration has decided to put gun dealers and manufacturers on the same level as police , first responders , hospital workers , and other Americans who are risking everything to save lives during this pandemic .
Governors should feel free to ignore this irresponsible advisory and do what ’ s best for their residents .
”

Two of Michael Bloomberg’s anti-Second Amendment groups have demanded that state governors “ignore” President Trump’s “essential business” classification for gun stores.
Bloomberg’s gun control groups, Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, are urging governors to ignore federal measures and shut down gun stores amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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On March 28th, President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance concerning the coronavirus shutdown restirctions.
DHS declared that gun stores and manufacturers across the country would be classified as “essential businesses” during the lockdown.
Breitbart.com reports: A post on the Everytown/Moms Demand Action website quotes Moms Demands Action’s Shannon Watts saying, “The gun lobby has fear-mongered to stoke gun sales throughout this pandemic, pedaling the lie that more guns make us safer. The Trump administration just gave that myth its seal of approval, proving once again that President Trump cares more about lining gun dealers’ pockets than saving American lives.”
The post stresses that the Trump Administration guidelines are “advisory” and should “not…be considered, a federal directive or standard.”
Everytown’s John Feinblatt said, “It’s shameful and nonsensical that the Trump administration has decided to put gun dealers and manufacturers on the same level as police, first responders, hospital workers, and other Americans who are risking everything to save lives during this pandemic. Governors should feel free to ignore this irresponsible advisory and do what’s best for their residents.”


newspunch--2020-04-03--Harvard Dr Warns That Just Breathing or Talking Could Spread Coronavirus

The coronavirus may be able to spread through aerosolized droplets produced by talking or breathing , a renowned medical group warned the White House Wednesday night .
A leading member of the National Academy of Sciences ( NAS ) and former Harvard School of Public Health dean , Dr Harvey Fineberg , told CNN that while surgical masks should be reserved for health care workers , he himself is going to be wearing a bandanna or other face covering .
He said : “ But I have a nice western-style bandana I might wear .
Or I have a balaclava @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” CNN reports : Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , told CNN Tuesday that the idea of recommending broad use of masks in the US to prevent the spread of coronavirus is under “ very active discussion ” by the group .
Fineberg , chair of the NAS ’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats , said his letter was sent Wednesday evening in response to a query from Kelvin Droegemeier with the Office of Science and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This letter responds to your question concerning the possibility that could be spread by conversation , in addition to sneeze/cough-induced droplets , ” the letter states .
“ Currently available research supports the possibility that [ coronavirus ] could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patients ’ exhalation , ” it continues .
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the virus spreads from person to person when people are within about 6 feet of each other “ through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true , but that research shows that aerosolized droplets produced by talking or possibly even by just breathing can also spread the virus .
His letter explains that research at a hospital in China shows the virus can be suspended in the air when doctors and nurses remove protective gear , or when floors are cleaned , or when staff move around .
Research by the University of Nebraska shows that genetic material from the virus was found in patients ’ rooms more than 6 feet away from the patients , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s possible that aerosolized coronavirus droplets can hang in the air and potentially infect someone who walks by later .
He added , however , that coronavirus is not as infectious as measles or tuberculosis .
How long coronavirus lingers in the air depends on several factors , including how much virus an infected individual puts out when breathing or talking , and also on the amount of circulation in the air , he said .
“ If you generate an aerosol of the virus with no circulation in a room , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk through later , you could inhale the virus , ” Fineberg said .
“ But if you ’ re outside , the breeze will likely disperse it .
”

The coronavirus may be able to spread through aerosolized droplets produced by talking or breathing, a renowned medical group warned the White House Wednesday night.
A leading member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and former Harvard School of Public Health dean, Dr Harvey Fineberg, told CNN that while surgical masks should be reserved for health care workers, he himself is going to be wearing a bandanna or other face covering.
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He said: “But I have a nice western-style bandana I might wear. Or I have a balaclava. I have some pretty nice options.”
CNN reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, told CNN Tuesday that the idea of recommending broad use of masks in the US to prevent the spread of coronavirus is under “very active discussion” by the group.
Fineberg, chair of the NAS’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, said his letter was sent Wednesday evening in response to a query from Kelvin Droegemeier with the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House.
“This letter responds to your question concerning the possibility that could be spread by conversation, in addition to sneeze/cough-induced droplets,” the letter states. “Currently available research supports the possibility that [coronavirus] could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patients’ exhalation,” it continues.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus spreads from person to person when people are within about 6 feet of each other “through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.” Fineberg told CNN this is true, but that research shows that aerosolized droplets produced by talking or possibly even by just breathing can also spread the virus. His letter explains that research at a hospital in China shows the virus can be suspended in the air when doctors and nurses remove protective gear, or when floors are cleaned, or when staff move around.
Research by the University of Nebraska shows that genetic material from the virus was found in patients’ rooms more than 6 feet away from the patients, according to the letter. Fineberg said it’s possible that aerosolized coronavirus droplets can hang in the air and potentially infect someone who walks by later.
He added, however, that coronavirus is not as infectious as measles or tuberculosis.
How long coronavirus lingers in the air depends on several factors, including how much virus an infected individual puts out when breathing or talking, and also on the amount of circulation in the air, he said.
“If you generate an aerosol of the virus with no circulation in a room, it’s conceivable that if you walk through later, you could inhale the virus,” Fineberg said. “But if you’re outside, the breeze will likely disperse it.”


newspunch--2020-04-03--Coronavirus Crisis: UK Health Secretary Calls For More Trial Volunteers

British health secretary Matt Hancock has called for more volunteers to take part in ‘ essential ’ clinical trials on the coronavirus .
He also ordered the public to stay at home during the warm weather over the weekend after warning that UK deaths from Covid-19 could reach a peak of 1,000 per day by Easter Sunday Sky News reports : After the UK ’ s top health experts wrote a letter urging clinicians to enrol patients , Health Secretary Matt Hancock used the daily news briefing on the outbreak to call for more volunteers as he paid tribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research on treatment for COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus , was “ essential to our plan ” to tackle the epidemic and said the UK was carrying out world-leading trials .
We have established three national clinical trials covering each major stage of the disease – primary care , hospital care and critical care for the most seriously ill , ” he said .
“ These trials are looking at the effectiveness of existing drugs and steroids , re-purposed for treatment for COVID-19 .
“ One of the trials , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , is the largest of its kind in the world , with 926 patients involved.
” He added that the “ bigger the trials , the better the data and the faster we can roll out the treatments ” .
Mr Hancock was leading the briefing for the second day running following his recovery from COVID-19 .
He also said the UK must not “ relax our discipline ” now with social distancing or non-essential travel ahead of good weather forecast for this weekend – warning that “ people will die ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown measures .
“ This is not advise , these are instructions , ” he added .

British health secretary Matt Hancock has called for more volunteers to take part in ‘essential’ clinical trials on the coronavirus.
He also ordered the public to stay at home during the warm weather over the weekend after warning that UK deaths from Covid-19 could reach a peak of 1,000 per day by Easter Sunday
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Sky News reports: After the UK’s top health experts wrote a letter urging clinicians to enrol patients, Health Secretary Matt Hancock used the daily news briefing on the outbreak to call for more volunteers as he paid tribute to frontline NHS staff.
He said that research on treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, was “essential to our plan” to tackle the epidemic and said the UK was carrying out world-leading trials.
We have established three national clinical trials covering each major stage of the disease – primary care, hospital care and critical care for the most seriously ill,” he said.
“These trials are looking at the effectiveness of existing drugs and steroids, re-purposed for treatment for COVID-19.
“One of the trials, which is called recovery and deals in hospital care, is the largest of its kind in the world, with 926 patients involved.”
He added that the “bigger the trials, the better the data and the faster we can roll out the treatments”.
Mr Hancock was leading the briefing for the second day running following his recovery from COVID-19.
He also said the UK must not “relax our discipline” now with social distancing or non-essential travel ahead of good weather forecast for this weekend – warning that “people will die” if people don’t stick to the lockdown measures.
“This is not advise, these are instructions,” he added.


newspunch--2020-04-03--Biology Professor, Called ‘Coronavirus Expert’ By MSM, Says Virus Could Have Leaked From Wuhan Lab

A molecular biologist who has been cited as a coronavirus expert by The Washington Post and MSNBC has stated in no uncertain terms that the novel coronavirus could have been unleashed on the world due to a leak from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
China ’ s top virologist on bat-borne viruses , Shi Zhengli , has sworn on her life that the virus did not leak from the Wuhan lab , claiming that its rapid spread is down to “ nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits.
” But Richard H. Ebright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rutgers University , told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday that there is a real possibility that the virus entered the human population due to a laboratory accident .
Daily Caller report : When asked specifically if he believes the virus could have leaked from Shi ’ s lab in Wuhan , Ebright said : “ Yes.
” “ A denial is not a refutation , ” Ebright said .
“ Especially not a denial based on ‘ nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits.
‘ ” And while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her lab could be connected to the release of the coronavirus to “ shut their stinking mouths , ” she previously said she lost sleep worrying about the possibility that her lab in Wuhan could have been responsible for the virus ’ s release .
Shi , known by her colleagues as the “ bat woman ” because of the 16 years she has spent hunting for viruses in bat caves , told Scientific American in March that she frantically searched for any evidence that her laboratory ’ s records were mishandled upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wuhan in late December .
“ Could they have come from our lab ?
” Shi recalled thinking .
“ I had never expected this kind of thing to happen in Wuhan , in central China , ” she noted , saying that her studies had shown that southern China posed the greatest risk of coronaviruses jumping from animals to humans .
Shi said she breathed a sigh of relief when results came back showing that the sequences of the coronavirus did not match the viruses she and her team had sampled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a load off my mind , ” Shi said .
“ I had not slept a wink for days.
” Shi and her colleagues at the Wuhan Institute of Virology reported in early 2017 that after five years of surveying they had discovered 11 new strains of SARS-related viruses in horseshoe bats from China ’ s Yunnan Province .
The virologist said at the time that the 11 strains contained all the genes to make a SARS coronavirus similar to that of the 2003 outbreak .
Shi contributed to a study published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 96.2 % identical to a viral strain that was detected in horseshoe bats from the Yunnan Province .
However , two Chinese researchers noted in a separate paper in February that the horseshoe bats that are known to carry the nearly-identical viral strain live 600 miles away from Wuhan .
The researchers also cited testimonies from nearly 60 people who lived in or visited Wuhan saying that the bat “ was never a food source in the city , and no bat was traded in the market.
” “ The killer coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the two Chinese researchers noted in their paper , which was uploaded to Research Gate on Feb. 6 .
The paper was removed from Research Gate on Feb. 14 or 15 , according to internet archives .
“ The content was uploaded to ResearchGate by a user who later removed it from the platform .
Beyond this , we can not disclose information about individuals who use our platform , ” Research Gate spokesman Dan Noyes told the DCNF .
The paper ’ s lead researcher , Botao Xiao , didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails on Thursday seeking comment .
Ebright , the Rutgers University molecular biologist , told Beijing-based news outlet Caixin Global in February that while there is “ no basis to suspect the virus was engineered , ” the available data indicates that the virus ’ s introduction into human populations could be attributed to either natural causes or to a laboratory mishap .
The Washington Post and MSNBC have quoted Ebright saying that theories about the virus being a bioweapon should be “ firmly excluded , ” but neither outlet included his belief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the human population through a lab accident “ can not –and should not–be dismissed.
” Shi has furiously denied that the novel coronavirus could have leaked from her lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
“ The novel 2019 coronavirus is nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits .
I , Shi Zhengli , swear on my life that it has nothing to do with our laboratory , ” she wrote on a Chinese social messaging app in early February , according to Caixin Global .
“ I advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful media sources … to shut their stinking mouths.
” Deadly viruses have a history of escaping from Chinese laboratories .
The SARS virus escaped twice from the Chinese Institute of Virology in Beijing in 2004 , one year after the virus was initially contained .
The Chinese government has been widely criticized for misleading the world about the novel coronavirus outbreak from its earliest stages .
One of the first doctors in Wuhan to raise the alarm about the spread of a SARS-like virus in the city was detained by police in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false comments.
” That doctor , Li Wenliang , died from coronavirus in February .
Another Chinese doctor , Ai Fen , claimed she was silenced by her bosses when she tried to warn about the virus during its early stages .
Ai ’ s whereabouts as of Sunday are currently unknown , according to 60 Minutes Australia , sparking fears that she has been detained .
And on Wednesday a top Chinese health official announced that the country will begin counting coronavirus cases from patients that show no symptoms , a tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally of known coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic .
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas told the DCNF on Wednesday it is wholly appropriate to question whether the coronavirus outbreak originated from labs in Wuhan that were studying coronaviruses .
“ The reason I have raised these questions from the very beginning is because of China ’ s statements and their actions , ” Cotton told the DCNF .
“ After concealing the virus for many weeks in December and then minimizing its severity for most of January , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food market in Wuhan.
” “ Given their dishonesty and the proximity of these labs , which we know were working with coronaviruses , it is only reasonable and responsible for us to ask the question and demand the answers .
”

A molecular biologist who has been cited as a coronavirus expert by The Washington Post and MSNBC has stated in no uncertain terms that the novel coronavirus could have been unleashed on the world due to a leak from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
China’s top virologist on bat-borne viruses, Shi Zhengli, has sworn on her life that the virus did not leak from the Wuhan lab, claiming that its rapid spread is down to “nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits.”
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But Richard H. Ebright, a professor of chemical biology at Rutgers University, told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday that there is a real possibility that the virus entered the human population due to a laboratory accident.
Daily Caller report: When asked specifically if he believes the virus could have leaked from Shi’s lab in Wuhan, Ebright said: “Yes.”
“A denial is not a refutation,” Ebright said. “Especially not a denial based on ‘nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits.‘”
And while Shi now tells those who question whether her lab could be connected to the release of the coronavirus to “shut their stinking mouths,” she previously said she lost sleep worrying about the possibility that her lab in Wuhan could have been responsible for the virus’s release.
Shi, known by her colleagues as the “bat woman” because of the 16 years she has spent hunting for viruses in bat caves, told Scientific American in March that she frantically searched for any evidence that her laboratory’s records were mishandled upon learning of the virus’s outbreak in Wuhan in late December.
“Could they have come from our lab?” Shi recalled thinking.
“I had never expected this kind of thing to happen in Wuhan, in central China,” she noted, saying that her studies had shown that southern China posed the greatest risk of coronaviruses jumping from animals to humans.
Shi said she breathed a sigh of relief when results came back showing that the sequences of the coronavirus did not match the viruses she and her team had sampled from bat caves.
“That really took a load off my mind,” Shi said. “I had not slept a wink for days.”
The Wuhan Institute of Virology is only 30km away from the Huanan Seafood Fishery Wholesale Market, where the outbreak is said to have originated.
Shi and her colleagues at the Wuhan Institute of Virology reported in early 2017 that after five years of surveying they had discovered 11 new strains of SARS-related viruses in horseshoe bats from China’s Yunnan Province. The virologist said at the time that the 11 strains contained all the genes to make a SARS coronavirus similar to that of the 2003 outbreak.
Shi contributed to a study published in February reporting that the novel coronavirus is 96.2% identical to a viral strain that was detected in horseshoe bats from the Yunnan Province.
A person wearing a protective suit rides a bike on a Wuhan street.
However, two Chinese researchers noted in a separate paper in February that the horseshoe bats that are known to carry the nearly-identical viral strain live 600 miles away from Wuhan. The researchers also cited testimonies from nearly 60 people who lived in or visited Wuhan saying that the bat “was never a food source in the city, and no bat was traded in the market.”
“The killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan,” the two Chinese researchers noted in their paper, which was uploaded to Research Gate on Feb. 6.
The paper was removed from Research Gate on Feb. 14 or 15, according to internet archives.
“The content was uploaded to ResearchGate by a user who later removed it from the platform. Beyond this, we cannot disclose information about individuals who use our platform,” Research Gate spokesman Dan Noyes told the DCNF.
The paper’s lead researcher, Botao Xiao, didn’t return the DCNF’s emails on Thursday seeking comment.
Ebright, the Rutgers University molecular biologist, told Beijing-based news outlet Caixin Global in February that while there is “no basis to suspect the virus was engineered,” the available data indicates that the virus’s introduction into human populations could be attributed to either natural causes or to a laboratory mishap.
The Washington Post and MSNBC have quoted Ebright saying that theories about the virus being a bioweapon should be “firmly excluded,” but neither outlet included his belief that the possibility that the virus entered the human population through a lab accident “cannot–and should not–be dismissed.”
Shi has furiously denied that the novel coronavirus could have leaked from her lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
“The novel 2019 coronavirus is nature punishing the human race for keeping uncivilized living habits. I, Shi Zhengli, swear on my life that it has nothing to do with our laboratory,” she wrote on a Chinese social messaging app in early February, according to Caixin Global. “I advise those who believe and spread rumors from harmful media sources … to shut their stinking mouths.”
Deadly viruses have a history of escaping from Chinese laboratories.
The SARS virus escaped twice from the Chinese Institute of Virology in Beijing in 2004, one year after the virus was initially contained.
The Chinese government has been widely criticized for misleading the world about the novel coronavirus outbreak from its earliest stages.
One of the first doctors in Wuhan to raise the alarm about the spread of a SARS-like virus in the city was detained by police in December and told to “stop making false comments.”
That doctor, Li Wenliang, died from coronavirus in February.
Another Chinese doctor, Ai Fen, claimed she was silenced by her bosses when she tried to warn about the virus during its early stages. Ai’s whereabouts as of Sunday are currently unknown, according to 60 Minutes Australia, sparking fears that she has been detained.
And on Wednesday a top Chinese health official announced that the country will begin counting coronavirus cases from patients that show no symptoms, a tactic acknowledgment that Beijing had underreported its official tally of known coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas told the DCNF on Wednesday it is wholly appropriate to question whether the coronavirus outbreak originated from labs in Wuhan that were studying coronaviruses.
“The reason I have raised these questions from the very beginning is because of China’s statements and their actions,” Cotton told the DCNF. “After concealing the virus for many weeks in December and then minimizing its severity for most of January, they then peddle an origin story about the food market in Wuhan.”
“Given their dishonesty and the proximity of these labs, which we know were working with coronaviruses, it is only reasonable and responsible for us to ask the question and demand the answers.”


newspunch--2020-04-03--Georgia Man Who Says Jihad Is ‘Peak of Islam’ Pleads Guilty for Planning Terror Attack on White Hous

Georgia Man Who Says Jihad Is ‘Peak of Islam’ Pleads Guilty for Planning Terror Attack on White House

A Georgia man pleaded guilty Wednesday for planning a series of terror attacks on the White House and other monuments in the United States , federal prosecutors announced .
Hasher Jallal Taheb , 23 , of Cummings , Georgia was arrested in January 2019 and taken into custody after he attempted to pick up explosives , an anti-tank weapon , and semi-automatic rifles in a parking lot .
Authorities received a tip last March that Taheb had become “ radicalized ” and was planning a trip to the Middle East .
Breitbart report : A criminal complaint states Taheb put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , 2018 , and an FBI informant showed interest in purchasing it .
Taheb allegedly revealed to the informant “ he wished to conduct an attack in the United States against targets such as the White House and the Statue of Liberty , ” the complaint reads .
He also told the informant that “ jihad was the best deed in Islam and the peak of Islam.
” In a statement , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said he pleaded guilty to attempting to destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a property owned by or leased to the U.S. Court documents show that prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison sentence as part of his plea agreement .
He is slated to be sentenced on June 23 .

A Georgia man pleaded guilty Wednesday for planning a series of terror attacks on the White House and other monuments in the United States, federal prosecutors announced.
Hasher Jallal Taheb, 23, of Cummings, Georgia was arrested in January 2019 and taken into custody after he attempted to pick up explosives, an anti-tank weapon, and semi-automatic rifles in a parking lot.
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Authorities received a tip last March that Taheb had become “radicalized” and was planning a trip to the Middle East.
Hasher Jallal Taheb of Cummings, Georgia, pleaded guilty Wednesday for planning a series of attacks on the White House and other monuments in the United States including the Statue of Liberty.
Breitbart report: A criminal complaint states Taheb put his vehicle up for sale on August 25, 2018, and an FBI informant showed interest in purchasing it.
Taheb allegedly revealed to the informant “he wished to conduct an attack in the United States against targets such as the White House and the Statue of Liberty,” the complaint reads.
He also told the informant that “jihad was the best deed in Islam and the peak of Islam.”
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said he pleaded guilty to attempting to destroy, by fire or an explosive, a property owned by or leased to the U.S.
Court documents show that prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison sentence as part of his plea agreement. He is slated to be sentenced on June 23.


newspunch--2020-04-03--Pope Francis, Who Hosted Islamic Prayer In The Vatican, Drops Title ‘Vicar of Christ’

Far-left globalist Pope Francis has decided he will no longer be known as the “ Vicar of Christ ” , a historical and essential title derived from Holy Scripture traditionally accepted by pontiffs , as the jesuit pope continues his quest to dismantle tradition and vandalize Christianity .
In a surprise move , Pope Francis , who previously hosted an Islamic prayer recital at the Vatican , dropped the title “ Vicar of Christ ” from the 2020 Pontifical Yearbook , the Holy See ’ s annual directory , relegating the title to a footnote , calling it a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the title “ Vicar of Christ ” and the name of the current Pope under that title , this year ’ s annual directory simply lists the name “ Jorge Mario Bergoglio , ” the name of the man who became Pope Francis in 2013 .
Cardinal Gerhard Müller , former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , called the change “ theological barbarism.
” According to German Rome Correspondent Guido Horst , such a change “ could only have happened upon request by Francis himself.
” LifeSiteNews reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newspaper Die Tagespost , this new entry has astonished well-informed Vatican experts .
He writes that this year ’ s Annuario Pontificio has “ banned ” the Pope ’ s title ‘ Vicar of Christ , ’ making it a “ historical title ” that now belongs to a footnote .
The Annuario Pontificio is published every year .
It updates statistical data concerning the Catholic Church .
Usually , the presentation of the members of the Church ’ s hierarchy – College of Cardinals , bishops of the world and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Roman Pontiff , under the title “ Vicar of Jesus Christ ” ( “ Vicario di Gesù Cristo ” ) .
Then follow the additional titles of the Pope , all of which carry a “ different or even no dogmatic significance ” as does the first title , according to Horst .
These are : Successor of the Prince of the Apostles , Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church , Primate of Italy , Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province , Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The title “ Vicar of Jesus Christ , ” however , “ stems from Holy Scripture , in which Jesus has granted St. Peter the power of the keys in the Church , ” Horst explains .
After these additional titles , there usually then would come the name of the current pontiff , a short biography of him , as well as the dates of his election and inauguration .
However , the new entry about the Pope starts now – instead of the title “ Vicar of Jesus Christ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
” This title is followed by a short biography and the dates of his election and inauguration .
Finally – and this after a line indicating that the “ footnotes ” ( in the words of Guido Horst ) are now coming – there come , under the subtitle “ historical titles ” : Vicar of Jesus Christ , Successor of the Prince of the Apostles , Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church , Primate of Italy , Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province , Sovereign of the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Servants of God .
According to Horst , such a change of the presentation of the Roman Pontiff in the Annuario Pontificio “ could only have happened upon request by Francis himself.
” In comments to the Tagespost , Cardinal Gerhard Müller points out that in the new presentations of the titles of the Pope , there are mixed together titles with dogmatic significance with those that do not bear such weight and who have a historical background ( such as “ Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak about the “ embarrassment ” that the Annuario Pontificio has “ demeaned essential elements of the Catholic teaching on the primacy [ of the Pope ] as mere historical appendix.
” He insisted that it is “ a theological barbarism to demean as historical burden the titles of the Pope ‘ Successor of Peter , Representative of Christ , and visible head of the entire Church.
’ ” He stated that the bishops , as successors of the Apostles , “ together with the ‘ Successor of Peter , Representative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire Church , rule the house of the Living God.
” ( Lumen gentium 18 ) “ No Pope or Ecumenical Council , ” the German prelate continued , “ could , with reference to their highest authority over the Church , do away with the primacy , the episcopacy , or the Sacraments , or to re-interpret them in their essence.
” A commentator quoted by Guido Horst noted that the change in the yearbook denotes a “ defective understanding of the office , ” pointing out that important titles such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apostles ” have also been downgraded as mere historical titles .
Professor Armin Schwibach , the Rome Correspondent for the Austrian website Kath.net , commented on Twitter : “ It seems that they continue to dismantle everything.
” In 2006 , Pope Benedict made a change to the usual presentation of the Roman Pontiff in the Annuario Pontificio when removing altogether the papal title “ Patriarch of the West.
” At the time , this decision was interpreted as an act of “ evidently hoping to eliminate one possible obstacle to ecumenical progress @ @ @ @ @ @

Far-left globalist Pope Francis has decided he will no longer be known as the “Vicar of Christ”, a historical and essential title derived from Holy Scripture traditionally accepted by pontiffs, as the jesuit pope continues his quest to dismantle tradition and vandalize Christianity.
In a surprise move, Pope Francis, who previously hosted an Islamic prayer recital at the Vatican, dropped the title “Vicar of Christ” from the 2020 Pontifical Yearbook, the Holy See’s annual directory, relegating the title to a footnote, calling it a “historical title.”
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While previous yearbooks listed the title “Vicar of Christ” and the name of the current Pope under that title, this year’s annual directory simply lists the name “Jorge Mario Bergoglio,” the name of the man who became Pope Francis in 2013.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, called the change “theological barbarism.”
According to German Rome Correspondent Guido Horst, such a change “could only have happened upon request by Francis himself.”
2019 Pontifical yearbook (left) vs 2020 Pontifical yearbook (right)
LifeSiteNews reports: As Guido Horst reported today for the newspaper Die Tagespost, this new entry has astonished well-informed Vatican experts. He writes that this year’s Annuario Pontificio has “banned” the Pope’s title ‘Vicar of Christ,’ making it a “historical title” that now belongs to a footnote.
The Annuario Pontificio is published every year. It updates statistical data concerning the Catholic Church. Usually, the presentation of the members of the Church’s hierarchy – College of Cardinals, bishops of the world and the Vatican’s dicasteries – starts with the Roman Pontiff, under the title “Vicar of Jesus Christ” (“Vicario di Gesù Cristo”). Then follow the additional titles of the Pope, all of which carry a “different or even no dogmatic significance” as does the first title, according to Horst. These are: Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, and Servant of the Servants of God.
The title “Vicar of Jesus Christ,” however, “stems from Holy Scripture, in which Jesus has granted St. Peter the power of the keys in the Church,” Horst explains.
After these additional titles, there usually then would come the name of the current pontiff, a short biography of him, as well as the dates of his election and inauguration.
However, the new entry about the Pope starts now – instead of the title “Vicar of Jesus Christ” – with the following title: “Jorge Mario Bergoglio.” This title is followed by a short biography and the dates of his election and inauguration. Finally – and this after a line indicating that the “footnotes” (in the words of Guido Horst) are now coming – there come, under the subtitle “historical titles”: Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, and Servant of the Servants of God.
According to Horst, such a change of the presentation of the Roman Pontiff in the Annuario Pontificio “could only have happened upon request by Francis himself.”
In comments to the Tagespost, Cardinal Gerhard Müller points out that in the new presentations of the titles of the Pope, there are mixed together titles with dogmatic significance with those that do not bear such weight and who have a historical background (such as “Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City”).
The German cardinal goes on to speak about the “embarrassment” that the Annuario Pontificio has “demeaned essential elements of the Catholic teaching on the primacy [of the Pope] as mere historical appendix.” He insisted that it is “a theological barbarism to demean as historical burden the titles of the Pope ‘Successor of Peter, Representative of Christ, and visible head of the entire Church.’” He stated that the bishops, as successors of the Apostles, “together with the ‘Successor of Peter, Representative of Christ, and visible head of the entire Church, rule the house of the Living God.” (Lumen gentium 18)
“No Pope or Ecumenical Council,” the German prelate continued, “could, with reference to their highest authority over the Church, do away with the primacy, the episcopacy, or the Sacraments, or to re-interpret them in their essence.”
A commentator quoted by Guido Horst noted that the change in the yearbook denotes a “defective understanding of the office,” pointing out that important titles such as “Successor of the Prince of the Apostles” have also been downgraded as mere historical titles.
Professor Armin Schwibach, the Rome Correspondent for the Austrian website Kath.net, commented on Twitter: “It seems that they continue to dismantle everything.”
In 2006, Pope Benedict made a change to the usual presentation of the Roman Pontiff in the Annuario Pontificio when removing altogether the papal title “Patriarch of the West.” At the time, this decision was interpreted as an act of “evidently hoping to eliminate one possible obstacle to ecumenical progress with the Orthodox world.”