bonginoreport--2020-05-05--Matt Gaetz Tells AG Barr to Ground Chinese-Made Drones

Rep. Matt Gaetz is calling on Attorney General William Barr to ground all Da Jiang Innovations drones owned and operated by U.S. government entities , including local and state law enforcement , over cybersecurity concerns that they may provide data to China .
Gaetz wrote in a Monday letter to Barr and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen that there are considerable national security threats that could come from drones that are produced by the Chinese company DJI and are then distributed to state and local agencies .
The Florida Republican called his efforts a move to stop the potential transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities that have already banned the Chinese-made drones .
The U.S. Army and Interior Department have previously suspended the use of these drones over possible security threats .
`` The reason for these bans has been national security , grounded in well-established assessments that DJI UAS ( drones ) may transmit sensitive information to China , '' Gaetz wrote .
To help mitigate the coronavirus pandemic , DJI recently announced its Disaster Relief Program , which aimed to help equip public safety agencies throughout the United States with high-end technology for their operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the company announced it was distributing 100 drones to 45 police , fire , and public safety organizations in 22 states .
Gaetz said at least two drones were provided to the Daytona Beach Police Department in Florida .
`` These 'donations ' are deeply troubling to us , '' he wrote .
The company has responded to claims of spying , saying there is no ulterior motive to the drones being distributed to states and localities .
`` Some people are trying to score ideological points by discouraging the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protect American first responders , '' DJI Technology spokesman Adam Lisberg told Fox News .
Gaetz also appeared on the network 's Tucker Carlson Tonight on Monday to discuss pressuring the Justice Department to investigate and ground these technologies .
`` We should not be spied on by our own government and giving the information then to a foreign government that 's hostile , '' Gaetz told Carlson .

Rep. Matt Gaetz is calling on Attorney General William Barr to ground all Da Jiang Innovations drones owned and operated by U.S. government entities, including local and state law enforcement, over cybersecurity concerns that they may provide data to China.
Gaetz wrote in a Monday letter to Barr and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen that there are considerable national security threats that could come from drones that are produced by the Chinese company DJI and are then distributed to state and local agencies.
The Florida Republican called his efforts a move to stop the potential transmission of sensitive information to China and credited authorities that have already banned the Chinese-made drones. The U.S. Army and Interior Department have previously suspended the use of these drones over possible security threats.
"The reason for these bans has been national security, grounded in well-established assessments that DJI UAS (drones) may transmit sensitive information to China," Gaetz wrote.
To help mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, DJI recently announced its Disaster Relief Program, which aimed to help equip public safety agencies throughout the United States with high-end technology for their operations during the COVID-19 spread. In April, the company announced it was distributing 100 drones to 45 police, fire, and public safety organizations in 22 states.
Gaetz said at least two drones were provided to the Daytona Beach Police Department in Florida.
"These 'donations' are deeply troubling to us," he wrote.
The company has responded to claims of spying, saying there is no ulterior motive to the drones being distributed to states and localities.
"Some people are trying to score ideological points by discouraging the use of important equipment and tools that save lives and protect American first responders," DJI Technology spokesman Adam Lisberg told Fox News.
Gaetz also appeared on the network's Tucker Carlson Tonight on Monday to discuss pressuring the Justice Department to investigate and ground these technologies.
"We should not be spied on by our own government and giving the information then to a foreign government that's hostile," Gaetz told Carlson.


bonginoreport--2020-05-05--The CDC Did Not Revise Their Coronavirus Death Toll Downward

CINCINNATI — Despite recent social media chatter to the contrary , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not revised its coronavirus death toll count downward , as of May 2 .
Social media posts started circulating over the weekend pointing to CDC numbers showing a much lower number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 .
Many said the agency had adjusted its death count on Friday .
Some used that data to perpetuate conspiracy theories of over-inflated death tolls , in some cases arguing the higher numbers had been used to stoke fear and to justify shutdown decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly if it had revised the death count and asked about the apparent discrepancy in the numbers .
A spokesperson forwarded this response : As this statement indicates , the claim that the CDC adjusted its death count downward is not true .
Rather , the perception of a revision is the result of comparing two different sets of numbers without proper context .
The CDC total COVID-19 death count stood at roughly 67,456 deaths as of May 4 , 2020 .
At the same time , the provisional death count from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was reported at 38,576 .
The agency said there can be a lag time in the reporting of provisional deaths because of the wait for death certificates .
The provisional number updates weekly and can be adjusted up or down over time .
Meanwhile , the total count updates throughout the day and includes real-time preliminary reports from various health departments .
The CDC website also explains other possible count discrepancies : • Provisional death counts may not match counts from other sources -- like media reports or even local health departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two weeks behind other counts because it takes time for local authorities to complete death certificates , and waiting for test results can create further delays .
• Some states report deaths at different rates than others : Currently 63 % of all U.S. deaths are reported within 10 days , but that varies widely .
• It takes extra steps to designate a death as a COVID-19-related death : NCHS can code the vast majority -- 80 % -- of deaths within 10 minutes , but COVID-19 deaths must be coded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven days to the reporting process .
• Other agencies ' reporting systems might use different definitions or methods when counting deaths .
The agency recently provided extensive technical notes on its data reporting for COVID-19 on its website .
WCPO used internet archives to cross-reference the numbers , using both one- and two-week lag times .
We wanted to see if the preliminary numbers proved accurate after the death certificate counts were reported , and we wanted to see if the count had been revised down at any point .
For April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 reporting that sparked online outrage over the death count , the CDC reported a total of 50,439 COVID-19 deaths .
The NCHS provisional death count was 24,555 .
For April 17 , the CDC reported a total of 33,049 deaths .
That same day , the provisional death count was 13,130 .
The agency reported a total count of 16,570 deaths on April 10 , compared to 4,984 provisional deaths that day .
Using these archives , we can see that the provisional numbers are in fact trending higher than the totals @ @ @ @ @

CINCINNATI — Despite recent social media chatter to the contrary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not revised its coronavirus death toll count downward, as of May 2.
Social media posts started circulating over the weekend pointing to CDC numbers showing a much lower number of deaths attributed to COVID-19. Many said the agency had adjusted its death count on Friday. Some used that data to perpetuate conspiracy theories of over-inflated death tolls, in some cases arguing the higher numbers had been used to stoke fear and to justify shutdown decisions.
What’s the explanation here? “New CDC Coronavirus Data Cuts American Death Toll Nearly In HALF” https://t.co/CyyDpI8Fll — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 3, 2020
On Saturday, WCPO asked the CDC directly if it had revised the death count and asked about the apparent discrepancy in the numbers. A spokesperson forwarded this response:
"The COVID-19 death count shown here includes deaths reported daily by state, local, and territorial health departments. This count reflects the most real-time information CDC has based on preliminary reporting from health departments.
"In contrast, provisional COVID-19 death counts from NCHS are based on information collected from death certificates. It can take several weeks for death certificates to be submitted, processed, coded and tabulated, so these data lag and may not include all deaths that occurred during a given time period, especially for more recent periods. Death counts from earlier weeks are continually revised and may increase or decrease as new and updated death certificate data are received."
As this statement indicates, the claim that the CDC adjusted its death count downward is not true. Rather, the perception of a revision is the result of comparing two different sets of numbers without proper context.
The CDC total COVID-19 death count stood at roughly 67,456 deaths as of May 4, 2020. At the same time, the provisional death count from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) was reported at 38,576.
The agency said there can be a lag time in the reporting of provisional deaths because of the wait for death certificates. The provisional number updates weekly and can be adjusted up or down over time.
Meanwhile, the total count updates throughout the day and includes real-time preliminary reports from various health departments.
The CDC website also explains other possible count discrepancies:
Provisional death counts may not match counts from other sources -- like media reports or even local health departments.
-- like media reports or even local health departments. CDC counts can track one or two weeks behind other counts because it takes time for local authorities to complete death certificates, and waiting for test results can create further delays.
because it takes time for local authorities to complete death certificates, and waiting for test results can create further delays. Some states report deaths at different rates than others: Currently 63% of all U.S. deaths are reported within 10 days, but that varies widely.
Currently 63% of all U.S. deaths are reported within 10 days, but that varies widely. It takes extra steps to designate a death as a COVID-19-related death: NCHS can code the vast majority -- 80% -- of deaths within 10 minutes, but COVID-19 deaths must be coded manually. That adds an average of seven days to the reporting process.
NCHS can code the vast majority -- 80% -- of deaths within 10 minutes, but COVID-19 deaths must be coded manually. That adds an average of seven days to the reporting process. Other agencies' reporting systems might use different definitions or methods when counting deaths.
The agency recently provided extensive technical notes on its data reporting for COVID-19 on its website.
I’m well aware of the CDC “lag times” but this isn’t that, so stop with that excuse for these numbers.
They’ve separated out other illnesses that were the actual causes of deaths and now the mortality rate is half of what it was last week.
It’s been nothing but a scam. pic.twitter.com/UR3AWvHMjG — John ‘Murder Hornet’ Cardillo (@johncardillo) May 2, 2020
WCPO used internet archives to cross-reference the numbers, using both one- and two-week lag times. We wanted to see if the preliminary numbers proved accurate after the death certificate counts were reported, and we wanted to see if the count had been revised down at any point.
For April 24, one week from the May 1 reporting that sparked online outrage over the death count, the CDC reported a total of 50,439 COVID-19 deaths. The NCHS provisional death count was 24,555.
For April 17, the CDC reported a total of 33,049 deaths. That same day, the provisional death count was 13,130.
The agency reported a total count of 16,570 deaths on April 10, compared to 4,984 provisional deaths that day.
Using these archives, we can see that the provisional numbers are in fact trending higher than the totals from two weeks prior.


bonginoreport--2020-05-05--Alleged Dossier Source Sergei Millian Speaks Out

Sergei Millian is not in hiding .
Even if he was , he isn ’ t any longer .
He reached out to SaraACarter.com on Tuesday to dispute a recent podcast interview with a famous British historian who accused him of possibly being connected to Russia ’ s GRU , Moscow ’ s military intelligence .
He called the allegations outlandish and accused historian Nigel West of attempting to spread disinformation about him , much like former British spy Christopher Steele did about the Trump campaign .
Millian , an American citizen born in Belarus , was believed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s infamous and now-debunked dossier .
But lawmakers and some intelligence experts have more questions than answers when it comes to Millian .
They say Millian is the only one that can provide clarity on what exactly happened during his time with Steele .
On Monday , this reporter interviewed West on The Sara Carter Show podcast .
He stated that he believed , based on Millian ’ s own past statements in open-source media , that he could be linked to Russian intelligence .
Shortly after the podcast and story were posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dispute West ’ s assertions saying emphatically that the information is “ one-hundred percent false.
” “ Nigel West so far gave 100 % false information about me in his last public interview in London ( where he claimed I was PSS ) , ” Millian told me .
“ Now , he doubled on from the first lie and there is not an ounce of truth what he claims .
He is an out of his mind crazy , deranged man .
I ’ m not kidding .
Ask him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumors and wild innuendoes .
USSR disbanded when I was still a teenager .
The big question is why West , out of London , lies about me , an AMERICAN citizen , so much just like Steele before West ?
Is it coordinated and what ’ s their plan ?
” But a mystery still surrounds Millian and senior U.S. lawmakers are seeking to interview him .
Ranking Republican of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes has said he wishes to interview the mysterious Millian .
Nunes told Maria Bartiromo on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of April , that his investigators zeroed in on three Russian Americans during their probe of the FBI ’ s handling of its Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign .
He said Millian was the most important figure in recent information released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz .
“ Because of new information that has come out because of the Horowitz report that ’ s declassified that we ’ ve been talking about for a long time and the FISAs , we now are targeting what appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think the most important one is somebody that we actually asked to come to our committee named Sergei Millian .
He is hiding somewhere around the globe — we don ’ t know exactly what country he ’ s in .
But we really would like Sergei to come forward and talk to us because , either he was , you know , working for Fusion GPS and the Clinton campaign and dirtying up Trump people , or it ’ s quite possible that he may have been framed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Millian ’ s whereabouts but was able to confirm the authenticity of his message .
Millian did not respond to questions regarding Nunes and whether or not he ’ d speak to the committee , however , there are a number of intelligence sources that believe Millian may have been framed by Steele .
In the podcast broadcast Monday , West claimed that the Russian disinformation pointed out in the recent declassification of the footnotes in DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report may have been directly linked to Sergei Millian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s only real identifiable source in his report .
He also said Millian may have had ties in his early life to Russia ’ s GRU , Moscow ’ s military intelligence , by his own admission .
Millian disputes everything West said to this reporter about him .
I have transcribed some of the West interview below from a recent article : “ There does appear to have been at least one Russian source for Chris , ” said West , referring to Millian .
West said the problem with Millian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So there is no question by his own admission that he had a relationship with the GRU , ” said West .
“ Whether that can continue in play to life is a matter of speculation whether he had any kind of a relationship with them one doesn ’ t know .
But he is in Russia now and is not answering his cell phone.
” This reporter has now sent Millian ’ s question to West .
We will update this story as soon as West responds .

War on drugs: agents seized enough to kill U.S. population 19 times
The war on drugs being fought on a daily basis at our borders has been able to be quantified with...


bonginoreport--2020-05-05--California Professor With Ties to China Blames Trump for Coronavirus

Chapman University Professor and de facto Chinese Communist Party propagandist Dr. Jia Wenshan blamed President Trump for the novel coronavirus , alleging he ’ s a “ white supremacist ” that must be “ swept into the basket of history ” in an op-ed for the state-run Chinese media outlet China Global Television Network .
While Jia is a professor of communications at the California-based school , he also retains an affiliation with several China-based institutions .
He ’ s an adjunct professor at Shandong University , a research fellow at Renmin University ’ s National Academy for Development and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CCP-linked Center for China and Globalization .
In fact , he coined the awkward term “ Chiglobalization ” in 2009 , which he defines as “ the increasing global relevance , global presence , global influence , and global leadership of China.
” He even authored the book “ Greater China in an Era of Globalization.
” Given President Trump ’ s firm rejection of the “ false song of globalism ” and aptitude for preventing China ’ s continued siphoning of American jobs , Jia is no fan of his .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , an op-ed entitled “ The Trump Administration Is Responsible For The Triple Pandemics ” for state-owned outlet CGTN , he pins the virus itself , ensuing economic fallout , and alleged escalation of racism on President Trump .
“ Removal of Trumpism would be an effective cure to the tri-calamities , ” he summarizes .
Jia rebukes President Trump ’ s virus response , noting it only “ appease [ s ] and please [ s ] populists and White supremacists by fanning racial hatred against people of Asian descent.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by White supremacy and xenophobia , ” he rationalizes .
And President Trump ’ s failures transcend coronavirus : his administration has “ failed to make America great again .
Instead , it has made America decline again , politically , economically and culturally.
” “ The U.S. and the world would be much better off without the Trump administration ’ s ideology .
To end the triple crises , it must be swept into the basket of history , ” Jia proposes .
The article is not out of line with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China is “ shifting from a participant to a leader of the new world order , ” declared the CCP ’ s Belt and Road Initiative “ good for the world , ” and proclaimed the “ US can ’ t stop China ’ s rise all of the time.
” He even criticized President Trump ’ s State of the Union address , alleging “ the State of the Union is not strong , grudgingly strong , or partially strong ” which could be mended if “ the populist , protectionist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Pulse ’ s request for comment , Chapman University ’ s Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications responded : “ Chapman University is firmly committed to the principles of academic freedom and free speech.
” While freedom of speech is a paramount and fleeting luxury on American college campuses , given the suspicious nature of CCP involvement and investment in American institutions and Xi ’ s 2016 diktat that “ wherever the readers are , wherever the viewers are , that is where propaganda reports must extend their tentacles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance that pro-China , anti-Trump commentary isn ’ t “ free speech ” but rather CCP-funded propaganda .
And narratives like Jia ’ s help prop up the CCP , a communist regime with no reverence for the freedom of speech .
This report follows House Republicans launching an investigation into the CCP ’ s infiltration into American schools , in addition to the countless instances of intellectual property theft and Confucius Institute-sponsored propaganda campaigns .

Chapman University Professor and de facto Chinese Communist Party propagandist Dr. Jia Wenshan blamed President Trump for the novel coronavirus, alleging he’s a “white supremacist” that must be “swept into the basket of history” in an op-ed for the state-run Chinese media outlet China Global Television Network.
While Jia is a professor of communications at the California-based school, he also retains an affiliation with several China-based institutions. He’s an adjunct professor at Shandong University, a research fellow at Renmin University’s National Academy for Development and Strategy, and a senior fellow at the CCP-linked Center for China and Globalization.
And he’s consistently applauded China’s ascent to power.
In fact, he coined the awkward term “Chiglobalization” in 2009, which he defines as “the increasing global relevance, global presence, global influence, and global leadership of China.” He even authored the book “Greater China in an Era of Globalization.”
Given President Trump’s firm rejection of the “false song of globalism” and aptitude for preventing China’s continued siphoning of American jobs, Jia is no fan of his.
In Jia’s latest tirade against the president, an op-ed entitled “The Trump Administration Is Responsible For The Triple Pandemics” for state-owned outlet CGTN, he pins the virus itself, ensuing economic fallout, and alleged escalation of racism on President Trump.
“Removal of Trumpism would be an effective cure to the tri-calamities,” he summarizes.
Jia rebukes President Trump’s virus response, noting it only “appease[s] and please[s] populists and White supremacists by fanning racial hatred against people of Asian descent.”
“The Trump administration is characterized by White supremacy and xenophobia,” he rationalizes.
And President Trump’s failures transcend coronavirus: his administration has “failed to make America great again. Instead, it has made America decline again, politically, economically and culturally.”
Jia’s solution?
“The U.S. and the world would be much better off without the Trump administration’s ideology. To end the triple crises, it must be swept into the basket of history,” Jia proposes.
The article is not out of line with his past work: Jia has glorified how China is “shifting from a participant to a leader of the new world order,” declared the CCP’s Belt and Road Initiative “good for the world,” and proclaimed the “US can’t stop China’s rise all of the time.”
He even criticized President Trump’s State of the Union address, alleging “the State of the Union is not strong, grudgingly strong, or partially strong” which could be mended if “the populist, protectionist, unilateral policies are stopped.”
In response to the National Pulse’s request for comment, Chapman University’s Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications responded: “Chapman University is firmly committed to the principles of academic freedom and free speech.”
While freedom of speech is a paramount and fleeting luxury on American college campuses, given the suspicious nature of CCP involvement and investment in American institutions and Xi’s 2016 diktat that “wherever the readers are, wherever the viewers are, that is where propaganda reports must extend their tentacles,” there’s a solid chance that pro-China, anti-Trump commentary isn’t “free speech” but rather CCP-funded propaganda.
And narratives like Jia’s help prop up the CCP, a communist regime with no reverence for the freedom of speech.
This report follows House Republicans launching an investigation into the CCP’s infiltration into American schools, in addition to the countless instances of intellectual property theft and Confucius Institute-sponsored propaganda campaigns.


bonginoreport--2020-05-05--Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson Resigns After Breaking Lockdown Rules to Meet Lover

The scientist whose advice led to Boris Johnson introducing lockdown measures to combat coronavirus has resigned from his government role after he breached the restrictions to meet his married lover .
Professor Neil Ferguson , 51 , allowed the woman , Antonia Staats , to travel across London to visit him at his home despite the lockdown , which he has continually stressed is vital in stopping the spread of the killer virus .
Ms Staats , 38 , lives with her husband , who is in his 30s , and their two children in a £1.9 million house in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city to visit the scientist on at least two occasions after the lockdown was announced on March 23 .
Prof Ferguson , an Imperial College epidemiologist and a member of the SAGE committee that advises the government on tackling the pandemic , leads a team which produced the research that led to lockdown , with their findings suggesting 500,000 Britons could die without strict restrictions being put in place .
However , despite his repeated demands that the public follow lockdown measures , he himself met with his lover on at least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The scientist , who is married with a son but believed to be separated from his wife , has now resigned his SAGE position .
Ms Staats visited Prof Ferguson just after he had finished two weeks of self-isolation after testing positive for the virus .
The visits came despite the government warning couples that they would either have to move in with each other or face staying apart during the coronavirus lockdown .
It was suggested the restrictions are an opportunity to 'test relationships ' and Jenny Harries , the deputy chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two halves of a couple are currently in separate households , ideally they should stay in those households .
'The alternative might be that , for quite a significant period going forwards , they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household . '
Prof Ferguson is thought to have met Ms Staat 's husband and they share an interest in data science , according to a friend .
He is said to have met Ms Staats through the online dating site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first of Ms Staat 's visits to Prof Ferguson was on Monday March 30 , a week into coronavirus lockdown .
He appeared on the BBC Today programme at 7.50am that day , with Ms Staats thought to be at the house at the time .
The visit coincided with a public warning by Prof Ferguson that the lockdown measures would have to remain until at least June .
Ms Staats , who is a left-wing campaigner , made a second visit to Prof Ferguson on April 8 , despite reportedly telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an academic in his 30s , had symptoms of coronavirus .
Professor Neil Ferguson , 51 , was born in Cumbria but grew up in Mid Wales , earning a masters degree in Physics and a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Oxford .
He specialises in measuring the spread of infectious disease in humans and animals through mathematical modelling and has provided data on several outbreaks including the swine flu outbreak in 2009 in the UK , the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak and the ebola epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently the director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College , London , and , before his resignation , a member of the government 's SAGE committee that advises ministers on tackling the coronavirus pandemic .
His Imperial College profile says : ' A major research interest throughout my career has been on developing mathematical models of the geographic spread of newly emergent pathogens – such as ... SARS and MERS ' .
In March , his team presented a report that suggested 500,000 could die of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report is credited as inspiring the subsequent restrictions to battle the illness .
However , experts cast doubt on the work of Prof Ferguson and a rival academic claimed he has a patchy record of modelling epidemics .
Professor Michael Thrusfield of Edinburgh University said Prof Ferguson was previously instrumental in modelling that led to the cull of more than 6 million animals during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 , which left rural Britain economically devastated .
Then , Prof Ferguson and his Imperial colleagues concluded : 'Extensive culling is sadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British epidemic . '
But Prof Thrusfield , an expert in animal diseases , claimed the model made incorrect assumptions about how foot and mouth disease was transmitted and , in a 2006 review , he claimed Imperial 's foot and mouth model was 'not fit for purpose ' , while in 2011 he said it was 'severely flawed ' .
Prof Thrusfield told The Daily Telegraph the episode was ' a cautionary tale ' about the limits of mathematical modelling and he felt a sense of 'déjà vu ' about the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's foot and mouth work , saying they were doing 'modelling in real time ' with 'limited data ' .
He added : ' I think the broad conclusions reached were still valid . '
She and her husband live in a £1.9 million home with their two children and are understood to be in an 'open relationship ' .
Ms Staats grew up in Isny , south Germany , went to university in Berlin and came to London in 2003 , earning a masters in Asian Politics from the School of Oriental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works .
In a podcast on March 31 Miss Staats said of the lockdown : ' I think it 's also a strain on – maybe strained has sounded too negative – but it 's an interesting relationship challenge , for Chris [ her husband ] and my relationship . '
She has worked for Avaaz , a US-based online network which promotes global activism on issues such as climate change .
In 2017 , Ms Staats was pictured protesting outside Parliament next to puppets of Theresa May and Rupert Murdoch while holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulling the strings . '
Ms Staats has insisted her actions to visit the scientist are not hypocritical , as she considers the households to be one .
Prof Ferguson said today : ' I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action .
I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage [ the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ] . '
I acted in the belief that I was immune , having tested positive for coronavirus , and completely isolated myself for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic .
The Government guidance is unequivocal , and is there to protect all of us . '
A few weeks after the second visit , Prof Ferguson warned that the number of deaths from coronavirus could reach 100,000 in the UK by the end of this year if a gradual lockdown is implemented just to shield the elderly .
He said it was impossible to send the young and healthy back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown without seeing a huge increase in deaths .
The epidemiologist added that some degree of social isolation will continue to be required until a vaccine to the killer bug is released .
He has faced criticism for suggesting that UK deaths could hit 500,000 prior to the lockdown .
Bur Prof Ferguson previously insisted there had been nothing wrong his prediction , saying he 'd made it prior to the government bringing in tough measures and said he never thought that such a lockdown would have been pursued .
Scotland 's chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resign last month after making two trips to her second home during the coronavirus lockdown .
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the affair risked 'undermining the Government 's lockdown message ' .
In other developments in the UK 's coronavirus battle today : • None Dominic Raab issued a thinly-veiled warning to Russia and China tonight as he lashed out at 'predatory ' hackers targeting organisations involved in the fight against coronavirus ; • None At least 12 different strains of coronavirus were circulating in the UK in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been found in Britain , Government-funded study finds ; • None Rishi Sunak could reduce government furlough wage support from 80 per cent to 60 per cent in the months ahead as part of a plan to ease Britain back to work , it was claimed today ; • None Experts warned the NHS 's new coronavirus track-and-trace app could be hijacked by trolls ; • None Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her own lockdown 'exit strategy ' and suggested she will not let schools open until August ; • None Cities and rural areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures are eased , the Government 's Chief Scientific Adviser hinted today .
Another 693 people were today confirmed to have died of COVID-19 in Britain , taking the number of victims to 29,427 and making Britain the worst-hit nation in Europe .
And separate backdated figures from the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) show the figure appears to have already been higher than 32,000 by April 24 - 10 days ago .
That number is 42 per cent higher than the count announced by the Department of Health at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be higher than 40,000 - this would mean COVID-19 has killed more Britons in eight weeks than died over seven months during the Blitz bombings in World War Two .
Today 's data confirms that more people have died of the coronavirus in the UK than in Italy , still considered to be the worst-hit country in Europe and had suffered 29,079 fatalities by this morning .
Only the US has had more deaths than Britain - almost 70,000 - while there have been 25,600 in Spain and 25,200 in France .
Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more cases of the life-threatening virus had been confirmed , taking the official size of the outbreak to 194,990 - but the true size of the UK 's crisis is a mystery due to the controversial decision to abandon widespread testing early on .
In Downing Street 's press conference , Mr Raab also lashed out at 'predatory ' hackers targeting organisations involved in the fight against coronavirus , saying criminals and 'hostile states ' were trying to take advantage of the crisis for their own 'malicious ends ' .
Discussing the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disaster in Britain was a 'massive tragedy ' on a scale the country has never seen before .
He refused to speculate on international comparisons .
Meanwhile , Mr Raab warned that a blanket reopening of schools next month would risk a deadly second wave of coronavirus .
The Foreign Secretary dashed hopes of a widespread return after half-term , warning that it was too soon to even consider the move .
Speaking at the daily No 10 press briefing , Mr Raab said evidence from scientists indicated that opening all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real risk ’ of a steep rise in transmission rates .
The warning came just hours after Nicola Sturgeon said schools north of the border were unlikely to reopen in the foreseeable future .
Scotland ’ s First Minister said reopening now would ‘ most likely ’ see hospitals north of the border ‘ overwhelmed ’ with coronavirus cases within two months .
She warned it ‘ might not be possible at all ahead of the summer holidays ’ .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs there would be a ‘ phased approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ We will take a phased approach in terms of reopening schools and we will always aim to give schools , parents and , of course , critically importantly , children the maximum notice in terms of when this is going to happen.
’ Mr Raab said that it would not be a ‘ binary ’ situation where schools were either fully open or fully shut .
He added : ‘ At least to date the evidence has been that we wouldn ’ t be able to open up all schools without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the transmission rate – would rise at such a level that we would risk a second spike.
’ He said he had asked the Government ’ s scientific advisers for the best options and would be guided by them .
Sources last night said ministers were still hopeful that some children could go back to school after half-term at the beginning of next month .
However , they have ruled out making any return compulsory .
Sources told the Mail parents would not face fines if they refuse to send children back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only some year groups going back to school at first to allow for greater social distancing in the classroom .
Under normal circumstances schooling is compulsory , with parents facing £60 fines if they fail to send their children to school without good reason .
Fines double to £120 if not paid within 21 days , and parents can face prosecution if they refuse to pay after 28 days .
Teaching unions have asked for guarantees that fines will be suspended during any back-to-school transition , when many children will still be told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned they ‘ must not be used as an experiment ’ , amid fears that resistance to returning to classrooms could render the reopening of schools impossible .

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Professor Neil Ferguson was branded an ‘arrogant hypocrite’ today for catastrophically 'undermining' the government’s position by flouting the strict coronavirus social distancing rules he helped draw up to have secret trysts with his married lover.
The shamed scientist, nicknamed 'Professor Lockdown' because he convinced Boris Johnson to order millions to stay at home, has sensationally quit his Government role on the influential SAGE committee - but his employer Imperial College London is standing by him.
Professor Ferguson, 51, asked his mistress Antonia Staats, 38, to travel across London to his home at least twice despite lecturing 66million in Britain on the need to stay apart to stop the spread of the killer virus. The scandal broke last night and critics have said he 'undermined the government's lockdown message' on one of the darkest days of the pandemic when the ONS said Britain's death toll climbed to 32,375 people - the highest in Europe.
In a resignation statement last night, the academic, who is married with a son but is believed to be separated from his wife, admitted he had 'made an error of judgement' but claimed he thought he was 'immune' to the illness - despite leading scientists and the World Health Organisation saying there is still not enough evidence recovering from Covid-19 can protect you from reinfection.
Piers Morgan tweeted: 'Unbelievable and shocking. So, the government is ''following the science'' of scientists who don't even follow their own science. What a shameful shambles. Professor Ferguson's excuse is he thought he was immune from COVID-19 after having it - despite there being zero scientific proof people who've had it actually get immunity. And this guy's the No1 'expert' on whom the government is basing its entire coronavirus strategy?'
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Scientists like him have told us we should not be doing it, so surely in his case, it is a case of we have been doing as he says and he has been doing as he wants. He has peculiarly breached his own guidelines. For an intelligent man, I find that very hard to believe. It risks undermining the Government's lockdown message'.
Good Morning Britain medic Dr Hilary Jones said today: 'He says it was an error of judgement but I don't think there was any judgement at all. He was prepared to take risks but when you take risks you not only put yourself at risk but others as well. He had no choice but to resign as it was unacceptable that someone who set down rules and told the government what measures should be in place does that.'
Psychologist Emma Kenny told GMB: 'I'm not surprised he has broken his own rules because he consistently got the figures wrong and has given us a completely false representation of what we are facing'.
The epidemiologist, director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College, London, authored the report containing the apocalyptic prediction that coronavirus could kill 500,000 Britons - convincing the Prime Minister he had to lockdown the country from March 23.
Yet on March 30, Ms Staats, who lives with her husband and their two children in a £1.9million house in south London, travelled across the capital to visit her scientist lover, who then apparently warned the country the lockdown would be necessary until June in a BBC interview when Ms Staats was allegedly in his flat.
His married lover, a Left-wing campaigner who has repeated slammed Boris Johnson and Brexit on social media, made a second visit to Professor Ferguson on April 8 despite telling friends that her husband, an academic in his 30s, was showing symptoms of coronavirus, according to the Telegraph.
Ms Staats has reportedly insisted her actions to visit the scientist are not hypocritical, as she considers the households to be one because she is understood to be in an 'open relationship'.
The scientist has quit his role on the secretive SAGE committee of experts advising the Prime Minister but Imperial College London appears to be standing by him and said today that Prof Ferguson 'continues to focus on his important research'.
Professor Neil Ferguson, 51, pictured on March 25 before the Commons Science and Technology Committee - five days before allowed his married lover, Antonia Staats, to visit him at his home, despite the lockdown. Ms Staats, 38, who lives with her husband and their children in another house, visited the scientist at least twice
Ms Staats is believed to have visited the scientist shortly after he finished self-isolating for two weeks
In 2017, Ms Staats was pictured protesting outside Parliament next to puppets of Theresa May and Rupert Murdoch while holding a banner that read: 'Stop Murdoch pulling the strings.'
Ms Staats (second left) has insisted her actions to visit the scientist are not hypocritical, as she considers the households to be one
How Professor Neil Ferguson has advised the government on series of outbreaks including swine flu, foot and mouth and BSE Professor Neil Ferguson, 51, was born in Cumbria but grew up in Mid Wales, earning a masters degree in Physics and a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Oxford. He specialises in measuring the spread of infectious disease in humans and animals through mathematical modelling and has provided data on several outbreaks including the swine flu outbreak in 2009 in the UK, the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak and the ebola epidemic in Western Africa in 2016. He is currently the director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College, London, and, before his resignation, a member of the government's SAGE committee that advises ministers on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. In March, he calculated that without a draconian national lockdown, coronavirus would claim 510,000 lives. But crucially, he also estimated that 250,000 would die if ministers stuck with the strategy of controlling the spread with limited measures – such as home isolation for those displaying symptoms of the virus. Prof Ferguson reckoned that if the strictest possible measures were introduced the number of deaths over a two-year period would fall to below 20,000. In hindsight that estimate was ambitious – in less than three months Britain's death toll has soared to more than 32,000. But it was enough to persuade Mr Johnson to impose the most drastic peacetime measures ever seen. Prof Ferguson has been a regular presence on television and on the radio throughout the crisis. But he has rejected the 'Professor Lockdown' nickname used by many. In one interview, on the Andrew Marr show last month, he insisted it was up to ministers to make the decisions. 'We provide scientific evidence along with a lot of other scientific groups across the country which fed into government policy,' he said. 'But we did not determine that policy, there are a number of balancing acts involved in doing that.' He also points out that he leads one of at least five modelling teams who had come to similar conclusions in March. But as a long-term member of the Government's SAGE scientific advisory committee – and with a high-profile media presence – his voice is one that will have been heard louder than most. On March 18 he fell victim to the virus himself. Two days previously he stood next to Health Secretary Matt Hancock at a Press conference. Mr Hancock learned he had the virus a few days later. Mr Johnson and Chris Whitty, the chief medical advisor, developed symptoms the same day. Colleagues describe the 51-year-old as an energetic workaholic who has little need for sleep. Prof Ferguson rose to prominence during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis. His research, carried out with mentor Professor Roy Anderson, helped persuade Tony Blair's government to carry out a devastating cull of animals, and saw him awarded an OBE.His work suggested that animals to be culled should include not only those found to be infected with the virus but also those on adjacent farms. A decade later another highly critical report said the Government ordered the destruction of millions of animals because of 'severely flawed' modelling. In 2002, Prof Ferguson published a report on the BSE crisis, years after the peak of the episode.He speculated that BSE in cows and sheep could cause up to 150,000 human deaths – to date fewer than 200 have died. He has since been involved in modelling numbers during the SARS, bird flu, ebola and Zika epidemics, with varying accuracy. He stands by his work – pointing out that each calculation has come with a 'range' of possible eventualities. Advertisement
The epidemiologist said in a statement: 'I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage [the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies].
'I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus, and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms.
'I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic. The Government guidance is unequivocal, and is there to protect all of us.'
Security Minister James Brokenshire said Prof Ferguson had 'made the right decision' in resigning from Sage.
He told Sky News: 'Professor Ferguson, I think, has obviously made his statement underlining that there's no excuse for not following the social distancing rules, and I think he's made the right decision here.
'The work of Sage continues and obviously we will continue to be informed by that group and the experts that provide that support to the Government.'
Asked whether Prof Ferguson's comments about immunity - in which he stated that he believed he was immune after contracting Covid-19 - should be taken seriously, Mr Brokenshire said it is 'too early' to reach conclusions.
Ms Staats visited Prof Ferguson just after he had finished two weeks of self-isolation after testing positive for the virus.
The visits came despite the government warning couples that they would either have to move in with each other or face staying apart during the coronavirus lockdown.
He told the BBC Today Programme in mid-April, after he had seen his lover: 'If we want to reopen schools, let people get back to work then we need to keep transmissions down in another manner. It's not going to be going back to normal, we will have to maintain some level of social distancing, significant level of social distancing probably indefinitely until we have a vaccine available'.
It was suggested the restrictions are an opportunity to 'test relationships' and Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said: 'If the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households, ideally they should stay in those households.
'The alternative might be that, for quite a significant period going forwards, they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household.'
Prof Ferguson is thought to have met Ms Staat's husband and they share an interest in data science, according to a friend. He is said to have met Ms Staats through the online dating site OkCupid more than a year ago.
The first of Ms Staat's visits to Prof Ferguson was on Monday March 30, a week into coronavirus lockdown.
He appeared on the BBC Today programme at 7.50am that day, with Ms Staats thought to be at the house at the time.
The visit coincided with a public warning by Prof Ferguson that the lockdown measures would have to remain until at least June.
Ms Staats, who is a left-wing campaigner, made a second visit to Prof Ferguson on April 8, despite reportedly telling friends that she suspected her own husband, an academic in his 30s, had symptoms of coronavirus.
She and her husband live in a £1.9 million home with their two children and are understood to be in an 'open relationship'.
Ms Staats grew up in Isny, south Germany, went to university in Berlin and came to London in 2003, earning a masters in Asian Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, where her husband works.
In a podcast on March 31 Miss Staats said of the lockdown: 'I think it's also a strain on – maybe strained has sounded too negative – but it's an interesting relationship challenge, for Chris [her husband] and my relationship.'
She has worked for Avaaz, a US-based online network which promotes global activism on issues such as climate change.
Professor Neil Ferguson (left on April 5) warned the number of deaths from coronavirus in the UK could reach 500,000 if lockdown wasn't implemented - yet he was still happy to spend the night with Antonia Staats, who reportedly told friends that she suspected her own husband, an academic in his 30s, had symptoms of coronavirus
How architect of the lockdown lectured the country while flouting the rules MARCH 16: A week before the lockdown began Professor Neil Ferguson was arguing that a full lockdown was required to slow the number of deaths and said: 'We are left with no option but to adopt this more draconian strategy'. A report he authored for his employer Imperial College London warned that 500,000 people could die without mass self-isolation of households. MARCH 17: He visited Downing Street to advise the Prime Minister on his findings including recommendations for a lockdown. MARCH 18: Professor Ferguson tests positive for coronavirus MARCH 23: Boris Johnson announces there will be a lockdown in a national TV address MARCH 25: Prof Ferguson appears before the Commons Science and Technology Committee and warns that the NHS will be overwhelmed without a lockdown, MARCH 30: His married lover Antonia Staats visited Prof Ferguson just after he had finished two weeks of self-isolation after testing positive for the virus. He also did a Radio 4 interview on the importance of the lockdown. APRIL 4: Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today, he said: 'We want to move to a situation where at least by the end of May we can substitute less intensive measures for the current lockdown we have now... I don't think anyone wants to lift measures at the current time and risk the epidemic getting worse' APRIL 8: Antonia made a second visit to Professor Ferguson 8 despite telling friends that her husband, an academic in his 30s, was showing symptoms of coronavirus, according to the Telegraph. APRIL 16: Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Professor Neil Ferguson had stressed the importance of keeping to social distancing guidelines. He said at the time: 'If we want to reopen schools, let people get back to work, then we need to keep transmission down in another manner. It is not going to go back to normal, we will have to maintain some level of social distancing - significant levels of social distancing - probably indefinitely until we have a vaccine available.' APRIL 25: The number of deaths from coronavirus could reach 100,000 in the UK by the end of this year if a gradual lockdown is implemented just to shield the elderly, Professor Neil Ferguson warned. He told UnHerd: 'In practical terms, you would require a very high level of effective shielding for that to be a viable strategy. If you just achieve 80 per cent shielding - and 80 per cent reduction in infection risk in those groups - we still project that you would get more than 100,000 deaths this year from that kind of strategy. The most vulnerable people are also the people who most need care and most need interaction with the health system and are least able to be truly isolated.' Advertisement
In 2017, Ms Staats was pictured protesting outside Parliament next to puppets of Theresa May and Rupert Murdoch while holding a banner that read: 'Stop Murdoch pulling the strings.'
A few weeks after the second visit, Prof Ferguson warned that the number of deaths from coronavirus could reach 100,000 in the UK by the end of this year if a gradual lockdown is implemented just to shield the elderly.
He said it was impossible to send the young and healthy back to work while keeping the vulnerable in lockdown without seeing a huge increase in deaths.
The epidemiologist added that some degree of social isolation will continue to be required until a vaccine to the killer bug is released.
He has faced criticism for suggesting that UK deaths could hit 500,000 prior to the lockdown.
Bur Prof Ferguson previously insisted there had been nothing wrong his prediction, saying he'd made it prior to the government bringing in tough measures and said he never thought that such a lockdown would have been pursued.
His is not the first high-profile resignation of the pandemic, with Dr Catherine Calderwood having quit as Scotland's chief medical officer after making two trips to her second home.
Prof Ferguson, a mathematician and epidemiologist, led the Imperial team which modelled the spread and impact of Covid-19 in a Government-commissioned report.
In the report's wake, the Prime Minister announced the lockdown on March 23 ordering the public to stay at home as he shut most shops and gave police unprecedented enforcement powers.
Under those measures, partners who do not live together were told they can no longer see each other.
Prof Ferguson said on March 18 that he had the fever and cough symptoms of Covid-19 and that there was a small risk he had infected others.
'The more serious point is that it highlights the need for the response which has been enacted,' he said at the time.
Following his recovery from the symptoms, he later told the BBC that 'significant levels of social distancing' would be required until a vaccine has been developed.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme last month, he said: 'If we want to reopen schools, let people get back to work, then we need to keep transmission down in another manner.
'It is not going to go back to normal, we will have to maintain some level of social distancing - significant levels of social distancing - probably indefinitely until we have a vaccine available.'
It comes as another 693 people were yesterday confirmed to have died of COVID-19 in Britain, taking the number of victims to 29,427 and making Britain the worst-hit nation in Europe.
And separate backdated figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the figure appears to have already been higher than 32,000 by April 24 - 10 days ago.
The number of people dying each week during the UK's coronavirus crisis has been significantly higher - more than double in recent weeks - than the average number of deaths for this time of year
How Imperial College report written by Prof Ferguson warned of 500,000 deaths and persuaded the PM to implement lockdown A scientific paper published by Professor Neil Ferguson and his colleagues on the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team was credited for persuading Boris Johnson's Government to ramp up their response to the coronavirus. The paper predicted that the Government's original plan to 'mitigate' the outbreak instead of trying to stop it could have led to a quarter of a million people dying. Using data from Italy and China, the scientists predicted how different Government measures would have different impacts on the outbreaks. If no action at all had been taken against the coronavirus it would have claimed 510,000 lives, the team's report said. Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread – allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down – with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms this number would be roughly halved to 260,000. If the strictest possible measures are introduced – including school closures and mandatory home quarantine – the number of deaths over a two-year period would fall below 20,000, the scientists said, despite Britain's death toll far-surpassing that number. 'Instead of talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths, there still will be a significant health impact that we'll be talking about,' Professor Ferguson said. As a result, the Government implemented the lockdown, announcing that people should stop travelling, stop socialising and work from home. They were also told to avoid visiting their sick or elderly relatives unless they have to. Other points in the Imperial College report, titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, included: Advertisement
In other developments in the UK's coronavirus battle today:
Dominic Raab issued a thinly-veiled warning to Russia and China tonight as he lashed out at 'predatory' hackers targeting organisations involved in the fight against coronavirus;
At least 12 different strains of coronavirus were circulating in the UK in March - including one that has only ever been found in Britain, Government-funded study finds;
Rishi Sunak could reduce government furlough wage support from 80 per cent to 60 per cent in the months ahead as part of a plan to ease Britain back to work, it was claimed today;
Experts warned the NHS's new coronavirus track-and-trace app could be hijacked by trolls;
Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her own lockdown 'exit strategy' and suggested she will not let schools open until August;
Cities and rural areas could be treated differently when coronavirus lockdown measures are eased, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser hinted today.
That number is 42 per cent higher than the count announced by the Department of Health at the time, suggesting the current total could be higher than 40,000 - this would mean COVID-19 has killed more Britons in eight weeks than died over seven months during the Blitz bombings in World War Two.
Today's data confirms that more people have died of the coronavirus in the UK than in Italy, still considered to be the worst-hit country in Europe and had suffered 29,079 fatalities by this morning. Only the US has had more deaths than Britain - almost 70,000 - while there have been 25,600 in Spain and 25,200 in France.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today also announced 4,406 more cases of the life-threatening virus had been confirmed, taking the official size of the outbreak to 194,990 - but the true size of the UK's crisis is a mystery due to the controversial decision to abandon widespread testing early on.
In Downing Street's press conference, Mr Raab also lashed out at 'predatory' hackers targeting organisations involved in the fight against coronavirus, saying criminals and 'hostile states' were trying to take advantage of the crisis for their own 'malicious ends'.
Discussing the death toll, he added that the scale of the disaster in Britain was a 'massive tragedy' on a scale the country has never seen before. He refused to speculate on international comparisons.
Meanwhile, Mr Raab warned that a blanket reopening of schools next month would risk a deadly second wave of coronavirus.
The Foreign Secretary dashed hopes of a widespread return after half-term, warning that it was too soon to even consider the move.
Speaking at the daily No 10 press briefing, Mr Raab said evidence from scientists indicated that opening all schools would lead to a 'very real risk' of a steep rise in transmission rates.
Neil Ferguson joins long list of famous names who flouted the lockdown Professor Neil Ferguson, the scientist whose research helped usher in the lockdown, has resigned from his role as a key Government adviser after admitting that he had undermined social distancing rules by meeting his lover at his home. But Prof Ferguson is not the first prominent figure to be caught breaching social-distancing restrictions amid the global coronavirus pandemic. - Dr Catherine Calderwood Scotland's chief medical officer resigned in April after twice breaking lockdown restrictions in order to visit her second home, which was located more than an hour away from her main residence in Edinburgh. Despite Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backing Dr Calderwood to remain in her position, she ultimately decided to relinquish her role so as not to be a 'distraction' from the Government's social-distancing message. - Robert Jenrick The housing, communities and local government secretary was forced to explain himself after travelling more than an hour to visit his parents despite warning people to remain at home. Mr Jenrick was also criticised for travelling 150 miles from his London property to his Herefordshire home from where he travelled to his parents in Shropshire. However, he defended his actions, saying he went to deliver food and medicine to his isolating parents. - Stephen Kinnock The MP for Aberavon in South Wales was publicly shamed by police after travelling to London to celebrate his father's birthday. After Mr Kinnock posted a photo on Twitter of himself practicing social distancing with his parents outside their home, South Wales Police replied: 'We know celebrating your Dad's birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with (lockdown) restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you.' Advertisement
The warning came just hours after Nicola Sturgeon said schools north of the border were unlikely to reopen in the foreseeable future.
Scotland's First Minister said reopening now would 'most likely' see hospitals north of the border 'overwhelmed' with coronavirus cases within two months. She warned it 'might not be possible at all ahead of the summer holidays'.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs there would be a 'phased approach' to reopening.
He said: 'We will take a phased approach in terms of reopening schools and we will always aim to give schools, parents and, of course, critically importantly, children the maximum notice in terms of when this is going to happen.'
Mr Raab said that it would not be a 'binary' situation where schools were either fully open or fully shut.
He added: 'At least to date the evidence has been that we wouldn't be able to open up all schools without a very real risk that the R rate – the transmission rate – would rise at such a level that we would risk a second spike.'
He said he had asked the Government's scientific advisers for the best options and would be guided by them.
Sources last night said ministers were still hopeful that some children could go back to school after half-term at the beginning of next month. However, they have ruled out making any return compulsory.
Sources told the Mail parents would not face fines if they refuse to send children back.
Any return is likely to involve only some year groups going back to school at first to allow for greater social distancing in the classroom. Under normal circumstances schooling is compulsory, with parents facing £60 fines if they fail to send their children to school without good reason. Fines double to £120 if not paid within 21 days, and parents can face prosecution if they refuse to pay after 28 days.
Teaching unions have asked for guarantees that fines will be suspended during any back-to-school transition, when many children will still be told to stay at home.
Teachers yesterday warned they 'must not be used as an experiment', amid fears that resistance to returning to classrooms could render the reopening of schools impossible.


bonginoreport--2020-05-05--Cuomo Tries to Make the Case for Blue State Bailouts

President Donald Trump made it clear today that he has no interest in bailing out the states – or as he calls it , “ blue state bailouts.
” Speaking to the New York Post , Trump said “ It ’ s not fair to the Republicans because all the states that need help — they ’ re run by Democrats in every case .
Florida is doing phenomenal , Texas is doing phenomenal , the Midwest is , you know , fantastic — very little debt.
” Trump also said , “ You look at Illinois , you look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know , those three , there ’ s tremendous debt there , and many others .
“ I don ’ t think the Republicans want to be in a position where they bail out states that are , that have been mismanaged over a long period of time , ” he said .
And Trump is correct that the worst run states fiscally tend to be Blue , and the best Red .
Just take a look at the numbers for the top ten worst states ( in terms of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) : Kentucky is the only state on the list with a Republican controlled legislature ( and still had a Republican governor during the time-frame of the study the numbers are sourced from ) .
Every single other state has a Democrat controlled legislature .
The only hints of Red is Massachusetts ’ and Vermont ’ s Republican governors ( which is surprising , given how liberal both those states are ) .
Who would want to bail any of those states out ?
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is firing back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his would simply be a return of money they paid to the federal government .
As he argues , New York pays $ 29 billion more to the federal government than they get back .
And he is correct ( to some extent ) – New York is one of just seven state that sends more to the federal government each year than they receive back , however in their case it seems to largely be due to them having less federal employees than other states , and higher than average incomes ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes per capita than other states ) .
According to a report from the Office of the New York ’ s State Comptroller , the amount of funds they receive for services is in line with other states : • New York received $ 138.1 billion in direct payments including those to individuals who receive Social Security , Medicare , benefits for veterans and retired federal employees , and food assistance , which was close to the average among states on a per capita basis .
Major programs for which the state received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food assistance and Supplemental Security Income .
• New York was second in the country in grants to state and local governments , receiving $ 69.8 billion .
Medicaid makes up more than half of all federal spending for such grants and the state ’ s per capita Medicaid funding from Washington ranked first among all states .
Federal salaries and benefits are also being counted in these statistics .
• In two other major categories – procurement and federal employee compensation – federal spending in New York was less than half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis .
The state ’ s combined total , $ 19.3 billion , was 2.5 percent of the nationwide total .
If procurement and federal employee compensation were on par with other states , New York would still be a net taxpayer , albeit to a lesser extent ( of roughly $ 10 billion ) .
The rest of the gap is due to the fact that New York is home to a city with more millionaires than any other in the world .
So in other words , New York as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t get welfare too .
I guess Cuomo didn ’ t think his argument would sound as convincing if he put it that way .
And that all aside , it doesn ’ t change the fact that New York has racked up over $ 136 billion in debt , and that doesn ’ t include $ 65 billion in off balance sheet liabilities .
In fact , that they racked up this much debt when they have a tax base far wealthier than the rest of the country should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
This all relates to a claim that has been popping up lately that Red States have been receiving more from the federal government all along .
As I wrote last month : While it is true that red states tend to have a larger percentage of their budgets subsidized by the federal government than blue states – that ’ s only because their budgets are relatively smaller in the first place .
As The Federalist ’ s Kyle Sammin notes : In other words , Sammin points out that because red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would make more sense to look at intergovernmental grants ( payments from the federal government to state governments ) on a per-capita basis , not as a percentage of state budgets .
Against a national average of $ 1,935 in intergovernmental spending per American , red states receive just $ 1,879 .
Blue states get considerably more , at $ 2,124 per resident .
Purple states see the least of their money returned to them per capita , at just $ 1,770 .
And all this aside – lets suppose for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single Blue State was a net taxpayer on a federal basis .
That still doesn ’ t change the fact that it ’ s all Blue States that have racked up the most in debt and unfunded liabilities – and that everyone else would be helping pay that off .

President Donald Trump made it clear today that he has no interest in bailing out the states – or as he calls it, “blue state bailouts.”
Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said “It’s not fair to the Republicans because all the states that need help — they’re run by Democrats in every case. Florida is doing phenomenal, Texas is doing phenomenal, the Midwest is, you know, fantastic — very little debt.”
Trump also said, “You look at Illinois, you look at New York, look at California, you know, those three, there’s tremendous debt there, and many others. “I don’t think the Republicans want to be in a position where they bail out states that are, that have been mismanaged over a long period of time,” he said.
And Trump is correct that the worst run states fiscally tend to be Blue, and the best Red. Just take a look at the numbers for the top ten worst states (in terms of their debt per citizen, including unfunded liabilities):
Vermont, -$19,000
New York, -$20,500
California, -$21,800
Kentucky, -$25,700
Delaware, -$27,100
Hawaii, -$31,200
Massachusetts, -$31,200
Connecticut, -$51,800
Illinois, -$52,600
New Jersey, -$65,100
Kentucky is the only state on the list with a Republican controlled legislature (and still had a Republican governor during the time-frame of the study the numbers are sourced from). Every single other state has a Democrat controlled legislature. The only hints of Red is Massachusetts’ and Vermont’s Republican governors (which is surprising, given how liberal both those states are).
Who would want to bail any of those states out?
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is firing back, arguing that bailing out a state like his would simply be a return of money they paid to the federal government. As he argues, New York pays $29 billion more to the federal government than they get back.
And he is correct (to some extent) – New York is one of just seven state that sends more to the federal government each year than they receive back, however in their case it seems to largely be due to them having less federal employees than other states, and higher than average incomes (leading to them paying a third more taxes per capita than other states). According to a report from the Office of the New York’s State Comptroller, the amount of funds they receive for services is in line with other states:
New York received $138.1 billion in direct payments including those to individuals who receive Social Security, Medicare, benefits for veterans and retired federal employees, and food assistance, which was close to the average among states on a per capita basis . Major programs for which the state received higher-than-average per capita expenditures include Medicare, food assistance and Supplemental Security Income .
. Major programs . New York was second in the country in grants to state and local governments, receiving $69.8 billion. Medicaid makes up more than half of all federal spending for such grants and the state’s per capita Medicaid funding from Washington ranked first among all states.
Federal salaries and benefits are also being counted in these statistics.
In two other major categories – procurement and federal employee compensation – federal spending in New York was less than half of the national average on a per capita basis. The state’s combined total, $19.3 billion, was 2.5 percent of the nationwide total.
If procurement and federal employee compensation were on par with other states, New York would still be a net taxpayer, albeit to a lesser extent (of roughly $10 billion). The rest of the gap is due to the fact that New York is home to a city with more millionaires than any other in the world.
So in other words, New York as a state is a net taxpayer because millionaires don’t get welfare too. I guess Cuomo didn’t think his argument would sound as convincing if he put it that way.
And that all aside, it doesn’t change the fact that New York has racked up over $136 billion in debt, and that doesn’t include $65 billion in off balance sheet liabilities. In fact, that they racked up this much debt when they have a tax base far wealthier than the rest of the country should be yet another reason to NOT bail them out.
This all relates to a claim that has been popping up lately that Red States have been receiving more from the federal government all along. As I wrote last month: While it is true that red states tend to have a larger percentage of their budgets subsidized by the federal government than blue states – that’s only because their budgets are relatively smaller in the first place. As The Federalist’s Kyle Sammin notes:
Against a national average of 32.62% [of a state’s budget] being federally subsidized, the blue states received 30.80%. Purple states were almost exactly at the national level with 32.92% coming from Washington. Red state budgets averaged 35.75% federal money. A problem with this metric is that although federal funds make up a larger percentage of red states’ state budgets, the budgets in those states are generally lower overall than those of the free-spending blue states. If, instead of comparing federal funds to state budgets, we look at how much the federal government spends in intergovernmental grants per resident of a state, the results are turned on their heads.
In other words, Sammin points out that because red state budgets tend to be smaller, it would make more sense to look at intergovernmental grants (payments from the federal government to state governments) on a per-capita basis, not as a percentage of state budgets.
Against a national average of $1,935 in intergovernmental spending per American, red states receive just $1,879. Blue states get considerably more, at $2,124 per resident. Purple states see the least of their money returned to them per capita, at just $1,770.
States Population InterGov. InterGov. Per Capita Total Red State 96,086,631 $180,551,551,000 $1,879 Total Purple State 77,676,459 $137,532,631,000 $1,771 Total Blue State 134,982,448 $286,776,111,000 $2,125 Grand Total 312,471,695 $604,860,293,000 $1,936
And all this aside – lets suppose for a second that it was true that every single Blue State was a net taxpayer on a federal basis. That still doesn’t change the fact that it’s all Blue States that have racked up the most in debt and unfunded liabilities – and that everyone else would be helping pay that off.


bonginoreport--2020-05-06--Cyprus, Greece, and Israel Explore Creating Tourism “Safe Zones”

The Tourism Ministers of Israel , Greece and Cyprus have been discussing a proposal to create a safe zone for tourism between the countries , Tourism Minister Yariv Levin ’ s office confirmed on Tuesday .
Israel is cautiously examining the Greek initiative , which would not go into effect at least until mid-June , as first reported by Kann .
All three countries involved have had relative success in curbing the spread of coronavirus and keeping the number of severe cases low .
The discussions on the matter are in very early stages and Israel is still checking whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Foreign Ministry source said .
The logic behind creating an Israel-Greece-Cyprus zone is that people are less likely to be willing to travel far in the coming months , but may be more open to visiting neighboring countries .
The economies of Greece and Cyprus rely heavily on tourism , which was only 5.9 % of Israel ’ s GDP in 2018 .
One of the major obstacles to creating a safe zone for tourism between the three countries is the mandatory quarantines for arrivals from abroad ; Israel requires two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another issue is that Greece and Cyprus are both EU member states that have open borders with the rest of the Schengen Area under normal circumstances .
Foreign Minister Israel Katz spoke with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on Tuesday about “ the improving coronavirus situation in our countries and continued economic cooperation , ” Katz wrote on twitter .
Tourism accounted for 25.7-30.9 % of Greece ’ s GDP in 2018 , according to the Greek Tourism Confederation ’ s research department , and 90 % of tourism revenue came from abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hit hard if the summer tourism season is canceled .
Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said “ Israel is one of our strategic targets for the reopening of tourism in Greece .
As a result , we have already started discussions and preliminary phases on how to align our hygiene standards and protocols which will allow travel to resume between the two countries .
This is still early stages , but we are very hopeful that we can come to a mutual agreement.
” Theoharis expressed confidence that “ Greece will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and opening for tourism.
” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told CNN on Monday that he seeks to have Greece “ open for business on July 1 , ” by setting “ strict but also enforceable protocols.
” Tourism makes up 21.9 % of Cyprus ’ s GDP , according to the Knoema World Data Atlas .
Israel Director of the Cyprus Tourism Organization Louisa Varaclas said “ tourism is very important to us and we are working towards ” starting the industry up again .
“ We just started lifting [ lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2.5 weeks at a time .
At the end of every stage we check the situation and then move on .
Based on that , the opening of tourism and flights will hopefully take place around mid-June .
That is the target , ” Varaclas said .
This week , Cyprus ’ s government began holding meetings with the different parts of the tourism industry to set the conditions by which hotels , airlines and others can operate .
“ Our first concern is not only with bringing in tourism , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our people to be safe , ” Varaclas added .
Though Israel is still closed to non-residents , some tourism sites reopened this week , including as zimmers ( bed-and-breakfasts ) and hotels with only a ground level .
Hotel facilities , such as shared dining rooms and swimming pools , must remain closed .

The Tourism Ministers of Israel, Greece and Cyprus have been discussing a proposal to create a safe zone for tourism between the countries, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin’s office confirmed on Tuesday.
Israel is cautiously examining the Greek initiative, which would not go into effect at least until mid-June, as first reported by Kann. All three countries involved have had relative success in curbing the spread of coronavirus and keeping the number of severe cases low.
The discussions on the matter are in very early stages and Israel is still checking whether such a safe zone would be possible, a Foreign Ministry source said.
The logic behind creating an Israel-Greece-Cyprus zone is that people are less likely to be willing to travel far in the coming months, but may be more open to visiting neighboring countries. The economies of Greece and Cyprus rely heavily on tourism, which was only 5.9% of Israel’s GDP in 2018.
One of the major obstacles to creating a safe zone for tourism between the three countries is the mandatory quarantines for arrivals from abroad; Israel requires two weeks of isolation after foreign travel. Another issue is that Greece and Cyprus are both EU member states that have open borders with the rest of the Schengen Area under normal circumstances.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz spoke with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on Tuesday about “the improving coronavirus situation in our countries and continued economic cooperation,” Katz wrote on twitter.
Tourism accounted for 25.7-30.9% of Greece’s GDP in 2018, according to the Greek Tourism Confederation’s research department, and 90% of tourism revenue came from abroad. Therefore, their economy is expected to be hit hard if the summer tourism season is canceled.
Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said “Israel is one of our strategic targets for the reopening of tourism in Greece. As a result, we have already started discussions and preliminary phases on how to align our hygiene standards and protocols which will allow travel to resume between the two countries. This is still early stages, but we are very hopeful that we can come to a mutual agreement.”
Asked about the matter of open borders between EU countries, including those with a high number of COVID-19 cases, Theoharis said Greece is working to “establish requirements which will limit the possibility of someone with coronavirus to enter Greece in the first place…irrespective of the epidemiological phase the country is currently in.”
Theoharis expressed confidence that “Greece will stay a safe place despite opening borders and opening for tourism.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told CNN on Monday that he seeks to have Greece “open for business on July 1,” by setting “strict but also enforceable protocols.”
Tourism makes up 21.9% of Cyprus’s GDP, according to the Knoema World Data Atlas.
Israel Director of the Cyprus Tourism Organization Louisa Varaclas said “tourism is very important to us and we are working towards” starting the industry up again.
“We just started lifting [lockdown] measures yesterday and taking it two to 2.5 weeks at a time. At the end of every stage we check the situation and then move on. Based on that, the opening of tourism and flights will hopefully take place around mid-June. That is the target,” Varaclas said.
This week, Cyprus’s government began holding meetings with the different parts of the tourism industry to set the conditions by which hotels, airlines and others can operate.
“Our first concern is not only with bringing in tourism, but we want the tourists to be safe and our people to be safe,” Varaclas added.
The Government of Cyprus said their countries will only be open to tourists from countries with a low rate of coronavirus infections, a list that includes Israel, along with Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Greece.
Though Israel is still closed to non-residents, some tourism sites reopened this week, including as zimmers (bed-and-breakfasts) and hotels with only a ground level. Hotel facilities, such as shared dining rooms and swimming pools, must remain closed.


bonginoreport--2020-05-06--ANTIFA Member Goes Viral for Suing His Landlord – Who Turns Out to Be His Grandma

A militant antifa activist went viral recently for filing a complaint against his landlord for tracking his coronavirus stimulus check and demanding rent — but he conveniently left out that the landlord is his grandmother .
Austin Goodrich , 22 , received an outpouring of sympathy for his situation after filing the lawsuit in Oregon on April 22 .
The complaint said that the actions of his landlord left him “ feeling overwhelmingly violated and vulnerable.
” Goodrich was demanding that his grandmother waive all rent due until the end of his lease on June 30 , waive all due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposit and give him an excellent rental reference .
Since she did not respond to his absurd requests , he filed a lawsuit .
Goodrich tweeted that his landlord had text him hours after he received his stimulus money asking whether he planned to use it to pay rent .
However , the defendant is not only his grandmother and landlord — she is also his tax preparer .
“ Goodrich confirmed that TLC Bookkeeping and Tax Prep is run by his grandmother , but said he does not associate with her outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station KGW8 reports .
Goodrich previously made waves when he helped shut down a College Republicans event at Portland State in 2019 , according to a report from the Post Millennial .
The far-left activist claims that he publicly attacked and is suing his grandmother to “ bring attention to IRS vulnerabilities.
” “ I initially remained anonymous on the issue for awhile but decided to use this opportunity to speak out on behalf of tenants that suffer abuses from their landlords/property managers that this is the time to put your foot down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Goodrich in an email exchange with The Oregonian/OregonLive .
“ I also wanted to bring attention to the IRS ’ vulnerabilities that would allow anyone with access to Social Security numbers to gain illegal access to their computer systems.
” Goodrich locked his Twitter account after it was revealed that his landlord is his grandmother .

A militant antifa activist went viral recently for filing a complaint against his landlord for tracking his coronavirus stimulus check and demanding rent — but he conveniently left out that the landlord is his grandmother.
Austin Goodrich, 22, received an outpouring of sympathy for his situation after filing the lawsuit in Oregon on April 22. The complaint said that the actions of his landlord left him “feeling overwhelmingly violated and vulnerable.”
Goodrich was demanding that his grandmother waive all rent due until the end of his lease on June 30, waive all due and past-due amounts, return his security deposit and give him an excellent rental reference. Since she did not respond to his absurd requests, he filed a lawsuit.
Goodrich tweeted that his landlord had text him hours after he received his stimulus money asking whether he planned to use it to pay rent.
However, the defendant is not only his grandmother and landlord — she is also his tax preparer.
“Goodrich confirmed that TLC Bookkeeping and Tax Prep is run by his grandmother, but said he does not associate with her outside of their tenant-landlord relationship,” local station KGW8 reports.
Goodrich previously made waves when he helped shut down a College Republicans event at Portland State in 2019, according to a report from the Post Millennial.
One anarchist antifa disruptor with a bell was able to shut down the Michael Strickland @Portland_State College Republicans speech as soon as the event began. Campus police & admin were there but just stood & watched. They said they couldn't do anything about the disrupter. pic.twitter.com/fSpuEjm8aQ — Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 6, 2019
.@CasResistance, a Portland antifa & regional separatist group, instructed its members to steal from stores on #MayDay. Austin Goodrich, one of its members, is in the news for suing his grandmother after she asked him to pay rent with his stimulus check. https://t.co/yvIUu5X2UF pic.twitter.com/FYgfA70G17 — Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 2, 2020
The far-left activist claims that he publicly attacked and is suing his grandmother to “bring attention to IRS vulnerabilities.”
“I initially remained anonymous on the issue for awhile but decided to use this opportunity to speak out on behalf of tenants that suffer abuses from their landlords/property managers that this is the time to put your foot down and demand fair treatment of your rights,” said Goodrich in an email exchange with The Oregonian/OregonLive. “I also wanted to bring attention to the IRS’ vulnerabilities that would allow anyone with access to Social Security numbers to gain illegal access to their computer systems.”
Goodrich locked his Twitter account after it was revealed that his landlord is his grandmother.


bonginoreport--2020-05-06--Dallas Salon Owner Fined $7k and Sentenced to Seven Days in Jail for Reopening Too Soon

Dallas salon owner sentenced to 7 days in jail , hit with thousands in fines for refusing to close Shelley @ @ @ @ @ had to keep her business open in order to feed her kids

The owner of a Dallas salon has been sentenced to seven days in jail and fined thousands of dollars for openly defying state, county, and city government mandates by reopening her business and refusing to re-close amid the coronavirus shutdown.
What are the details?
Shelley Luther, who owns Salon a la Mode, reopened her business on April 30 in violation of Texas's statewide lockdown on businesses deemed nonessential during the COVID-19 crisis. She argued that she was behind on her mortgage along with several of the 19 stylists who work at her salon, and that the government did not have the right to prohibit citizens from working to provide for their families.
Luther was issued a citation from the City of Dallas, followed by a cease-and-desist letter and a restraining order from the county. Yet, she stood her ground and continued to operate.
On Tuesday, Dallas Civil District Judge Eric Moyé, who issued the restraining order, found Luther both criminally and civilly in violation of his order, according to WFAA-TV. She was also found to be in violation of Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) stay-at-home order.
Moyé sentenced Luther to seven days in jail and a $7,000 fine.
According to KTVT-TV, the judge told Luther he would consider not giving her jail time if she would agree to close until the governor's order was lifted and "if she admitted that she was wrong, that she was selfish, and that she should apologize to the elected officials whose orders she violated."
Luther told the judge:
I have much respect for this court and laws. I have never been in this position before and it's not someplace that I want to be. But I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I'm selfish — because feeding my kids is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they'd rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon.
Salon A La Mode Owner, Shelley Luther Arrested: 'Feeding My Kids Isn't Selfish, I'm Not Closing The www.youtube.com
Anything else?
A GoFundMe account has been set up to support Shelley Luther.
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Abbott announced that all Texas hair salons, nail salons, and tanning salons may reopen on Friday.


bonginoreport--2020-05-06--Kayleigh McEnany Shreds Reporter

Kayleigh McEnany Shreds Reporter

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany flipped the script on a reporter during a press briefing on Wednesday about past comments she made about the threat posed by the Wuhan coronavirus .
A reporter asked McEnany about how she told the Fox Business Network on February 25 , `` This president will always put America first .
He will always protect American citizens .
We will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here , we will not see terrorism , and is n't that refreshing when contrasting it with the awful presidency of Barack Obama ? ''
Many media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became a global pandemic and after she was named to be the new White House press secretary .
McEnany went on to tweet how her words were being taken out of context .
`` I guess I would turn the question back on the media and ask similar questions , '' McEnany said : '' Does Vox want to take back that they proclaimed that the coronavirus would not be a deadly pandemic ?
Does The Washington Post want to take back that they told Americans to get a grippe , the flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Washington Post likewise want to take back that our brains are causing us to exaggerate the threat of the coronavirus ?
Does The New York Times want to take back that fear of the virus may be spreading faster than the virus itself ?
Does the N.P.R .
want to take back that the flu was a much threat bigger than that of the coronavirus ?
And finally , once again , The Washington Post , would they like to take back that the government should not respond aggressively to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with those questions and maybe we 'll have answers in a few days , '' McEnany said as she ended the press conference .
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White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany flipped the script on a reporter during a press briefing on Wednesday about past comments she made about the threat posed by the Wuhan coronavirus.
A reporter asked McEnany about how she told the Fox Business Network on February 25, "This president will always put America first. He will always protect American citizens. We will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here, we will not see terrorism, and isn't that refreshing when contrasting it with the awful presidency of Barack Obama?"
Many media outlets seized on her words as COVID-19 became a global pandemic and after she was named to be the new White House press secretary. McEnany went on to tweet how her words were being taken out of context.
(2/4): I was asked about travel restrictions & stated the intent of those restrictions: “We will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here”
DR. FAUCI articulated this intent: “What we're doing now with the other travel restrictions - so you block infections from coming in” — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) April 4, 2020
(4/4) President Trump works to defeat the invisible enemy while you mislead the nation! — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) April 4, 2020
"I guess I would turn the question back on the media and ask similar questions," McEnany said:
"Does Vox want to take back that they proclaimed that the coronavirus would not be a deadly pandemic? Does The Washington Post want to take back that they told Americans to get a grippe, the flu is bigger than the coronavirus? Does The Washington Post likewise want to take back that our brains are causing us to exaggerate the threat of the coronavirus? Does The New York Times want to take back that fear of the virus may be spreading faster than the virus itself? Does the N.P.R. want to take back that the flu was a much threat bigger than that of the coronavirus? And finally, once again, The Washington Post, would they like to take back that the government should not respond aggressively to the coronavirus?"
"I will leave you with those questions and maybe we'll have answers in a few days," McEnany said as she ended the press conference.
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