wnd--2020-03-19--WuFlu: From bat bazaar to Wuhan to my home state

When in doubt as to just how remiss your government was , see what Israel has done to protect its nationals from the coronavirus pandemic .
Taking its cues from the American left , the Israeli left is all for national and individual self-immolation .
But nobody who matters in that country has been listening to the left babble on about `` racism '' and `` Sinophobia . ''
Against the advice of its liberal think tanks – and to protect its nationals from the Wuhan virus pandemic – the Jewish State had , early on , closed its doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asia , starting with China , continuing to Hong Kong , Macau , Singapore and Thailand , South Korea and Japan . ''
To follow were tough travel restrictions and a quarantine regimen on territories in Europe , in line with unfolding coronavirus contingencies .
Israel has since extended the quarantine to all arrivals .
Everyone who comes to Israel from abroad is sequestered for 14 days .
Although the number of cases in the country is rising rapidly , there have been no deaths to date .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment What is proving more difficult for the Jewish State is adding `` New York and the states of Washington and California to its restricted list . ''
Israeli public health officials recommend it , but Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is being muscled by Vice President Mike Pence to keep his country open to those COVID-19 hot zones .
Following transmission of the coronavirus from Wuhan to the state of Washington , I wondered , in a mild tweet , posted with links to the Israeli policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of diligence from their government .
Came the strident reply , also on Twitter : `` Because , unlike Israel , the U.S. is not a postage-stamp-sized garrison state .
The U.S. needs to tailor its response to the disease to its role as global economic power . ''
Stalin apologist Walter Duranty summed up this Jacobin perspective perfectly .
`` You ca n't make an omelet without breaking eggs . ''
Breaking a few old eggs , in a nursing home , in King County , Washington , is what it apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To the extent that it safeguards the well-being of its own people , the defensive measures taken by Israel comport with the role of government .
`` Whether they are armed with bombs or bacteria , stopping weaponized individuals from harming others – intentionally or unintentionally – falls perfectly within the purview of the 'night-watchman state of classical-liberal theory , ' '' in the words of philosopher Robert Nozick .
Look to other nationalistic countries for the connection between borders closed and the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic .
As reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with China as hermetically as possible , late in January .
Matters are fluid , but at this writing , one source says Russia has only 147 cases of coronavirus and no deaths .
Another , WorldMeters.info , pegs the number of Russia 's coronavirus cases at 111 , with no deaths as yet .
The infected were said to be Russians returning from Italy .
Likewise , Mongolia closed its borders with China in late January .
Only six cases have been reported there .
Nobody has died .
Singapore has reacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might to what was termed there the `` Wuhan flu . ''
It is now over the worst .
The great Lee Kuan Yew would be proud .
`` The response in the U.S. has essentially been the opposite , '' laments an envious geneticist writing at the Technology Review .
For open-border offenders to talk-up open borders during a killer pandemic is scandalous – as scandalous as it would have been for Harvey Weinstein to be talking-up rough sex during his sentencing for sexual assault .
The open-border fetish is turning into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For the correlation between borderless countries and infection rates seems unmistakable – certainly when one looks at Italy and the EU nexus of nuts to which it belongs .
For Brussels , the undisturbed free flow of people across European borders is sacrosanct .
The first U.S. `` Proclamation on Suspension of Entry , as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants , of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus '' was signed into law on Jan. 30 .
It went into effect only on Feb. 2 .
Reports from our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaotic attempts to reroute passengers to 11 designated U.S. airports , for the purpose of screening that was as `` enhanced '' as temperature checks and a reliance on the `` honest '' say-so of the arrivals .
At the time , no restrictions had been placed by the United States on arrivals from other COVID-19 hot zones .
Passenger screening from source countries like Italy was slack , to put it mildly .
The government 's March 13 travel ban on Europe was welcome .
Via the National Pulse : `` [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground … travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for 30 days . ''
While restrictions initially exempted the United Kingdom , these were belatedly implemented .
The omission was no small one since , while it is true that the U.K. `` is not part of the EU 's open-borders zone , '' it has , however – and as reports on terra firma suggest – been allowing any and all to enter from Europe practically unchecked .
Put it this way : An officer `` briefly pointing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you go by for signs of a cough or difficulty breathing '' does little to stop the virus from spreading .
In fact , as a correspondent for Science magazine `` It 's exceedingly rare for screeners to detect infected passengers . ''
U.S. travel restrictions came too late for the poor residents of the Life Care home in King County , Washington .
Patient Zero in the U.S. , who very likely infected Washington state and beyond , arrived in my state , from Wuhan , China , on Jan. 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligence , he was tested on Jan. 20 and diagnosed with COVID-19 .
However , CDC contact tracing fell woefully short .
As is done in South Korea and Israel , the man 's whereabouts – not his identity – ought to have been made public .
In this way , anyone who had come in contact with the Man from Wuhan could have been quarantined and taken the necessary precautions to prevent further transmission .
Genetic sequencing of virus extracted from infected patients allows scientists to pinpoint the virus ' origins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
That the virus that continues to kill elderly people in homes for the aged and the infirm , in King County , came from Wuhan is indisputable .
Writes Trevor Bedford , a sequencing scientist at the Fred Hutch Research Center : `` The first case in the USA was … from a traveler directly returning from Wuhan to Snohomish County on Jan .
15 . ''
But there was another traveler whose virus was related to that of Patient Zero , and who had `` exposed someone else to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jan. 19 , before they were isolated .
If this second case was mild or asymptomatic , contact tracing efforts by public health would have had difficulty detecting it .
After this point , community spread occurred and was undetected due to the CDC 's narrow case definition that required direct travel to China or direct contact with a known case to even be considered for testing .
This lack of testing was a critical error and allowed an outbreak in Snohomish County and the surroundings to grow to a sizable problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Emphasis added . ]
Colleagues confirm that the `` genetic diversity of the Washington state outbreak … suggests a scenario in which an individual infected [ from ] Washington state traveled to California , and , in particular , to the Grand Princess cruiser , instigating a chain of transmission there .
The viral strain from a patient infected on the cruise ship off the coast of California is similar to the cluster circulating in Washington state . ''
If only travel from China had been stopped earlier , the poor old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be alive , and the coronavirus would not be multiplying exponentially among us .
As for the country 's professional racism spotters , they wish only to uncouple coronavirus from Wuhan , a city in the Hubei Province of China , where it originated .
Naturally , the ossified CDC has been scathing about the intellectually nimble sleuth work done by scientists not its own , in the course of the viral RNA sequencing mentioned .
But epidemiology obligates this creaky bureaucracy to trace the origins of the virus .
And so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals , including camels , cattle , cats , and bats .
Rarely , animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with … with this new virus ( named SARS-CoV-2 ) .
`` The SARS-CoV-2 virus [ has its ] origins in bats .
The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted , suggesting a likely single , recent emergence of this virus from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan , Hubei Province , China , had some link to a large seafood and live animal market , suggesting animal-to-person spread .
Later , a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets , indicating person-to-person spread .
Person-to-person spread was subsequently reported outside Hubei and in countries outside China , including in the United States . ''
[ Emphases added . ]
In other words , coronavirus jumped first from animal to person and thereafter from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of China 's disease-breeding , barbaric , `` wet markets , '' as they are called .
These `` wet markets '' are hell on earth for wild animals , which are tied up , stacked in cages and slaughtered on the spot , because the fiendish customers demand `` freshness . ''
As the Associated Press reports , `` You 've got live animals , so there 's feces everywhere .
There 's blood because of people chopping them up , … The messy mix raises the … odds that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the animals and start to spread . ''
To its report , the AP has appended an image of a `` wet market , '' adjacent to an up-market Chinese mall .
Suffer the innocent , helpless critters .
Suffer the old and the infirm .
God help us all .

When in doubt as to just how remiss your government was, see what Israel has done to protect its nationals from the coronavirus pandemic.
Taking its cues from the American left, the Israeli left is all for national and individual self-immolation. But nobody who matters in that country has been listening to the left babble on about "racism" and "Sinophobia."
Against the advice of its liberal think tanks – and to protect its nationals from the Wuhan virus pandemic – the Jewish State had, early on, closed its doors to "more and more of eastern Asia, starting with China, continuing to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Thailand, South Korea and Japan."
China is Israel's second-largest trading partner.
To follow were tough travel restrictions and a quarantine regimen on territories in Europe, in line with unfolding coronavirus contingencies. Israel has since extended the quarantine to all arrivals. Everyone who comes to Israel from abroad is sequestered for 14 days. Although the number of cases in the country is rising rapidly, there have been no deaths to date.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
What is proving more difficult for the Jewish State is adding "New York and the states of Washington and California to its restricted list." Israeli public health officials recommend it, but Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is being muscled by Vice President Mike Pence to keep his country open to those COVID-19 hot zones.
Following transmission of the coronavirus from Wuhan to the state of Washington, I wondered, in a mild tweet, posted with links to the Israeli policy, why Americans didn't deserve this kind of diligence from their government.
Came the strident reply, also on Twitter: "Because, unlike Israel, the U.S. is not a postage-stamp-sized garrison state. The U.S. needs to tailor its response to the disease to its role as global economic power."
Stalin apologist Walter Duranty summed up this Jacobin perspective perfectly. "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." Breaking a few old eggs, in a nursing home, in King County, Washington, is what it apparently takes to make that great global omelet.
To the extent that it safeguards the well-being of its own people, the defensive measures taken by Israel comport with the role of government. "Whether they are armed with bombs or bacteria, stopping weaponized individuals from harming others – intentionally or unintentionally – falls perfectly within the purview of the 'night-watchman state of classical-liberal theory,'" in the words of philosopher Robert Nozick.
Look to other nationalistic countries for the connection between borders closed and the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by CNBC, Russia had sealed its borders with China as hermetically as possible, late in January. Matters are fluid, but at this writing, one source says Russia has only 147 cases of coronavirus and no deaths. Another, WorldMeters.info, pegs the number of Russia's coronavirus cases at 111, with no deaths as yet. The infected were said to be Russians returning from Italy.
Likewise, Mongolia closed its borders with China in late January. Only six cases have been reported there. Nobody has died. Singapore has reacted patriotically with all its scientific and cerebral might to what was termed there the "Wuhan flu." It is now over the worst. The great Lee Kuan Yew would be proud. "The response in the U.S. has essentially been the opposite," laments an envious geneticist writing at the Technology Review.
For open-border offenders to talk-up open borders during a killer pandemic is scandalous – as scandalous as it would have been for Harvey Weinstein to be talking-up rough sex during his sentencing for sexual assault.
The open-border fetish is turning into a symbol of death, not freedom. For the correlation between borderless countries and infection rates seems unmistakable – certainly when one looks at Italy and the EU nexus of nuts to which it belongs. For Brussels, the undisturbed free flow of people across European borders is sacrosanct.
The first U.S. "Proclamation on Suspension of Entry, as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants, of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus" was signed into law on Jan. 30. It went into effect only on Feb. 2.
Reports from our nation's airports, however, told of chaotic attempts to reroute passengers to 11 designated U.S. airports, for the purpose of screening that was as "enhanced" as temperature checks and a reliance on the "honest" say-so of the arrivals.
At the time, no restrictions had been placed by the United States on arrivals from other COVID-19 hot zones. Passenger screening from source countries like Italy was slack, to put it mildly.
The government's March 13 travel ban on Europe was welcome. Via the National Pulse: "[S]ubject to conditions on the ground … travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for 30 days." While restrictions initially exempted the United Kingdom, these were belatedly implemented.
The omission was no small one since, while it is true that the U.K. "is not part of the EU's open-borders zone," it has, however – and as reports on terra firma suggest – been allowing any and all to enter from Europe practically unchecked.
Put it this way: An officer "briefly pointing a thermometer gun at your forehead or watching as you go by for signs of a cough or difficulty breathing" does little to stop the virus from spreading. In fact, as a correspondent for Science magazine "It's exceedingly rare for screeners to detect infected passengers."
U.S. travel restrictions came too late for the poor residents of the Life Care home in King County, Washington.
Patient Zero in the U.S., who very likely infected Washington state and beyond, arrived in my state, from Wuhan, China, on Jan. 15.
Thanks to the patient's own diligence, he was tested on Jan. 20 and diagnosed with COVID-19. However, CDC contact tracing fell woefully short. As is done in South Korea and Israel, the man's whereabouts – not his identity – ought to have been made public. In this way, anyone who had come in contact with the Man from Wuhan could have been quarantined and taken the necessary precautions to prevent further transmission.
Genetic sequencing of virus extracted from infected patients allows scientists to pinpoint the virus' origins and the timing of the "seeding event." That the virus that continues to kill elderly people in homes for the aged and the infirm, in King County, came from Wuhan is indisputable.
Writes Trevor Bedford, a sequencing scientist at the Fred Hutch Research Center: "The first case in the USA was … from a traveler directly returning from Wuhan to Snohomish County on Jan. 15." But there was another traveler whose virus was related to that of Patient Zero, and who had "exposed someone else to the virus in the period between Jan. 15 and Jan. 19, before they were isolated. If this second case was mild or asymptomatic, contact tracing efforts by public health would have had difficulty detecting it. After this point, community spread occurred and was undetected due to the CDC's narrow case definition that required direct travel to China or direct contact with a known case to even be considered for testing. This lack of testing was a critical error and allowed an outbreak in Snohomish County and the surroundings to grow to a sizable problem before it was even detected." [Emphasis added.]
Colleagues confirm that the "genetic diversity of the Washington state outbreak … suggests a scenario in which an individual infected [from] Washington state traveled to California, and, in particular, to the Grand Princess cruiser, instigating a chain of transmission there. The viral strain from a patient infected on the cruise ship off the coast of California is similar to the cluster circulating in Washington state."
If only travel from China had been stopped earlier, the poor old people from the Life Care home might be alive, and the coronavirus would not be multiplying exponentially among us.
As for the country's professional racism spotters, they wish only to uncouple coronavirus from Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China, where it originated.
Naturally, the ossified CDC has been scathing about the intellectually nimble sleuth work done by scientists not its own, in the course of the viral RNA sequencing mentioned. But epidemiology obligates this creaky bureaucracy to trace the origins of the virus.
And so it has. Writes the CDC:
"Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with … with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2).
"The SARS-CoV-2 virus [has its] origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
"Early on, many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread. Person-to-person spread was subsequently reported outside Hubei and in countries outside China, including in the United States." [Emphases added.]
In other words, coronavirus jumped first from animal to person and thereafter from person-to-person.
The deadly disease originated in one of China's disease-breeding, barbaric, "wet markets," as they are called. These "wet markets" are hell on earth for wild animals, which are tied up, stacked in cages and slaughtered on the spot, because the fiendish customers demand "freshness."
As the Associated Press reports, "You've got live animals, so there's feces everywhere. There's blood because of people chopping them up, … The messy mix raises the … odds that a new virus will jump to people handling the animals and start to spread."
To its report, the AP has appended an image of a "wet market," adjacent to an up-market Chinese mall.
Suffer the innocent, helpless critters. Suffer the old and the infirm. God help us all.


wnd--2020-03-19--China's Communists advise calling COVID-19 'Italian virus'

China , which intially used the term `` Wuhan coronavirus '' regarding the pandemic that orignated in the Chinese city , has reversed course , even blaming the U.S. Army .
Now , communist Chinese authorities are instructing diplomats to call it the `` Italian virus '' or the `` Iranian virus , '' reports Bitter Winter , a magazine focused on human rights in China .
Italy and Iran have been the second- and third-hardest hit countries , after China , apparently because of the many Chinese workers they have hosted as part of Beijing 's international construction-investment program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who founded the Center for Studies on New Religions , writes that secret documents instruct Chinese diplomats and agents to call it the `` Italian virus , '' Bitter Winter reported .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment The diplomats are instructed to insist the coronavirus did not originate in Wuhan and to promote President Xi Jinping as a heroic leader who defeated the virus .
`` Some days ago , I opened my email and found a message from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the 'Italian virus , ' '' Introvigne wrote .
`` I had never heard the expression 'Italian virus ' with respect to COVID-19 , but then learned that others had received similar messages , and that Japanese were being asked by Chinese friends whether they had been affected by the 'Japanese virus . '
'' `` The CCP wants to 'sinicize ' everything , including all religions .
Only one thing is being 'de-sinicized , ' the virus , '' he said .
Introvigne cited the left-wing Catholic daily La Croix International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidential instructions sent to Chinese embassies and fellow travelers around the world one week ago .
They were asked persuade those favorable to China never to mention the Chinese origin of the virus , and to insist that 'while the virus severely hit Wuhan , where it really originally came from is unknown .
We are conducting new studies to locate the virus ’ true origin . '
'' Introvigne explained the instructions instruct embassies to `` raise doubts '' about the Wuhan coronavirus .
Already , Chinese officials have referred to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian virus '' and the `` Iranian virus . ''
`` Personally , I welcome all measures in the West aimed at protecting ethnic Chinese from racism , and from the unfounded opinion that most Chinese living overseas are infected with COVID-19 , '' Introvigne said .
`` In fact , most are n't , and I know Chinese Italians who were born in Italy and have not visited China for many years who were nonetheless harassed and discriminated in restaurants and other public places .
`` What is now happening is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is trying to claim that the virus came to China from abroad in order to hide the fact that the party lied for weeks about the magnitude of the crisis , in fact making it much worse than it could have been if acknowledged immediately . ''
He pointed out the CCP even has the audacity to tell the world to `` say thank you to China '' for its handling of the virus .
The Chinese communist news outlet Xinhua has confirmed that a book is being published touting Xi 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' who defeated the virus .
`` In fact , the CCP lies and delays in acknowledging the crisis made the epidemics worse , '' he said .
The Daily Caller reported NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel , repeating the racism charge , insisted the coronavirus `` is a bat virus , not a China virus . ''
President Trump repeatedly has defended his references to the `` Chinese virus . ''
He has noted that Chinese propaganda has falsely tried to pin the blame on the U.S. instead .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people from our country , '' Trump said at a press briefing Wednesday .
`` As you know , China tried to say at one point — maybe they stopped now — that it was caused by American soldiers . ''
A letter this week from 39 leaders in the U.S. conservative movement have asked Trump to investigate China 's handling of the pandemic .
`` The world needs to know the details behind the spread of this deadly virus so everyone understands exactly how this was started .
The world deserves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemics of this nature can be prevented , '' they wrote .
Zhao Lijian , spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry , has charged that it 's irresponsible to call it the Chinese virus .
A top Trump adviser charged the Chinese Communist Party 's initial efforts to cover up and minimize the outbreak may have contributed to its global spread , the Washington Examiner reported .
`` This outbreak in Wuhan was covered up .
It probably cost the world community two months [ during which officials could have been working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Adviser Robert O'Brien .
`` If we 'd had those [ two months ] and been able to sequence the virus , and had the cooperation necessary from the Chinese , had a WHO team been on the ground , had a CDC team , which we 'd offered , been on the ground , I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and what 's now happening across the world , '' O'Brien said .

China, which intially used the term "Wuhan coronavirus" regarding the pandemic that orignated in the Chinese city, has reversed course, even blaming the U.S. Army.
Now, communist Chinese authorities are instructing diplomats to call it the "Italian virus" or the "Iranian virus," reports Bitter Winter, a magazine focused on human rights in China.
Italy and Iran have been the second- and third-hardest hit countries, after China, apparently because of the many Chinese workers they have hosted as part of Beijing's international construction-investment program.
Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist who founded the Center for Studies on New Religions, writes that secret documents instruct Chinese diplomats and agents to call it the "Italian virus," Bitter Winter reported.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The diplomats are instructed to insist the coronavirus did not originate in Wuhan and to promote President Xi Jinping as a heroic leader who defeated the virus.
"Some days ago, I opened my email and found a message from a Chinese colleague asking whether I was safe from the 'Italian virus,'" Introvigne wrote. "I had never heard the expression 'Italian virus' with respect to COVID-19, but then learned that others had received similar messages, and that Japanese were being asked by Chinese friends whether they had been affected by the 'Japanese virus.'"
"The CCP wants to 'sinicize' everything, including all religions. Only one thing is being 'de-sinicized,' the virus," he said.
Introvigne cited the left-wing Catholic daily La Croix International, which published a report "citing confidential instructions sent to Chinese embassies and fellow travelers around the world one week ago. They were asked persuade those favorable to China never to mention the Chinese origin of the virus, and to insist that 'while the virus severely hit Wuhan, where it really originally came from is unknown. We are conducting new studies to locate the virus’ true origin.'"
Introvigne explained the instructions instruct embassies to "raise doubts" about the Wuhan coronavirus. Already, Chinese officials have referred to the "Japanese virus," the "Italian virus" and the "Iranian virus."
"Personally, I welcome all measures in the West aimed at protecting ethnic Chinese from racism, and from the unfounded opinion that most Chinese living overseas are infected with COVID-19," Introvigne said. "In fact, most aren't, and I know Chinese Italians who were born in Italy and have not visited China for many years who were nonetheless harassed and discriminated in restaurants and other public places.
"What is now happening is, however, different. The CCP propaganda is trying to claim that the virus came to China from abroad in order to hide the fact that the party lied for weeks about the magnitude of the crisis, in fact making it much worse than it could have been if acknowledged immediately."
He pointed out the CCP even has the audacity to tell the world to "say thank you to China" for its handling of the virus.
The Chinese communist news outlet Xinhua has confirmed that a book is being published touting Xi's "outstanding leadership as a great power leader" who defeated the virus.
"In fact, the CCP lies and delays in acknowledging the crisis made the epidemics worse," he said.
The Daily Caller reported NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, repeating the racism charge, insisted the coronavirus "is a bat virus, not a China virus."
President Trump repeatedly has defended his references to the "Chinese virus." He has noted that Chinese propaganda has falsely tried to pin the blame on the U.S. instead.
"I have great love for all of the people from our country," Trump said at a press briefing Wednesday. "As you know, China tried to say at one point — maybe they stopped now — that it was caused by American soldiers."
WATCH:
A letter this week from 39 leaders in the U.S. conservative movement have asked Trump to investigate China's handling of the pandemic.
"The world needs to know the details behind the spread of this deadly virus so everyone understands exactly how this was started. The world deserves to know who was responsible so future pandemics of this nature can be prevented," they wrote.
Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, has charged that it's irresponsible to call it the Chinese virus.
1/2 CDC Director Robert Redfield admitted some Americans who seemingly died from influenza were tested positive for novel #coronavirus in the posthumous diagnosis, during the House Oversight Committee Wednesday. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3 — Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation! pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3 — Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
A top Trump adviser charged the Chinese Communist Party's initial efforts to cover up and minimize the outbreak may have contributed to its global spread, the Washington Examiner reported.
"This outbreak in Wuhan was covered up. It probably cost the world community two months [during which officials could have been working to contain it]," said National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien.
"If we'd had those [two months] and been able to sequence the virus, and had the cooperation necessary from the Chinese, had a WHO team been on the ground, had a CDC team, which we'd offered, been on the ground, I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and what's now happening across the world," O'Brien said.


wnd--2020-03-19--Will U.K. use incremental-exposure approach to fight virus?

Despite the unity the European Union is to provide members states , apparently no unified approach in dealing with the coronavirus threat exists .
This is evidenced by different paths upon which Italy has already embarked and England is considering embarking upon .
Comparing their approaches , we see one seeks to assume greater risks up front , leaving behind less fear about future resurgence , while the other assumes much less risk up front , leaving such fears to be dealt with later .
English Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls coronavirus `` the worst public health crisis for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confront it has placed him on the horns of a dilemma as to whether he delivers a risky one-two punch up front , aimed at preventing a resurgence , or opts for the safer approach that might have to confront a resurgence later .
Johnson is considering an approach that initially smacks of a leader being detached from one 's people on a level not witnessed in Europe for over two centuries .
In 1798 , French Queen Marie Antoinette infamously said as her people starved , `` Let them eat cake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says to his people , `` Let them get sick . ''
Recognizing the coronavirus advance – like an invading army – can not be stopped , Johnson is considering an option that puts the focus on mitigation rather than – as does the plan embraced by Italy and the U.S. – on suppression .
Thus , the U.K. may implement a plan that manages the population 's exposure to and treatment of coronavirus incrementally in hopes of developing a `` herd immunity '' over time .
But , this approach is made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inaccurate , could potentially spell disaster .
The plan assumes at least 80 % of England 's population eventually will be impacted by coronavirus , regardless of what the government does .
So , rather than leaving population exposure to chance , the U.K. is considering a more controlled , incremental approach .
And , because younger people will not get very ill , it involves using them – by means of opening/closing schools and controlling large scale events – to facilitate the infection of low-risk people as needed for the good of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would only leave the older population and those with weakened immune systems isolated .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment Such controlled population exposure is much like controlling the water flow from a faucet .
But there is a purpose to this madness .
It seeks to avoid a resurgence of the flu as was experienced in the 1918 epidemic .
The plan gradually allows an immunity to be built up among the general population so any later resurgence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantines could be more easily managed as fewer people are susceptible .
Success of an incremental exposure approach depends on authorities initially maintaining an equilibrium between incoming and outgoing hospital patients , thus making medical attention much more manageable .
But , obviously , there are inherent risks in accurately managing this equilibrium that , in turn , depends on accurate and timely infection rate data .
Supposedly , as patients are treated , other mildly ill people are recovering so the general population grows a higher percentage of immune people unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pasture , they contribute to building up the herd 's immunity .
Those advocating this approach believe countries like Italy , in isolating their populations from exposure , may only be forcing coronavirus underground , lying dormant , left to rear its ugly head later .
People who avoided it earlier by effective quarantines would then be susceptible to its resurgence as happened in 1918 .
It is ironic that while one country 's approach seeks to stop cornoavirus infection , another 's would seek to infect as many low risk people as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by adopting the latter , England would hope to avoid a pandemic resurgence roller coaster ride that could once again disrupt daily life and create economic chaos of the kind we are witnessing today .
However , a new study on the U.K. 's mitigation approach is now causing Johnson to reconsider this option as death toll projections climb to 250,000 and the success of being able to maximize health care capacity appears to be more questionable than was originally thought .
The approach to fighting coronavirus in Italy and the U.S. is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.K. faces a fork in the road in determining how it will fight the epidemic – with one leading to suppression , the other to mitigation – it hopefully will opt for the road more traveled .

Despite the unity the European Union is to provide members states, apparently no unified approach in dealing with the coronavirus threat exists. This is evidenced by different paths upon which Italy has already embarked and England is considering embarking upon. Comparing their approaches, we see one seeks to assume greater risks up front, leaving behind less fear about future resurgence, while the other assumes much less risk up front, leaving such fears to be dealt with later.
English Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls coronavirus "the worst public health crisis for a generation." But deciding how to confront it has placed him on the horns of a dilemma as to whether he delivers a risky one-two punch up front, aimed at preventing a resurgence, or opts for the safer approach that might have to confront a resurgence later.
Johnson is considering an approach that initially smacks of a leader being detached from one's people on a level not witnessed in Europe for over two centuries. In 1798, French Queen Marie Antoinette infamously said as her people starved, "Let them eat cake." Today, Johnson's coronavirus plan says to his people, "Let them get sick."
Recognizing the coronavirus advance – like an invading army – cannot be stopped, Johnson is considering an option that puts the focus on mitigation rather than – as does the plan embraced by Italy and the U.S. – on suppression. Thus, the U.K. may implement a plan that manages the population's exposure to and treatment of coronavirus incrementally in hopes of developing a "herd immunity" over time. But, this approach is made on certain risky assumptions that, if inaccurate, could potentially spell disaster.
The plan assumes at least 80% of England's population eventually will be impacted by coronavirus, regardless of what the government does. So, rather than leaving population exposure to chance, the U.K. is considering a more controlled, incremental approach. And, because younger people will not get very ill, it involves using them – by means of opening/closing schools and controlling large scale events – to facilitate the infection of low-risk people as needed for the good of the herd. As this is done, it would only leave the older population and those with weakened immune systems isolated.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Such controlled population exposure is much like controlling the water flow from a faucet. But there is a purpose to this madness. It seeks to avoid a resurgence of the flu as was experienced in the 1918 epidemic. The plan gradually allows an immunity to be built up among the general population so any later resurgence by those who avoided exposure during regulated quarantines could be more easily managed as fewer people are susceptible.
Success of an incremental exposure approach depends on authorities initially maintaining an equilibrium between incoming and outgoing hospital patients, thus making medical attention much more manageable. But, obviously, there are inherent risks in accurately managing this equilibrium that, in turn, depends on accurate and timely infection rate data.
Supposedly, as patients are treated, other mildly ill people are recovering so the general population grows a higher percentage of immune people unable to infect others. Put back out to pasture, they contribute to building up the herd's immunity.
Those advocating this approach believe countries like Italy, in isolating their populations from exposure, may only be forcing coronavirus underground, lying dormant, left to rear its ugly head later. People who avoided it earlier by effective quarantines would then be susceptible to its resurgence as happened in 1918.
It is ironic that while one country's approach seeks to stop cornoavirus infection, another's would seek to infect as many low risk people as possible to develop immunity. Clearly, by adopting the latter, England would hope to avoid a pandemic resurgence roller coaster ride that could once again disrupt daily life and create economic chaos of the kind we are witnessing today.
However, a new study on the U.K.'s mitigation approach is now causing Johnson to reconsider this option as death toll projections climb to 250,000 and the success of being able to maximize health care capacity appears to be more questionable than was originally thought.
The approach to fighting coronavirus in Italy and the U.S. is one of suppressing the threat. As the U.K. faces a fork in the road in determining how it will fight the epidemic – with one leading to suppression, the other to mitigation – it hopefully will opt for the road more traveled.


The China Virus War

A student from UNC , a senior , explained to me today that he thinks the coronavirus was developed in a lab in Wuhan , China , and set lose deliberately to let world leaders know what China is capable of doing to the world economy .
He added that China has other virus strains and is using the threat of releasing them as extortion against the Western world .
He thinks the key Western world leaders are all aware .
Would China do that ?
Would China kill a few thousand of its own people to make its point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces of evidence to support his theory .
He did exhaustive research .
He pointed out how lying to the Western world is acceptable to Communist leaders .
Killing their own people is also acceptable .
The end justifies the means .
China was failing to achieve its economic goals and failing with its trade negotiations with the United States prior to the virus outbreak .
The student pointed at how long it took the world to really understand what happened in Chernobyl ( years and years ) and how Russia lied about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think ?
Where is Jack Bauer when we need him ?
What are the CIA and FBI doing ?
Are they still investigating Trump and Trump associates ?
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment Seventy percent of the U.S. economy is generated from consumption .
Only 10 % is from exports and only 10 % of those to China – that 's 1 % of U.S. GDP .
The Chinese have affected that 70 % consumption by inflicting this virus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
Apparently deliberately .
That is war , an economic war .
We are at war – and President Trump gets it .
Would China 's leaders hesitate to kill a couple thousand of its own people to gain an economic advantage over the rest of the world ?
Ha !
Half of China 's population ( 650 million ) live in abject poverty – much worse than any poverty in America .
And half of the Chinese economy is based on exports .
China was losing the trade war until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First we need to get rid of the virus .
Then take inventory of the damage to the economy , fix it and then counterattack .
Just like in any war .
Stop the bleeding ; take and fix inventory ; counterattack .
China can not be allowed development of bio-chemical warfare .
Just as predicted in `` The Accidental Super Power '' from 10 years ago , the U.S. , Canada and Mexico do not need the rest of the world .
Retrenching time .
Bring manufacturing back to North America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immigration ?
It 's not an issue anymore .
Americans now get it .
It only takes one immigrant with an infectious disease .
What if one illegal immigrant were sent into the United States by China or Iran or … ?
Supply chains will be forever altered .
U.S. factories will forever leave China .
American manufacturers and distributors will never again be dependent on China or long-distance supply chains .
Watch closely .
Globalism is dead .
Nationalism will grow and thrive , just like after the Great Depression and World @ @ @

A student from UNC, a senior, explained to me today that he thinks the coronavirus was developed in a lab in Wuhan, China, and set lose deliberately to let world leaders know what China is capable of doing to the world economy. He added that China has other virus strains and is using the threat of releasing them as extortion against the Western world. He thinks the key Western world leaders are all aware.
Would China do that? Would China kill a few thousand of its own people to make its point?
That student had at least 10 pieces of evidence to support his theory. He did exhaustive research. He pointed out how lying to the Western world is acceptable to Communist leaders. Killing their own people is also acceptable. The end justifies the means.
China was failing to achieve its economic goals and failing with its trade negotiations with the United States prior to the virus outbreak. The student pointed at how long it took the world to really understand what happened in Chernobyl (years and years) and how Russia lied about it for years.
What do you think? Where is Jack Bauer when we need him? What are the CIA and FBI doing? Are they still investigating Trump and Trump associates?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Seventy percent of the U.S. economy is generated from consumption. Only 10% is from exports and only 10% of those to China – that's 1% of U.S. GDP. The Chinese have affected that 70% consumption by inflicting this virus on us and the rest of the Western world. Apparently deliberately. That is war, an economic war. We are at war – and President Trump gets it.
Would China's leaders hesitate to kill a couple thousand of its own people to gain an economic advantage over the rest of the world? Ha! Half of China's population (650 million) live in abject poverty – much worse than any poverty in America. And half of the Chinese economy is based on exports. China was losing the trade war until the China virus.
First things first. First we need to get rid of the virus. Then take inventory of the damage to the economy, fix it and then counterattack. Just like in any war. Stop the bleeding; take and fix inventory; counterattack. China cannot be allowed development of bio-chemical warfare.
Just as predicted in "The Accidental Super Power" from 10 years ago, the U.S., Canada and Mexico do not need the rest of the world. Retrenching time. Bring manufacturing back to North America. This China virus will hasten that.
Immigration? It's not an issue anymore. Americans now get it. It only takes one immigrant with an infectious disease. What if one illegal immigrant were sent into the United States by China or Iran or …?
Supply chains will be forever altered. U.S. factories will forever leave China. American manufacturers and distributors will never again be dependent on China or long-distance supply chains.
Watch closely. Globalism is dead. Nationalism will grow and thrive, just like after the Great Depression and World War II.


wnd--2020-03-19--In a time of plague, Part 1

In a time of plague, Part 1

Mighty powers and cultures have fallen and risen not only because of wars but also because of diseases .
In the Peloponnesian War , Sparta triumphed because Athens was devastated by a plague – likely typhoid fever – that decimated the city-state 's warriors and in 429 B.C .
killed its farsighted leader Pericles .
The Antonine Plague of A.D. 165 – probably smallpox – killed the stoic Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius .
The Justinian Plague of 541 crippled the Byzantine Empire .
The Black Plague that reached Europe in 1347 via Silk Road trade during the Pax Mongolica killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Christians , who saw that Jews disproportionately survived , accused them of spreading the plague and slaughtered the Jews of Cologne , Mainz and Strasbourg .
Jews , we now know , survived in part because they were forced to consume only old bread with mold on it , and that mold was often penicillin .
Europe might have lost 99 % of its population and disappeared to history , making the future a struggle between China and Islam , as in Kim Stanley Robinson 's novel `` The Years of Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restored its lost population in only six generations , thanks to the kind of baby boom Dr. Mehmet Oz expects to begin nine months after today 's coronavirus home self-quarantine of millions of Americans .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment The Black Plague ended the worst of feudalism , made workers valuable enough to demand higher freelance wages and more freedoms , and began the road to Enlightenment capitalism and innovation .
Europe in 1492 began a conquest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plagues that buried native New World populations lacking immunity .
Humankind remains vulnerable to plagues , such as the World War I `` Plague of the Spanish Lady '' swine influenza that killed between 50 and 100 million people around the world .
Today 's COVID-19 plague seemed at first far less dangerous than earlier epidemics .
People have also been made cynical about politicians who use emergencies to gain more power for themselves and government .
Why did Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi delay passage of a coronavirus-fighting emergency bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans hostage to her demands for more abortion funding and restrictions on President Donald Trump 's travel bans ?
President Trump 's swift and decisive travel bans appear to have saved thousands – and by worst-case scenarios about this virus , perhaps millions – of American lives .
Democrats for their own political advantage have , by contrast , allowed millions of illegal aliens into our country and avoid medical testing in Democrat-controlled `` sanctuary cities . ''
COVID-19 initially was described as a `` common cold , '' but research shows it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least three times more virulent and contagious than influenza , it attacks the body in at least one way that resembles Ebola and HIV , the virus that causes AIDS .
Worse , the coronavirus can rapidly mutate .
It is a moving target , harder to suppress with some medical approaches .
Some healed patients fall ill again .
We might be on the verge of finding a magic bullet that can defeat COVID-19 and keep humankind safe until the next plague , which will sooner or later come in the natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems .
Western civilization , meanwhile , seems increasingly to be getting weaker .
Our sperm counts have fallen by 60 percent in recent decades , and we have fallen to a reproduction rate below the ability to sustain our population .
Our bodies use fever to defeat viral invaders , so the French health minister urged people not to use anti-inflammatory fever reducers such as aspirin and ibuprofen .
But Western average body temperature has fallen a degree from 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit .
We have bright scientists and innovators , but average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 15 points since the Victorian Era .
Home Depot has had to create do-it-yourself videos for millennials showing them how to use a tape measure and how to drive in a nail with a hammer .
One recent study finds that many millennials literally do not know how to screw in a light bulb .
Most , however , know how to parrot the leftist platitudes of their teachers and to demand that conservative views be stifled .
We are no longer the Enlightenment civilization that triumphed over the Black Plague and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , writes Joseph Stieb in the March 19 Washington Post , we see our lives justified by being big-spending , indebted consumers in a Keynesian economy where spending , welfare , pleasure and infantile immediate self-gratification matter most .
Lowell Ponte is a former Reader 's Digest Roving Editor .
His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal , the New York Times and other major publications .
His latest paper co-authored with Craig R. Smith , `` China 's Top Secret War , '' shows how to rethink several areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings against the little-known economic threats the People 's Republic of China poses .
For a free , postpaid copy , call toll-free 800-630-1492 .

Mighty powers and cultures have fallen and risen not only because of wars but also because of diseases.
In the Peloponnesian War, Sparta triumphed because Athens was devastated by a plague – likely typhoid fever – that decimated the city-state's warriors and in 429 B.C. killed its farsighted leader Pericles. The Antonine Plague of A.D. 165 – probably smallpox – killed the stoic Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Justinian Plague of 541 crippled the Byzantine Empire.
The Black Plague that reached Europe in 1347 via Silk Road trade during the Pax Mongolica killed between 30 and 60% of Europeans. Christians, who saw that Jews disproportionately survived, accused them of spreading the plague and slaughtered the Jews of Cologne, Mainz and Strasbourg. Jews, we now know, survived in part because they were forced to consume only old bread with mold on it, and that mold was often penicillin.
Europe might have lost 99% of its population and disappeared to history, making the future a struggle between China and Islam, as in Kim Stanley Robinson's novel "The Years of Rice and Salt."
Instead, Europe restored its lost population in only six generations, thanks to the kind of baby boom Dr. Mehmet Oz expects to begin nine months after today's coronavirus home self-quarantine of millions of Americans.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Black Plague ended the worst of feudalism, made workers valuable enough to demand higher freelance wages and more freedoms, and began the road to Enlightenment capitalism and innovation. Europe in 1492 began a conquest of the New World, bringing smallpox and other plagues that buried native New World populations lacking immunity.
Humankind remains vulnerable to plagues, such as the World War I "Plague of the Spanish Lady" swine influenza that killed between 50 and 100 million people around the world.
Today's COVID-19 plague seemed at first far less dangerous than earlier epidemics. People have also been made cynical about politicians who use emergencies to gain more power for themselves and government. Why did Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi delay passage of a coronavirus-fighting emergency bill, holding the health and safety of Americans hostage to her demands for more abortion funding and restrictions on President Donald Trump's travel bans?
President Trump's swift and decisive travel bans appear to have saved thousands – and by worst-case scenarios about this virus, perhaps millions – of American lives. Democrats for their own political advantage have, by contrast, allowed millions of illegal aliens into our country and avoid medical testing in Democrat-controlled "sanctuary cities."
COVID-19 initially was described as a "common cold," but research shows it to be potentially far deadlier. At least three times more virulent and contagious than influenza, it attacks the body in at least one way that resembles Ebola and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Worse, the coronavirus can rapidly mutate. It is a moving target, harder to suppress with some medical approaches. Some healed patients fall ill again. We might be on the verge of finding a magic bullet that can defeat COVID-19 and keep humankind safe until the next plague, which will sooner or later come in the natural war between attacking microorganisms and our immune systems.
Western civilization, meanwhile, seems increasingly to be getting weaker. Our sperm counts have fallen by 60 percent in recent decades, and we have fallen to a reproduction rate below the ability to sustain our population. Our bodies use fever to defeat viral invaders, so the French health minister urged people not to use anti-inflammatory fever reducers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. But Western average body temperature has fallen a degree from 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
We have bright scientists and innovators, but average I.Q. has fallen by as much as 15 points since the Victorian Era. Home Depot has had to create do-it-yourself videos for millennials showing them how to use a tape measure and how to drive in a nail with a hammer. One recent study finds that many millennials literally do not know how to screw in a light bulb. Most, however, know how to parrot the leftist platitudes of their teachers and to demand that conservative views be stifled.
We are no longer the Enlightenment civilization that triumphed over the Black Plague and went on to reshape the world. Instead, writes Joseph Stieb in the March 19 Washington Post, we see our lives justified by being big-spending, indebted consumers in a Keynesian economy where spending, welfare, pleasure and infantile immediate self-gratification matter most.
Lowell Ponte is a former Reader's Digest Roving Editor. His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other major publications. His latest paper co-authored with Craig R. Smith, "China's Top Secret War," shows how to rethink several areas of investment to protect and grow your savings against the little-known economic threats the People's Republic of China poses. For a free, postpaid copy, call toll-free 800-630-1492.


wnd--2020-03-19--Winning the coronavirus war

Winning the coronavirus war

America has faced great challenges in the past , and we have always gotten through them stronger than we were before .
From the Civil War to the Great Depression to World War II , we have been through some horrific stuff .
In the Civil War alone , we lost 750,000 people , or 2 % of our population at the time .
That would be 7 million deaths at our current population level .
In World War II , we suffered another 405,000 deaths .
Since World War II , we have faced many challenges , including wars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as the scale goes , we may be entering a period of hardship like none we have seen in decades .
According to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report obtained by The New York Times , as many as 1.7 million Americans could die in the worst-case coronavirus scenario .
The same report said between 2.4 million and 21 million people may need hospitalization .
That 's a huge problem for a country like ours , with less than a million hospital beds .
These numbers need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus has now been around for over three and a half months , and the most recent official statistics report only 8,000 deaths worldwide .
That 's horrible for every single family , but on a worldwide scale , this number is small .
Second , The New York Times ' numbers depict the worst-case scenarios , so the real result could be a lot lower – although even the low end is 200,000 deaths .
Finally , and most importantly , we can change all the numbers a lot by changing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have already changed our behavior more than any of us could have imagined .
There is reason for optimism .
With everyone staying home and restaurants and stores closed , our biggest challenge may be how we can keep our economy afloat .
For those in the food , travel and hospitality industries , the job losses have already started .
More are likely coming .
The question is : Can we find a balance where our economy can continue , even if at a reduced pace , while we still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be easy .
Regardless of which scenario is playing out , it 's crystal-clear now that we may be facing a generational challenge .
Past generations of Americans stepped up when needed .
This time , we do n't need to go to basic training and board a ship to cross the ocean .
We do n't have to face a storm of Nazi machine gun fire .
There are no Japanese suicide bombers .
All we need to do is stay home for a while .
This seems horrific by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
We should n't minimize it .
It 's not fun .
But it 's also not a lot to ask compared with the sacrifices those who came before us have made for our country .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment The reality of this virus poses some interesting and scary challenges for our society .
Those most at risk are the sick or elderly .
Those least at risk are the young and healthy .
The difference is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oldest groups are terrifying even by historical standards .
The death rates for the youngest group seem flu-like .
If we do n't all take care of ourselves , wash our hands and minimize contact for a while , we are all likely to get it at some point given how contagious it seems to be .
But the cost of getting it will almost entirely fall on the oldest and sickest among us .
So the question is whether younger Americans are willing to sacrifice for their grandparents .
Videos of kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the meaninglessness of the coronavirus scare are going viral .
We all have to hope those are not representative of the vast majority of young people and that more education will quickly help change attitudes .
We are also , of course , in an election year .
The reality is that after some early stumbles , it seems like the president is stepping up to lead our country through this crisis .
What if , against all media and official Washington expectations , he starts to pull it off ?
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
So far , the results are mixed .
Some parties ca n't resist trying to milk this tragedy for every political point .
Phony scandals ginned up by the media , like the controversy over what to call this virus , have been the norm .
Is it racist to call it a Chinese virus ?
There ca n't be more than a few Americans who care about dumb debates like that at a time like this .
More encouragingly , we are seeing Democrats and Republicans put partisanship aside to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Gov .
Gavin Newsom of California and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo of New York have recently complimented President Donald Trump for the job he and his team are doing .
This sort of attitude is what people want right now from our leadership .
A challenge like we are facing can be an opportunity for national renewal .
Will young people step up to help those in need ?
Will politicians work together to help get America through this crisis ?
Will the media pull the plug on the fake controversies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last one seems pretty unlikely , but two out of three would n't be bad .

America has faced great challenges in the past, and we have always gotten through them stronger than we were before. From the Civil War to the Great Depression to World War II, we have been through some horrific stuff. In the Civil War alone, we lost 750,000 people, or 2% of our population at the time. That would be 7 million deaths at our current population level. In World War II, we suffered another 405,000 deaths. Since World War II, we have faced many challenges, including wars and terrible tragedies like 9/11, but as far as the scale goes, we may be entering a period of hardship like none we have seen in decades.
According to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report obtained by The New York Times, as many as 1.7 million Americans could die in the worst-case coronavirus scenario. The same report said between 2.4 million and 21 million people may need hospitalization. That's a huge problem for a country like ours, with less than a million hospital beds.
These numbers need to be put in context. First, the virus has now been around for over three and a half months, and the most recent official statistics report only 8,000 deaths worldwide. That's horrible for every single family, but on a worldwide scale, this number is small. Second, The New York Times' numbers depict the worst-case scenarios, so the real result could be a lot lower – although even the low end is 200,000 deaths. Finally, and most importantly, we can change all the numbers a lot by changing our behavior. In just this past week, we have already changed our behavior more than any of us could have imagined. There is reason for optimism.
With everyone staying home and restaurants and stores closed, our biggest challenge may be how we can keep our economy afloat. For those in the food, travel and hospitality industries, the job losses have already started. More are likely coming. The question is: Can we find a balance where our economy can continue, even if at a reduced pace, while we still minimize the disease's transmission? That won't be easy.
Regardless of which scenario is playing out, it's crystal-clear now that we may be facing a generational challenge. Past generations of Americans stepped up when needed. This time, we don't need to go to basic training and board a ship to cross the ocean. We don't have to face a storm of Nazi machine gun fire. There are no Japanese suicide bombers. All we need to do is stay home for a while. This seems horrific by the standards of an American teen in 2020. We shouldn't minimize it. It's not fun. But it's also not a lot to ask compared with the sacrifices those who came before us have made for our country.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The reality of this virus poses some interesting and scary challenges for our society. Those most at risk are the sick or elderly. Those least at risk are the young and healthy. The difference is astounding. The death rates for the oldest groups are terrifying even by historical standards. The death rates for the youngest group seem flu-like. If we don't all take care of ourselves, wash our hands and minimize contact for a while, we are all likely to get it at some point given how contagious it seems to be. But the cost of getting it will almost entirely fall on the oldest and sickest among us. So the question is whether younger Americans are willing to sacrifice for their grandparents. Videos of kids partying on spring break as they laugh about the meaninglessness of the coronavirus scare are going viral. We all have to hope those are not representative of the vast majority of young people and that more education will quickly help change attitudes.
We are also, of course, in an election year. The reality is that after some early stumbles, it seems like the president is stepping up to lead our country through this crisis. What if, against all media and official Washington expectations, he starts to pull it off? Will Democrats and their media allies let him?
So far, the results are mixed. Some parties can't resist trying to milk this tragedy for every political point. Phony scandals ginned up by the media, like the controversy over what to call this virus, have been the norm. Is it racist to call it a Chinese virus? There can't be more than a few Americans who care about dumb debates like that at a time like this. More encouragingly, we are seeing Democrats and Republicans put partisanship aside to pass coronavirus relief bills quickly. Top Democrats like Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York have recently complimented President Donald Trump for the job he and his team are doing. This sort of attitude is what people want right now from our leadership.
A challenge like we are facing can be an opportunity for national renewal. Will young people step up to help those in need? Will politicians work together to help get America through this crisis? Will the media pull the plug on the fake controversies for at least a few months? The last one seems pretty unlikely, but two out of three wouldn't be bad.


wnd--2020-03-20--Burger King announces free kids meals as pandemic closes schools

Fast-food chain Burger King will soon begin offering free kids meals at its U.S. locations , helping families impacted by the current public health pandemic who may rely on school lunches to feed their children .
“ [ W ] e ’ re thinking about you .
we believe restaurants will have an increasingly essential role in feeding our country .
so whether you ’ re ordering at BK or elsewhere , use minimum contact methods like drive-thrus , pick-up or delivery .
take care , ” the company wrote Tuesday on Twitter .
Bloomberg reported that Jose Cil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Restaurant Brands International , joined other restaurant industry leaders Tuesday in a conference call with President Donald Trump .
The industry leaders briefed the president on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting their brands .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment '' We work closely with each of our franchisees .
We ’ re going to get through this .
We have a strong franchise system and a very strong franchise model , ” Cil said .
Cil announced a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be struggling with meals now that most of the country 's schools have closed .
Beginning March 20 , Burger King will offer two free kids meals with any purchase through its mobile phone app .
The offer is valid for drive-thru , takeout and delivery orders and can be used once a day through April 6 .
Restaurant Brands ’ stock has dropped nearly 50 percent so far this year .
Still , the company is looking to help individuals who are being hit harder by the coronavirus outbreak .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing or altering their food delivery methods during the health crisis .
Restaurants in South Carolina , for example , were ordered to stop serving food in their dining areas by Gov .
Henry McMaster Tuesday , but were permitted to continue their delivery and take-out options .
Likewise , restaurants across the country were given similar limitations , NBC News reported .
Darren Tristano , the CEO of the consulting firm FoodserviceResults , told NBC News that the coronavirus will likely have longstanding economic consequences for the food service industry .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the next 30 to 60 days , it ’ s very likely to cause the industry to decline on a nominal basis , ” he said .
“ These are not sales you 're going to make up , and it ’ s very likely we ’ re going to see even stronger declines .
Even after restaurants open back up , consumers are going to stay away because of fear , ” Tristano added .
The food consultant also said he had projected a growth rate of 3.3 percent for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but now believes most restaurants will lose money by staying open .
Food delivery service GrubHub announced last Friday it would temporarily forfeit $ 100 million in commissions in order to help smaller restaurants cope with the financial impact of the coronavirus , CNN reported .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Fast-food chain Burger King will soon begin offering free kids meals at its U.S. locations, helping families impacted by the current public health pandemic who may rely on school lunches to feed their children.
“[W]e’re thinking about you. we believe restaurants will have an increasingly essential role in feeding our country. so whether you’re ordering at BK or elsewhere, use minimum contact methods like drive-thrus, pick-up or delivery. take care,” the company wrote Tuesday on Twitter.
we’re thinking about you. we believe restaurants will have an increasingly essential role in feeding our country. so whether you’re ordering at BK or elsewhere, use minimum contact methods like drive-thrus, pick-up or delivery. take care, https://t.co/tWSdfUbbGu
cc: @whitehouse — Burger King (@BurgerKing) March 17, 2020
Bloomberg reported that Jose Cil, CEO of Burger King's parent company Restaurant Brands International, joined other restaurant industry leaders Tuesday in a conference call with President Donald Trump.
The industry leaders briefed the president on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting their brands.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"We work closely with each of our franchisees. We’re going to get through this. We have a strong franchise system and a very strong franchise model,” Cil said.
Cil announced a special offer to help families with children who might be struggling with meals now that most of the country's schools have closed.
Beginning March 20, Burger King will offer two free kids meals with any purchase through its mobile phone app.
The offer is valid for drive-thru, takeout and delivery orders and can be used once a day through April 6.
Restaurant Brands’ stock has dropped nearly 50 percent so far this year. Still, the company is looking to help individuals who are being hit harder by the coronavirus outbreak.
Many restaurants across the country are either temporarily closing or altering their food delivery methods during the health crisis.
Restaurants in South Carolina, for example, were ordered to stop serving food in their dining areas by Gov. Henry McMaster Tuesday, but were permitted to continue their delivery and take-out options.
Likewise, restaurants across the country were given similar limitations, NBC News reported.
Darren Tristano, the CEO of the consulting firm FoodserviceResults, told NBC News that the coronavirus will likely have longstanding economic consequences for the food service industry.
“Even if the closures are only impacted over the next 30 to 60 days, it’s very likely to cause the industry to decline on a nominal basis,” he said.
“These are not sales you're going to make up, and it’s very likely we’re going to see even stronger declines. Even after restaurants open back up, consumers are going to stay away because of fear,” Tristano added.
The food consultant also said he had projected a growth rate of 3.3 percent for the nation’s restaurant industry this year, but now believes most restaurants will lose money by staying open.
Food delivery service GrubHub announced last Friday it would temporarily forfeit $100 million in commissions in order to help smaller restaurants cope with the financial impact of the coronavirus, CNN reported.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-03-20--Coronavirus-positive woman faces up to 7 years in prison for allegedly hiding symptoms to board flig

Coronavirus-positive woman faces up to 7 years in prison for allegedly hiding symptoms to board flight

A woman is being investigated by Chinese authorities and is facing time behind bars after she allegedly concealed symptoms of the coronavirus and boarded an airplane from California to China last week .
The Los Angeles Times reported a 37-year old Chinese citizen and Massachusetts resident tested positive for the virus in Beijing after traveling to the country on a flight from Los Angeles .
According to Chinese authorities , the woman , identified only as Li , took fever-reducing medication in an attempt to conceal her symptoms in order to get to China .
Li had attended a conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a February conference in the same city held by the Cambridge-based biotechnology company Biogen .
WCVB reported more than 100 cases of coronavirus in the United States have been linked to the conference .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment Cases of coronavirus potentially linked to the Biogen conference have been reported in Tennessee , North Carolina , Indiana , New Jersey , Washington , D.C. , and even Europe .
The company told FiercePharma it believes “ Ms .
Li @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a personal decision to travel to China , '' where the Chinese government is handing out harsh punishments to anyone suspected of endangering public health .
Li is being investigated by authorities in China for the crime of “ impeding prevention of infectious diseases , ” and she could face up to three years in prison with a possibility of forced labor , the Times reported .
The newspaper added that her punishment could also become more severe `` if there are 'serious consequences , ' '' the newspaper said .
In that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven years in prison .
Li is currently hospitalized in China with the virus , the Times reported .
“ Those who try to test their luck and evade customs and quarantine not only will bear the whole society ’ s shaming and condemnation , but will also face the scourge of imprisonment , ” Chinese customs official Wang Jun said .
The Times added that `` at least 25 other people in China have been punished or investigated for concealing their coronavirus symptoms or travel history . ''
While China has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fatalities related to the coronavirus , the number of confirmed cases reported in the country does appear to have gone down .
China on Thursday reported only 34 new cases of the virus and eight deaths .
Up to this point , China has officially identified more than 81,000 cases of the virus and reported 3,245 deaths since the outbreak of COVID-19 began in December in Wuhan , the capital city of China ’ s Hubei province .
Europe , meanwhile , has become the epicenter for cases of the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41,035 cases and 3,405 deaths , while reported cases in Spain have reached 17,963 with 830 dead .
Germany , meanwhile , has reported a lower mortality rate in its reported coronavirus cases than its neighbors on the continent .
More than 15,320 cases of the virus had been reported in the country as of Thursday , resulting in 44 deaths .
The number of coronavirus cases reported in the U.S. reached 11,611 on Thursday , while 174 American deaths have been attributed to the virus .
This article appeared originally on The @ @ @

A woman is being investigated by Chinese authorities and is facing time behind bars after she allegedly concealed symptoms of the coronavirus and boarded an airplane from California to China last week.
The Los Angeles Times reported a 37-year old Chinese citizen and Massachusetts resident tested positive for the virus in Beijing after traveling to the country on a flight from Los Angeles.
According to Chinese authorities, the woman, identified only as Li, took fever-reducing medication in an attempt to conceal her symptoms in order to get to China.
Li had attended a conference in Boston that has been linked to a February conference in the same city held by the Cambridge-based biotechnology company Biogen.
WCVB reported more than 100 cases of coronavirus in the United States have been linked to the conference.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Cases of coronavirus potentially linked to the Biogen conference have been reported in Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and even Europe.
The company told FiercePharma it believes “Ms. Li is a U.S.-based Biogen employee who made a personal decision to travel to China," where the Chinese government is handing out harsh punishments to anyone suspected of endangering public health.
Li is being investigated by authorities in China for the crime of “impeding prevention of infectious diseases,” and she could face up to three years in prison with a possibility of forced labor, the Times reported.
The newspaper added that her punishment could also become more severe "if there are 'serious consequences,'" the newspaper said.
In that case, she could face up to seven years in prison.
Li is currently hospitalized in China with the virus, the Times reported.
“Those who try to test their luck and evade customs and quarantine not only will bear the whole society’s shaming and condemnation, but will also face the scourge of imprisonment,” Chinese customs official Wang Jun said.
The Times added that "at least 25 other people in China have been punished or investigated for concealing their coronavirus symptoms or travel history."
While China has been accused of underreporting the number of cases and fatalities related to the coronavirus, the number of confirmed cases reported in the country does appear to have gone down.
China on Thursday reported only 34 new cases of the virus and eight deaths.
Up to this point, China has officially identified more than 81,000 cases of the virus and reported 3,245 deaths since the outbreak of COVID-19 began in December in Wuhan, the capital city of China’s Hubei province.
Europe, meanwhile, has become the epicenter for cases of the coronavirus.
As of Thursday, Italy had reported 41,035 cases and 3,405 deaths, while reported cases in Spain have reached 17,963 with 830 dead.
Germany, meanwhile, has reported a lower mortality rate in its reported coronavirus cases than its neighbors on the continent.
More than 15,320 cases of the virus had been reported in the country as of Thursday, resulting in 44 deaths.
The number of coronavirus cases reported in the U.S. reached 11,611 on Thursday, while 174 American deaths have been attributed to the virus.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-03-20--Private sector responds before gov't, moves to ensure seniors get groceries they need

In a testament to how unique the country ’ s private sector can be , companies across the country are stepping up to help those being affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
During a difficult time for the country , retailers are demonstrating just how exceptional American businesses can be when they are at their best .
Concerned about the most vulnerable among their customers , a number of local and national retailers have dedicated specific shopping hours for seniors .
In Arizona , Phoenix-based grocers Food City , AJ 's Fine Foods and Bashas ' will open exclusively for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesdays for the time being , Arizona Family reported .
The area ’ s Los Altos Ranch Markets location will also set aside the first hour of each day specifically for seniors and first responders .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment Additionally , national retail chains operating in the area are enacting similar measures for shoppers .
Costco , Dollar General , Target and Walmart will each reserve shopping hours for seniors in their stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restocked .
The phenomenon is also occurring in other cities .
Dollar General and Walmart both announced that they have instituted special shopping hours for seniors nationwide .
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said in a statement that his company is dedicated to helping during the epidemic .
“ During these unprecedented times , Dollar General is diligently working to meet the ongoing needs of our customers and communities .
We are proud to live our mission and provide customers with everyday low prices on the household essentials that are used and replenished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beginning March 24 through April 28 , each U.S. Walmart location will host a seniors-only shopping hour every Tuesday for customers 60 and older beginning one hour before stores open to the general public .
Walmart Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith also announced in a news release that all 24-hour stores will change hours and instead be open from 7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning March 19 .
“ We know our older customers could be more vulnerable to the coronavirus and to better support them , Walmart is offering special shopping hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts are still gathering data about the coronavirus , it is believed that older adults are the most vulnerable to the disease , especially if they have one or more underlying health conditions , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
While the Trump administration 's response to the country ’ s current health and financial crisis has been outstanding , it is invigorating to see corporate America step up to help during a time of such uncertainty .
Right now , it 's private companies , not the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the groceries they need .
So much for the whole “ capitalism exploits ” spiel from far-left Democrats and Bernie Bros .
In a socialist society , a public health crisis such as the current one would likely be exacerbated by empty store shelves .
While many Americans have ventured out to find some shelves empty in recent weeks , the owners of those shelves are quickly adapting to changes in the market to restock them .
They ’ re also instituting policies that ensure those shelves are clean for the most vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on The Western Journal .

In a testament to how unique the country’s private sector can be, companies across the country are stepping up to help those being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
During a difficult time for the country, retailers are demonstrating just how exceptional American businesses can be when they are at their best.
Concerned about the most vulnerable among their customers, a number of local and national retailers have dedicated specific shopping hours for seniors.
In Arizona, Phoenix-based grocers Food City, AJ's Fine Foods and Bashas' will open exclusively for those age 65 and older from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesdays for the time being, Arizona Family reported.
The area’s Los Altos Ranch Markets location will also set aside the first hour of each day specifically for seniors and first responders.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Additionally, national retail chains operating in the area are enacting similar measures for shoppers.
Costco, Dollar General, Target and Walmart will each reserve shopping hours for seniors in their stores, after they have been cleaned and restocked.
The phenomenon is also occurring in other cities.
Dollar General and Walmart both announced that they have instituted special shopping hours for seniors nationwide.
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said in a statement that his company is dedicated to helping during the epidemic.
“During these unprecedented times, Dollar General is diligently working to meet the ongoing needs of our customers and communities. We are proud to live our mission and provide customers with everyday low prices on the household essentials that are used and replenished most often,” Vasos said.
Beginning March 24 through April 28, each U.S. Walmart location will host a seniors-only shopping hour every Tuesday for customers 60 and older beginning one hour before stores open to the general public.
Walmart Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith also announced in a news release that all 24-hour stores will change hours and instead be open from 7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning March 19.
“We know our older customers could be more vulnerable to the coronavirus and to better support them, Walmart is offering special shopping hours,” Smith said.
While health experts are still gathering data about the coronavirus, it is believed that older adults are the most vulnerable to the disease, especially if they have one or more underlying health conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the Trump administration's response to the country’s current health and financial crisis has been outstanding, it is invigorating to see corporate America step up to help during a time of such uncertainty. Right now, it's private companies, not the government, working to ensure that seniors get the groceries they need.
So much for the whole “capitalism exploits” spiel from far-left Democrats and Bernie Bros.
In a socialist society, a public health crisis such as the current one would likely be exacerbated by empty store shelves.
While many Americans have ventured out to find some shelves empty in recent weeks, the owners of those shelves are quickly adapting to changes in the market to restock them.
They’re also instituting policies that ensure those shelves are clean for the most vulnerable among us.
Isn't capitalism grand?
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-03-20--Social distancing? An introvert's dream!

Let 's take a break from dire news and examine – tongue-in-cheek – the lighter side of quarantines .
As the world panics over the coronavirus scare , more and more people find themselves restricted to their homes for the foreseeable future .
This has resulted in a spate of helpful advice on how to cope with the difficulties of isolation .
Examples : • The family lockdown guide : how to emotionally prepare for coronavirus quarantine • Coronavirus : How to protect your mental health • How to Survive Isolation With Your Roommates , Your Partner , Your Kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printable guide for preparing to shelter at home : Our recommendations for surviving boredom , loneliness , and the coronavirus The advice is endless .
`` In the grand scheme of things , lying low for a little while is a small sacrifice to make for the increased safety of all , '' noted one article , `` though it certainly will pose challenges , not least of which being to our relationships . ''
The underlying message is how difficult it is to forgo such enjoyable social activities as restaurants , movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the writers assume the worst from being cooped up : family members will metaphorically eat each other alive , spouses will quarrel , and children will misbehave .
The dire predictions go on and on .
TRENDING : 2 Fox stars gave Donna Brazile lesson in manners after outrageous 'Go to hell ' comment I really could n't figure out what the fuss was about .
I mean , how hard can it be to curb one 's social life and just stay home ?
This article documents a few typical reactions from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm supposed to stay home , work from home , no cafes , no get-togethers .
I ca n't even go to a restaurant .
I 'm losing it . ''
`` I have been crying on and off since hanging up from a team call , and I do n't even like half the people on my team .
I did n't realize just how desperate I was for human contact . ''
`` I went to the store with gloves and a face mask yesterday just to see people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my parents ' front porch that they left outside and I was like , 'Please wave at me ! '
'' Can you feel their pain ?
As with so many others , our family has been following all the recommended social-distancing guidelines .
But except for financial anxieties ( which we share ) , I was clueless why so many consider isolation a fate worse than death .
Why is there so much fretful , angst-filled advice on how to endure a lockdown ?
An Australian columnist named Emma Jane nailed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has led to calls for self-isolation – and introverts are the experts at quarantine . ''
Aha .
That 's the heart of the matter .
Introverts are experts at quarantining .
Finally , this misunderstood subgroup is given some respect !
Emma Jane notes : `` As the world worries about the least-infectious way to do anything short of locking down in a bunker sheathed in protective toilet paper , there 's one group of social-distancing experts governments have yet to consult .
I speak , of course , of introverts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ misunderstood condition have years of anti-social expertise we 'd be more than willing to share ( just so long as the whole conversation is wrapped up in five minutes and does n't take place at any sort of soirée ) . ''
Introverts have never been understood by the extroverted majority , which assume quiet types are flawed and need `` fixing . ''
Extroverts assume introverts are unhappy in their solitude and should get out more .
The world revolves around extroverts , and as a result most people do n't understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sociable creatures who crave interaction with others , right ?
But not everyone wants constant socialization , nor can introverts be `` fixed . ''
In fact , introversion may be biological – embedded in our DNA .
This article notes : `` Introverts have a lot of the chemical that makes them feel stimulated ; extroverts do n't have so much .
This is why introverts tend to avoid crowded places or deadlines .
… As an introvert , you are more energized by spending time on your own , or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust .
So when you are out in a social environment that is very highly stimulating , what happens is that while the extrovert gets more and more incandescent and magnetic , the introvert starts shrinking and shrinking away . ''
Extroverts get their batteries charged by social interaction , so the more social time they get , the happier and more energized they become .
They thrive on social situations .
Solitude is boring , depressing and something to avoid .
Social distancing ?
A horrible fate .
But socialization for introverts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little goes a long way .
Too much socializing mentally exhausts ( rather than exhilarates ) introverts .
They need a lot of alone time to recharge their batteries .
Social distancing ?
Bring it on !
Now , in a strange twist of fate , extroverts are being forced to act like introverts .
Ouch .
The fretful advice on how extroverts can cope with solitude is being mocked on social media .
Some examples : '' A toast !
to those excluding themselves from human interaction before it was cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us for years to 'get outside our comfort zone ' and leave the house .
This may be the first time they 're told to go outside their comfort zone and stay in . ''
`` I 've been preparing for this moment my entire life . ''
`` It 's like I have to change literally nothing in my behavior to accommodate an outbreak . ''
`` So coronavirus is making extroverts feel how introverts feel all the time ? ''
Emma Jane 's article offers some advice : `` While introverting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures .
During the current COVID-19 crisis , therefore , I recommend you ensure you have the following introvert survival items : • Book • Back-up book • Break-glass-in-case-of-emergency back-up book for the back-up book • Ceaseless internal monologue • Round-the-body blanket and over-the-head blanket • Tea cozy ( in case you misplace your over-the-head blanket ) • Oversized and fully-fleeced leisurewear • Solid nap plan .
Some additional advice from an introvert on how extroverts can survive isolation can be found here .
Who'da thunk it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finally come into their own ?
Or the requirements to not congregate in groups of over 10 people would become posh ?
I can do that with my eyes closed .
And now , I think I will .

Let's take a break from dire news and examine – tongue-in-cheek – the lighter side of quarantines.
As the world panics over the coronavirus scare, more and more people find themselves restricted to their homes for the foreseeable future. This has resulted in a spate of helpful advice on how to cope with the difficulties of isolation. Examples:
The advice is endless. "In the grand scheme of things, lying low for a little while is a small sacrifice to make for the increased safety of all," noted one article, "though it certainly will pose challenges, not least of which being to our relationships."
The underlying message is how difficult it is to forgo such enjoyable social activities as restaurants, movies, bars and nightclubs. Additionally, the writers assume the worst from being cooped up: family members will metaphorically eat each other alive, spouses will quarrel, and children will misbehave. The dire predictions go on and on.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
I really couldn't figure out what the fuss was about. I mean, how hard can it be to curb one's social life and just stay home? This article documents a few typical reactions from those struggling with the lockdown:
"I'm supposed to stay home, work from home, no cafes, no get-togethers. I can't even go to a restaurant. I'm losing it."
"I have been crying on and off since hanging up from a team call, and I don't even like half the people on my team. I didn't realize just how desperate I was for human contact."
"I went to the store with gloves and a face mask yesterday just to see people. And I'm picking stuff up from my parents' front porch that they left outside and I was like, 'Please wave at me!'"
Can you feel their pain?
As with so many others, our family has been following all the recommended social-distancing guidelines. But except for financial anxieties (which we share), I was clueless why so many consider isolation a fate worse than death. Why is there so much fretful, angst-filled advice on how to endure a lockdown?
An Australian columnist named Emma Jane nailed the answer in a piece entitled "Coronavirus has led to calls for self-isolation – and introverts are the experts at quarantine."
Aha. That's the heart of the matter. Introverts are experts at quarantining. Finally, this misunderstood subgroup is given some respect!
Emma Jane notes: "As the world worries about the least-infectious way to do anything short of locking down in a bunker sheathed in protective toilet paper, there's one group of social-distancing experts governments have yet to consult. I speak, of course, of introverts. Those of us suffering this much-maligned and misunderstood condition have years of anti-social expertise we'd be more than willing to share (just so long as the whole conversation is wrapped up in five minutes and doesn't take place at any sort of soirée)."
Introverts have never been understood by the extroverted majority, which assume quiet types are flawed and need "fixing." Extroverts assume introverts are unhappy in their solitude and should get out more. The world revolves around extroverts, and as a result most people don't understand recluses. After all, humans are sociable creatures who crave interaction with others, right?
But not everyone wants constant socialization, nor can introverts be "fixed." In fact, introversion may be biological – embedded in our DNA. This article notes: "Introverts have a lot of the chemical that makes them feel stimulated; extroverts don't have so much. This is why introverts tend to avoid crowded places or deadlines. … As an introvert, you are more energized by spending time on your own, or in very small intimate groups of people you trust. So when you are out in a social environment that is very highly stimulating, what happens is that while the extrovert gets more and more incandescent and magnetic, the introvert starts shrinking and shrinking away."
Extroverts get their batteries charged by social interaction, so the more social time they get, the happier and more energized they become. They thrive on social situations. Solitude is boring, depressing and something to avoid. Social distancing? A horrible fate.
But socialization for introverts is like eating hot chili peppers: a little goes a long way. Too much socializing mentally exhausts (rather than exhilarates) introverts. They need a lot of alone time to recharge their batteries. Social distancing? Bring it on!
Now, in a strange twist of fate, extroverts are being forced to act like introverts. Ouch.
The fretful advice on how extroverts can cope with solitude is being mocked on social media. Some examples:
"A toast! to those excluding themselves from human interaction before it was cool."
"Extroverts have been telling us for years to 'get outside our comfort zone' and leave the house. This may be the first time they're told to go outside their comfort zone and stay in."
"I've been preparing for this moment my entire life."
"Coronavirus, a dangerous infection or an introvert's dream?"
"It's like I have to change literally nothing in my behavior to accommodate an outbreak."
"So coronavirus is making extroverts feel how introverts feel all the time?"
Emma Jane's article offers some advice: "While introverting is unlikely to come naturally to extroverts, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. During the current COVID-19 crisis, therefore, I recommend you ensure you have the following introvert survival items:
• Book
• Back-up book
• Break-glass-in-case-of-emergency back-up book for the back-up book
• Ceaseless internal monologue
• Round-the-body blanket and over-the-head blanket
• Tea cozy (in case you misplace your over-the-head blanket)
• Oversized and fully-fleeced leisurewear
• Solid nap plan.
Some additional advice from an introvert on how extroverts can survive isolation can be found here.
Who'da thunk it would take a global pandemic for introverts to finally come into their own? Or the requirements to not congregate in groups of over 10 people would become posh? I can do that with my eyes closed.
And now, I think I will.
Stay safe, dear readers, and enjoy the solitude.