thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Gun-Rights Group Files Suit Challenging Chi-Com Virus Shutdown

A top gun-rights group is challenging the state-ordered shutdown of `` non-essential '' businesses because of the coronavirus outbreak , and leading Second Amendment advocates say more could be in store .
Brandon Combs , president of the Firearms Policy Coalition , said his group filed a case on Friday asking the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to block Democratic governor Tom Wolf from including gun stores in a statewide shutdown of `` non-essential '' businesses .
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has told Gov .
Wolf he has until 8 p.m. on Friday to respond to the arguments in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most essential business types in the United States , '' Combs told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` There is no ‘ except in emergencies ’ clause in the Constitution and the government can not shut down the people ’ s right to keep and bear arms . ''
Government mandates shuttering businesses in several states have raised the prospect that more gun retailers could be ordered to shut their doors .
California and Pennsylvania have already started shutting down businesses other than grocery stores , gas stations , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolf described them .
At least one gun store near San Jose has been forced to close in an effort to slow the spread of the virus , according to a Mercury News report .
But gun-rights advocates say Americans ' access to firearms and ammunition should not be prohibited despite the threat of the virus .
`` They [ retailers ] are required by the government to be a point of access to the exercise of fundamental human rights , '' Combs said .
As fears of the pandemic increase and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer make arrests over certain crimes , Americans have flooded gun stores and online ammunition dealers in recent weeks .
A shutdown of gun stores would drastically limit their ability to purchase firearms for self-defense .
It would also raise significant constitutional questions that gun-rights groups say they will challenge in court if lawmakers attempt to curb gun sales .
`` We are monitoring and working to resolve all these issues in a timely manner .
All options—legal , legislative , and otherwise—are on the table , '' Amy Hunter , a spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beacon .
`` Law-abiding Americans must not be deprived of the right to defend themselves and their loved ones at any time . ''
`` Gun prohibitionists want to close down every gun store they can and will use any means necessary , '' said Alan Gottlieb , founder of the Second Amendment Foundation ( SAF ) .
`` They do not believe that the means for self-defense is essential or a protected constitutional right .
Our legal team is monitoring the situation very closely . ''
Gottlieb said even if shutdowns do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a case that 's likely to succeed in court for a number of reasons .
He acknowledged there are several challenges for Second Amendment supporters in the courts .
`` Before SAF can sue we need to wait and see how long forced closures of gun stores will last , '' he said .
`` We are up against a compelling government interest in stopping a deadly virus from spreading .
We also need to find the right plaintiffs to have standing and a compelling need to buy a gun and ammunition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , the National Shooting Sports Foundation , said it is also monitoring the situation and ready to intervene .
`` We 're monitoring how our businesses are going to be affected as governors start to say we 're going to shut down non-essential businesses , '' said Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the group .
`` We believe our businesses are essential .
We 're starting to get ready to defend that if we have to . ''
Wolf 's order is expected to take effect on Saturday .

A top gun-rights group is challenging the state-ordered shutdown of "non-essential" businesses because of the coronavirus outbreak, and leading Second Amendment advocates say more could be in store.
Brandon Combs, president of the Firearms Policy Coalition, said his group filed a case on Friday asking the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to block Democratic governor Tom Wolf from including gun stores in a statewide shutdown of "non-essential" businesses. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has told Gov. Wolf he has until 8 p.m. on Friday to respond to the arguments in the case.
"Weapons and ammunition retailers are one of the most essential business types in the United States," Combs told the Washington Free Beacon. "There is no ‘except in emergencies’ clause in the Constitution and the government cannot shut down the people’s right to keep and bear arms."
Government mandates shuttering businesses in several states have raised the prospect that more gun retailers could be ordered to shut their doors. California and Pennsylvania have already started shutting down businesses other than grocery stores, gas stations, and other "life-sustaining" industries, as Wolf described them. At least one gun store near San Jose has been forced to close in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, according to a Mercury News report.
But gun-rights advocates say Americans' access to firearms and ammunition should not be prohibited despite the threat of the virus.
"They [retailers] are required by the government to be a point of access to the exercise of fundamental human rights," Combs said.
As fears of the pandemic increase and police in major cities announce they will no longer make arrests over certain crimes, Americans have flooded gun stores and online ammunition dealers in recent weeks. A shutdown of gun stores would drastically limit their ability to purchase firearms for self-defense. It would also raise significant constitutional questions that gun-rights groups say they will challenge in court if lawmakers attempt to curb gun sales.
"We are monitoring and working to resolve all these issues in a timely manner. All options—legal, legislative, and otherwise—are on the table," Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the NRA, told the Free Beacon. "Law-abiding Americans must not be deprived of the right to defend themselves and their loved ones at any time."
"Gun prohibitionists want to close down every gun store they can and will use any means necessary," said Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). "They do not believe that the means for self-defense is essential or a protected constitutional right. Our legal team is monitoring the situation very closely."
Gottlieb said even if shutdowns do occur, it could take time to find a case that's likely to succeed in court for a number of reasons. He acknowledged there are several challenges for Second Amendment supporters in the courts.
"Before SAF can sue we need to wait and see how long forced closures of gun stores will last," he said. "We are up against a compelling government interest in stopping a deadly virus from spreading. We also need to find the right plaintiffs to have standing and a compelling need to buy a gun and ammunition."
The gun industry's trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said it is also monitoring the situation and ready to intervene.
"We're monitoring how our businesses are going to be affected as governors start to say we're going to shut down non-essential businesses," said Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group. "We believe our businesses are essential. We're starting to get ready to defend that if we have to."
Wolf's order is expected to take effect on Saturday.


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Kris Kobach: Chinese Nationals Are Evading the Travel Ban

On Friday , President Trump took a crucial step in protecting American citizens during the coronavirus pandemic .
He completed the closure of the land ports of entry into the United States to nonessential traffic .
In other words , he closed the front door .
But the back door remains wide open .
Because of congressional inaction for decades , the vast majority of the southern border remains unprotected .
More than 1,000 miles of border with Mexico has no effective barrier to stop pedestrian traffic .
In times of global pandemic , it is essential that our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to screen those who do .
Now , more than ever , borders matter .
As I wrote in January , last year there was a massive increase in the number of Chinese nationals sneaking across the Mexican border .
In FY 2019 , the number of Chinese migrants caught at the southern border in the Rio Grande Valley ( RGV ) Sector increased 85 % , from approximately 700 to over 1,300 .
Thousands of Chinese nationals successfully entered the country illegally across the southern border in FY 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Not tests , no quarantines , nothing .
Unfortunately , that huge flow of Chinese illegal aliens has created travel networks that other Chinese nationals have been able to use to evade the travel ban from China that President Trump prudently announced on January 31 .
And it ’ s happening .
As of this writing , according to Border Patrol figures , more than 350 Chinese nationals have been apprehended at the southern border since January 1 .
And for every illegal alien who ’ s caught , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without getting caught .
That means that more than 1,000 Chinese nationals have entered illegally this year already—most of them after the Chinese travel ban was put in place .
As long as our border remains wide open , no travel ban will be completely effective .
That is a powerful lesson of this crisis .
Let ’ s hope that Congress learns it and completes the funding for the entire southern border wall as soon as possible .
Kris W. Kobach served as the Secretary of State of Kansas during 2011-2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he coauthored the Arizona SB-1070 immigration law and represented in federal court the 10 ICE agents who sued to stop Obama ’ s 2012 DACA executive

On Friday, President Trump took a crucial step in protecting American citizens during the coronavirus pandemic. He completed the closure of the land ports of entry into the United States to nonessential traffic. In other words, he closed the front door.
But the back door remains wide open. Because of congressional inaction for decades, the vast majority of the southern border remains unprotected. More than 1,000 miles of border with Mexico has no effective barrier to stop pedestrian traffic.
In times of global pandemic, it is essential that our country be able to control who enters and be able to screen those who do. Now, more than ever, borders matter.
As I wrote in January, last year there was a massive increase in the number of Chinese nationals sneaking across the Mexican border. In FY 2019, the number of Chinese migrants caught at the southern border in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector increased 85%, from approximately 700 to over 1,300.
Thousands of Chinese nationals successfully entered the country illegally across the southern border in FY 2019. And none of them were screened for the coronavirus. Not tests, no quarantines, nothing.
Unfortunately, that huge flow of Chinese illegal aliens has created travel networks that other Chinese nationals have been able to use to evade the travel ban from China that President Trump prudently announced on January 31.
And it’s happening. As of this writing, according to Border Patrol figures, more than 350 Chinese nationals have been apprehended at the southern border since January 1.
And for every illegal alien who’s caught, one can assume that three made it in without getting caught. That means that more than 1,000 Chinese nationals have entered illegally this year already—most of them after the Chinese travel ban was put in place.
As long as our border remains wide open, no travel ban will be completely effective. That is a powerful lesson of this crisis. Let’s hope that Congress learns it and completes the funding for the entire southern border wall as soon as possible.
Kris W. Kobach served as the Secretary of State of Kansas during 2011-2019. An expert in immigration law and policy, he coauthored the Arizona SB-1070 immigration law and represented in federal court the 10 ICE agents who sued to stop Obama’s 2012 DACA executive


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Corruption Expert Peter Schweizer: Richard Burr Being Investigated by Senate Ethics Like Someone Bei

Corruption Expert Peter Schweizer: Richard Burr Being Investigated by Senate Ethics Like Someone Being Investigated by Their Family

On Friday ’ s broadcast of the Fox News Channel ’ s “ Tucker Carlson Tonight , ” Breitbart News @ @ @ @ @ Institute President Peter Schweizer stated that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr ( R-NC ) @ @ @ @ @ Ethics Committee is comparable to someone accused of wrongdoing being investigated by their family , @ @ @ @ @ s conduct needs to be investigated by the DOJ .
Schweizer said that Burr ’ @ @ @ @ @ slam dunk case of insider trading.
” He added , “ And the suggestion that @ @ @ @ @ to the Senate Ethics Committee , Tucker , that would be like you and I @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to let our family look into this .
Nothing ’ s @ @ @ @ @ the Senate Ethics Committee .
It needs to be looked at by the Department of @ @ @

On Friday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Breitbart News senior contributor and Government Accountability Institute President Peter Schweizer stated that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee is comparable to someone accused of wrongdoing being investigated by their family, and stated that Burr’s conduct needs to be investigated by the DOJ.
Schweizer said that Burr’s behavior is “a slam dunk case of insider trading.”
He added, “And the suggestion that this is going to go to the Senate Ethics Committee, Tucker, that would be like you and I getting into trouble and saying we’re going to let our family look into this. Nothing’s going to come clear from the Senate Ethics Committee. It needs to be looked at by the Department of Justice.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Despite Her Own Paper’s Fact-Check Proving Her Wrong, WaPo Fake News Reporter Maintains Lie That Pre

Despite Her Own Paper’s Fact-Check Proving Her Wrong, WaPo Fake News Reporter Maintains Lie That President Trump Called Chi-Com Virus a ‘Hoax’

Social media , and especially Twitter , is particularly powerful in taking quotes out of context and giving them an eternal shelf-life .
Joe Biden ’ s initial video announcing his run for president contained the Charlottesville hoax — that President Trump had called the white supremacists in Charlottesville “ very fine people ” — and he just did the same thing in a video released this week .
As anybody who watched the video of Trump ’ s rally in context knows , he was saying that Democrats and the media blaming him for botching the coronavirus response would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him down , following the Russian collusion hoax and the idea that he bribed and extorted the president of Ukraine by withholding aid .
Amber Phillips , a reporter who writes for the Washington Post ’ s The Fix , is among those still claiming that Trump called COVID-19 a hoax .
The Washington Post ’ s fact-checker had already granted Biden four Pinocchios for manipulating video to perpetuate the “ hoax ” myth : The media certainly seemed too busy in January covering the impeachment trial to pay any attention to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ springing into action and the president assembling a coronavirus task force .
She won ’ t and insist to herself that she ’ s right .
Holy hell … she did admit she was wrong and deleted the tweet .

Social media, and especially Twitter, is particularly powerful in taking quotes out of context and giving them an eternal shelf-life. Joe Biden’s initial video announcing his run for president contained the Charlottesville hoax — that President Trump had called the white supremacists in Charlottesville “very fine people” — and he just did the same thing in a video released this week.
As anybody who watched the video of Trump’s rally in context knows, he was saying that Democrats and the media blaming him for botching the coronavirus response would be the next hoax intended to take him down, following the Russian collusion hoax and the idea that he bribed and extorted the president of Ukraine by withholding aid.
Amber Phillips, a reporter who writes for the Washington Post’s The Fix, is among those still claiming that Trump called COVID-19 a hoax.
By late January, most intelligence reports for Trump were about covid-19. “The system was blinking red.” Trump called it a “hoax” in late February. https://t.co/nw6CTBy8Bg — Amber Phillips (@byamberphillips) March 21, 2020
The Washington Post’s fact-checker had already granted Biden four Pinocchios for manipulating video to perpetuate the “hoax” myth:
Your own paper fact-checked the myth that Trump called the virus a "hoax" and rated that 4 Pinocchios. Maybe you should read your employer's work more often instead of smearing the President with baseless claims. https://t.co/G2e455qpox — Shane Rider ?? (@shaneriderMA) March 21, 2020
He did not call the virus a hoax. He called what the media do a hoax. And I agree with him. Obviously he is taking the virus seriously. You people need to give up. — Rene (@Trene6578) March 21, 2020
This is false. — Beth ⭐⭐⭐ (@Amazinggrace2me) March 21, 2020
He didn't call it a hoax. Why do you "journalists" have to lie constantly? — kgbman (@kgbman) March 21, 2020
He called the Dems talking points about his actions a hoax. Not the virus. You are still spreading that debunked bit. — Dr. Bob (@ByronEBooth) March 21, 2020
He called what you are your colleagues are doing a hoax and well, see your tweet here — Snad (@Levidog) March 21, 2020
For the gabazillionth time, he did not call the virus itself a hoax. He called the media hyping this as a real-life Walking Dead a hoax. — Jules of Denial (@Coolish_Breeze) March 21, 2020
Amber is more concerned with clicks than lives. — Wolverfan (@Wolverfan) March 21, 2020
You’re spreading lies and misinformation. Par for the Washington Post’s course. — Ben Jammin ?? (@xBenJamminx) March 21, 2020
Did you get your journalism degree from Podunk Tec? Sourced, Factual journalism would be appreciated! — j (@lafayetteoxford) March 21, 2020
You should really just resign and go work for some junk tabloid. Oh wait — Paul (@Paul26055619) March 21, 2020
This @washingtonpost reporter is spreading a lie debunked by several fact checkers, including her own paper. He did not call the virus a hoax. Why does @postbaron allow this ? — Progressive GOP (@NixonandIke) March 21, 2020
I can assure you there is now a general consensus amongst people with even doctorate degrees. WaPo is not serious outlet and its a clickbait organization. — NG (@Neilgrover5) March 21, 2020
Thanks for making the President's point that you are Fake News… — Archer P. Stevens-Shadowbanned combat veteran (@archerenemy) March 21, 2020
Your own newspaper says you're spreading false information. — Tim Joiner (@joinertek) March 21, 2020
Why the hell are you still spreading this lie? This is a global crisis and you're spreading false and dangerous information to try to score political points. Grow up. — Ben (@realBenLentine) March 21, 2020
This has been debunked…even by your own publication. It seems Amber, that you've actually developed a fondness for losing. — The Ambivalent Warrior (@marshalltate) March 21, 2020
You're a liar and the enemy of the people. — Jarret Heaston (@weallstartwithj) March 21, 2020
Yeah, that’s why he shut down borders. Excellent reporting — Soakie ?? (@soakie) March 21, 2020
That’s when Trump banned travel from China. And was accused of overreacting. — The Mikealorian (@Mike___Kilo) March 21, 2020
Hence why he closed flights from China also in late January. What a remarkable coincidence. — Paul Hurst (@pnhurst) March 21, 2020
But at the time your same intelligence “sources” were screeching about Ukraine and Bernie Sanders being a Russian pawn. Weird. — Into the Pit (@into_pit) March 21, 2020
The media certainly seemed too busy in January covering the impeachment trial to pay any attention to the coronavirus, even while the CDC was springing into action and the president assembling a coronavirus task force.
Seriously Amber, I don’t know who you are, but this tweet is not aging well. You need to apologize and remove this. Your “Duty” as a “journalist” is to provide actual facts. Nothing in this is factual. It’s your misinterpretation of reality. Please remove this. — RyneThomas (@thomas_ryne) March 21, 2020
She won’t and insist to herself that she’s right.
* * *
Holy hell … she did admit she was wrong and deleted the tweet.
My apologies for quoting the president out of context. As The Washington Post’s Fact Checker makes clear, he called Democrats politicizing coronavirus a hoax. I have deleted the incorrect tweet. https://t.co/R38kPEdBG3 — Amber Phillips (@byamberphillips) March 21, 2020
Related:


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Viral Video of Hundreds of Military Vehicles Rolling Through San Diego (By Train) Raises Questions

As Twitchy reported , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued a mandatory “ stay a home ” order for the @ @ @ @ @ Also , during CNN ’ s global town hall on the coronavirus crisis , guest @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s really time to give the military the full breadth and control of @ @ @ @ @ are factors in people suggesting the U.S. military is moving hundreds of tanks into San @ @ @ @ @ sparked by a shaky video that went viral , garnering more than a million views @ @ @ @ @ are saying this is an old video , seeing as this happens every year and @ @ @ @ @ .
Even if it was taken this week … what ’ s new or special @ @ @ @ @ normal ?
Or is President Trump going to use the coronavirus outbreak to declare martial @ @ @ @ @ ?

As Twitchy reported, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a mandatory “stay a home” order for the entire state Thursday night. Also, during CNN’s global town hall on the coronavirus crisis, guest Sean Penn suggested that “it’s really time to give the military the full breadth and control of this operation.”
Maybe those are factors in people suggesting the U.S. military is moving hundreds of tanks into San Diego. The debate was sparked by a shaky video that went viral, garnering more than a million views.
I’ve been hearing about the potential that we’ll be under Martial Law next week … friend sent me that video just an hour ago but I’m unsure about much else ??♀ — Elizabeth Sanders (@gelizabeths) March 21, 2020
This is NOT good at all. Kinda scary, not gonna lie. I'm 16 and I really did not expect to go under martial law at any point of my life? — presley⎈ (@reylowarrior) March 21, 2020
Martial law = no election. — Astrid Kaysen (@astrid_kaysen) March 21, 2020
A lot of people are saying this is an old video, seeing as this happens every year and makes the news every year.
Tanks are moved on the railway system around California due to the bases around the state. I'd like to see a time stamp of this video I feel it's a old video not new. That's my opinion. ?? — The Elf (@patrickbreese) March 21, 2020
We need a time stamp for this. — Ryan Lubinsky (@RyanLubinsky) March 21, 2020
Not tanks… hum vees. And possibly old footage as someone local went to check it out and nada. — _raqezie_ (@raqezie1) March 21, 2020
Even if it was taken this week … what’s new or special about it?
There’s literally an aircraft carrier with war planes sitting right in downtown San Diego! pic.twitter.com/03nM1LUiI0 — _the_yossarian_lives (@yosarian_vive) March 21, 2020
Holy s**t! There’s another carrier sitting in New York harbor right this minute, no doubt there to provide air cover during the military seizure of power. pic.twitter.com/riEw3gAOtx — dtf1947 (@dtf1947) March 21, 2020
This was yesterday in Gary, Indiana pic.twitter.com/oXXiqTIGgO — Nadler’s Zipper (@AMF2440) March 21, 2020
This morning in West Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/dJysqkcmQy — Claire Voltaire (@Claire_Voltaire) March 21, 2020
Oh my god!!!!!! Trains move tanks around???????!!!!! That’s how they ship them?????!!!!!! Aaahhhhhhh!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/boxKvhakWZ — Darth Libertarius (@iam1791) March 21, 2020
Who wants to tell her there’s lots of military bases in San Diego? https://t.co/vB3haplhF6 — Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) March 21, 2020
Military bases do tend to attract those, Chicken Little. pic.twitter.com/LOc9seZpNP — BGH – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@KissMyCamo) March 21, 2020
And in a surely unrelated coincidence, there's also a tank storage facility associated with Camp Pendleton. — NH (@TwoQuoque) March 21, 2020
Those are headed north, not arriving, unless by arriving you mean arriving from overseas at the port. Probably Marine equipment headed to Camp Pendleton. — SylvanRed (@SylvanRed) March 21, 2020
That's just a military train passing through. You're acting like it's a column moving down a street. That's a /train/. Calm down. The military moves shit around sometimes and they use trains to do it. — 提督 Aegis (@AdmiralAegis) March 21, 2020
I see those trains along the rails all the time. They move equipment ahead of the troops for training exercises. Many are conducted through spring there and then moved to dessert training during summer. Happens every year. San Diego has been a military hub for decades. — Tim Bryan #464 ? (@tmichaelbryan) March 21, 2020
I gotta say, I'm slightly concerned that you live in San Diego and don't know the military is already in San Diego. This makes me want to believe that you believe that National City is a fun place. — Robert Caruso (@robertcaruso) March 21, 2020
An armored brigade just rotated back to Fort Hood from Korea a few weeks ago. Most likely this is their equipment. My educated guess. — photobybake (@Photo_by_Bake) March 21, 2020
…. those aren't tanks — Legio_Cybernetica (@LegioCyber) March 21, 2020
I don’t see any tanks, I see lots of Humvees & trucks though. One holds people, one has a big gun.. — Texas Conservative (@TexasConsBanker) March 21, 2020
What the heck is going on?? ? — ? Vegas Music Lover ? (@MovieDiva90) March 21, 2020
Someone posted video of a train with military vehicles on it in a spot that is between an Marine base and a Navy base ??♀ It happens all the time there, but now everyone is getting riled up about it. — J'net (@theonlyjeanette) March 21, 2020
1. This was 2017
2. Transportation of military equipment is the last thing to be uncommon going through San Diego
3. Stop spreading fear. — Jack Jack (@tony_w1108) March 21, 2020
Thanks for re-sharing this four-year-old video. It's good to remember our History. — Michele Jade (@JadedArsenic) March 21, 2020
Tanks are normally transported by rail through San Diego to Logistics Centers in Victorville and Barstow. It makes the news every year — Nancy Stewart Quinn (@nancysquinn) March 21, 2020
Is it normal? Or is President Trump going to use the coronavirus outbreak to declare martial law and cancel the election?
* * *
Update:
Looks like the military is getting ready to lock down Chicago too:
This video was taken in Barrington IL (NW suburb of Chicago) about 3 hours ago. Metra North line heading to Chicago and then further East. Coming soon? pic.twitter.com/C7bKNdn3mA — Jim Bianco (@biancoresearch) March 20, 2020
Yes, coming soon to whatever base they are going to. Those are JLTVs, the Army's Humvee replacement, and they're built 3 hours northwest of Chicago. https://t.co/mdvVip8QEY — John Noonan (@noonanjo) March 22, 2020
And the official word from the Pentagon:
To confirm what others have pointed out: these are new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles being transported by @USArmy Materiel Command from the factory in Oshkosh to Fort Bragg, NC. These deliveries by train to our bases nationwide are not infrequent and have nothing to do w COVID-19 https://t.co/6RNYfgAYhV — Jonathan Rath Hoffman (@ChiefPentSpox) March 21, 2020
Related:


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--SHOCK: Democrat Illinois Governor Lists Gun Stores as ‘Essential,’ Exempts Them from Forced Shutdown

When Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ( D ) issued an executive order Friday to put a statewide shutdown in place , he exempted gun and ammunition stores by labeling them “ essential.
” The order , titled “ Executive Order in Response to COVID-19 ( COVID-19 Executive Order No .
8 ) , ” contains various headings , under which are listings of businesses considered “ essential ” for day-to-day life .
Under the heading , “ Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations , ” the order makes clear that “ firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers ” can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purposes of “ safety and security.
” The Second Amendment Foundation ’ s Alan Gottlieb reacted to Pritzker ’ s recognition of the “ essential ” nature of firearms to the American life by saying , “ When an anti-gun Democrat Governor declares that essential businesses includes firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security , that is really a big deal .
Every Governor should copy the Illinois example when issuing stay in place and business closure orders in the face of the Corona Virus.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be closing at 5 p.m. on March 21 , 2020 , per the Executive Order .
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins , a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment , also for Breitbart News .
He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio .
Follow him on Twitter : @ AWRHawkins .
Reach him at awrhawkins @ breitbart.com .
You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange .

When Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) issued an executive order Friday to put a statewide shutdown in place, he exempted gun and ammunition stores by labeling them “essential.”
The order, titled “Executive Order in Response to COVID-19 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 8),” contains various headings, under which are listings of businesses considered “essential” for day-to-day life. Under the heading, “Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations,” the order makes clear that “firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers” can remain open, noting that they serve the purposes of “safety and security.”
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb reacted to Pritzker’s recognition of the “essential” nature of firearms to the American life by saying, “When an anti-gun Democrat Governor declares that essential businesses includes firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security, that is really a big deal. Every Governor should copy the Illinois example when issuing stay in place and business closure orders in the face of the Corona Virus.”
The businesses not listed as “essential” will be closing at 5 p.m. on March 21, 2020, per the Executive Order.
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Peter Schweizer: If Richard Burr Is Not Prosecuted for Insider Trading, Stock Act Is Meaningless

If Sen. Richard Burr ( R-NC ) is not prosecuted by the Department of Justice for insider trading , then the Stock Act is “ meaningless , ” warned Peter Schweizer , senior contributor to Breitbart News and author of Profiles in Corruption : Abuse of Power by America ’ s Progressive Elite .
Schweizer joined Friday ’ s edition of SiriusXM ’ s Breitbart News Tonight with host Rebecca Mansour and special guest host John Hayward to discuss Burr ’ s selling of between $ 628,000 and $ 1.72 million in stock ahead of coronavirus-related market declines .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] is a classic case of insider trading , ” determined Schweizer .
“ If Richard Burr was an executive at a corporation and he had received a closed door briefing that said a company ’ s sales were going to go down dramatically , and he sold pretty much all of his stock , it would be insider trading.
” “ The Intelligence Committee got closed door briefings about the coronavirus that were pretty apocalyptic , and on February the 13th , [ Richard Burr ] decided to unload stock , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee .
“ I believe there were 33 transactions , all of them sales , none of them were buys , and the part that is particularly troubling is the sales amount to at least half of his entire net worth.
” Schweizer continued , In other words , [ Richard Burr ] is almost liquidating all the stock that he owns .
So it ’ s a dramatic move , and yet , he is publicly telling people — he wrote an op-ed for Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews — that this is really not a big deal.
” “ He clearly realizes he ’ s been caught , ” said Schweizer of Burr .
“ He admits that he did the trades , and what he ’ s now going to try to do is get this pushed off to the Senate Ethics Committee , which frankly , it ’ d be like you or me getting in trouble and saying well , ‘ We ’ re going to let our family take a look at this and decide on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen with the Senate Ethics Committee of substance.
” Schweizer added , “ In my mind , it needs to be investigated and there needs to be a prosecution by the Department of Justice.
” “ The Stock Act was passed with the critical support of [ Andrew ] Breitbart , ” recalled Schweizer .
“ Andrew Breitbart was alive at this time and pushed very , very hard for it , and was one of the earliest people behind it .
What the Stock Act basically did , passed in 2012 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress and their staffs , and what it basically said was that if you are trading stock based on non-public information that you have access to , you can be prosecuted for insider trading .
It also required more detailed reporting by elected officials .
The Stock Act also requires disclosure of stock market transactions every 30 days , added Schweizer .
Burr ’ s stock sell-off meets the criteria for an investigation according to Securities Exchange Commission standards , Schweizer remarked .
“ If there were ever the sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be Senator Burr , because what you look for is a couple of things , and this is based on insider trading [ laws ] on Wall Street .
First of all , does a person make a series of highly unusual and highly successful trades that are well timed ?
Well in Burr ’ s case , absolutely .
He dumps massive amounts of his stock , and that stock , over the next couple of weeks , dropped by more than 30 percent .
So he literally saved himself hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burr ’ s behavior also qualifies as an unusual trade given the senator ’ s prior conduct , observed Scheweizer , “ If you look at [ Richard Burr ’ s ] trading history going back several years , you can not find a similar type of transaction.
” “ Does [ Richard Burr ] have access to non-public information ?
” asked Schweizer .
“ In other words , does he have information [ about ] something that ’ s going to adversely affect the economy [ or ] stock market that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Absolutely , he did .
We know he got these private briefings , and we know that in some cases , the next day after briefings , he was dumping stock .
So to me , it ’ s a clear-cut case , and any attempt to kind of muddy the water or have the Senate Ethics Committee sort of slap his wrist is just wrong .
None of us would get the benefit of that , why should a United States senator ?
” “ I think the Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schweizer .
“ He ’ s admitted that he himself made the trades .
He ’ s not using the defense that some other people are using , which is that , ‘ Well , my broker did it.
’ He ’ s admitting that he made the trades .
What he ’ s saying is , ‘ I based those trades on public information , ’ which kind of makes him a Svengali , because at this time in February , the stock market is near an all-time high , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people [ were ] aware of .
Schweizer went on , “ They were aware of it in China , but nobody was talking about the sort of apocalyptic numbers publicly at that time [ as ] they are now , so to me , the evidence is pretty clear , and if you look at the people who have been prosecuted on insider trading charges elsewhere , there ’ s far less evidence than there is in this case.
” Schweizer estimated , “ Senator Burr should resign from office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resign from office , I think it ’ s incumbent upon the Senate leadership to make an example of him that this is not acceptable behavior , and , at least censure him or even throw him out of the body if those rules apply , but he needs to be prosecuted , or these laws and rules are meaningless .
They are meaningless if they ’ re not going to be enforced .
“ Corrupt congressional self-enrichment includes funneling taxpayer funds to corporations politicians and officials are invested in , explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive bailout bill that the House has put together , that the Senate is voting on , [ and ] that the president ’ s probably going to sign , ” recommended Schweizer .
“ These are massive bills with all kinds of intricate details concerning industries .
… The people writing that legislation [ and ] voting on that legislation [ are ] buying and selling stock in these very companies that they are bailing out.
” The reason “ bailouts ” are directed to “ large publicly traded corporations ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street , ” assessed Schweizer , is that politicians own stock in large public companies and not in small local businesses .
Politicians and government officials must place their investments into blind trusts to avoid such aforementioned abuses of power , Schweizer concluded .
“ This is a huge problem , ” determined Schweizer .
“ The only way to deal with it — and it ’ s not a perfect solution — is that any elected official or senior government official that has any assets — let ’ s say above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all be put into a blind trust with a sworn deposition under the penalty of a felony that you will not talk to the trustees of your trust about anything.
” Schweizer remarked , “ That ’ s the only way you ’ re going to nip this in the bud , because it is something that occurs all the time , and people that are rewriting healthcare law or rewriting the defense budget should not be allowed to be trading stock in the very companies that are going to be affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class is telling us is , you know , ‘ Trust us .
We didn ’ t do it .
This just needs to go away , ’ and nobody else in America is allowed to do that other than these people , ” Schweizer said .
Breitbart News Tonight broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot channel 125 weeknights from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Eastern or 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific .

If Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) is not prosecuted by the Department of Justice for insider trading, then the Stock Act is “meaningless,” warned Peter Schweizer, senior contributor to Breitbart News and author of Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite.
Schweizer joined Friday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Tonight with host Rebecca Mansour and special guest host John Hayward to discuss Burr’s selling of between $628,000 and $1.72 million in stock ahead of coronavirus-related market declines.
“Richard Burr’s [stock sell-off] is a classic case of insider trading,” determined Schweizer. “If Richard Burr was an executive at a corporation and he had received a closed door briefing that said a company’s sales were going to go down dramatically, and he sold pretty much all of his stock, it would be insider trading.”
LISTEN:
“The Intelligence Committee got closed door briefings about the coronavirus that were pretty apocalyptic, and on February the 13th, [Richard Burr] decided to unload stock,” noted Schweizer, highlighting Burr’s role as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “I believe there were 33 transactions, all of them sales, none of them were buys, and the part that is particularly troubling is the sales amount to at least half of his entire net worth.”
Schweizer continued, In other words, [Richard Burr] is almost liquidating all the stock that he owns. So it’s a dramatic move, and yet, he is publicly telling people — he wrote an op-ed for Fox News, he was telling people in interviews — that this is really not a big deal.”
“He clearly realizes he’s been caught,” said Schweizer of Burr. “He admits that he did the trades, and what he’s now going to try to do is get this pushed off to the Senate Ethics Committee, which frankly, it’d be like you or me getting in trouble and saying well, ‘We’re going to let our family take a look at this and decide on our punishments.’ Nothing is going to happen with the Senate Ethics Committee of substance.”
Schweizer added, “In my mind, it needs to be investigated and there needs to be a prosecution by the Department of Justice.”
“The Stock Act was passed with the critical support of [Andrew] Breitbart,” recalled Schweizer. “Andrew Breitbart was alive at this time and pushed very, very hard for it, and was one of the earliest people behind it. What the Stock Act basically did, passed in 2012, is it extended insider trading laws to members of Congress and their staffs, and what it basically said was that if you are trading stock based on non-public information that you have access to, you can be prosecuted for insider trading. It also required more detailed reporting by elected officials.
The Stock Act also requires disclosure of stock market transactions every 30 days, added Schweizer.
Burr’s stock sell-off meets the criteria for an investigation according to Securities Exchange Commission standards, Schweizer remarked. “If there were ever the sort of case that would warrant this, it would be Senator Burr, because what you look for is a couple of things, and this is based on insider trading [laws] on Wall Street. First of all, does a person make a series of highly unusual and highly successful trades that are well timed? Well in Burr’s case, absolutely. He dumps massive amounts of his stock, and that stock, over the next couple of weeks, dropped by more than 30 percent. So he literally saved himself hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.”
Burr’s behavior also qualifies as an unusual trade given the senator’s prior conduct, observed Scheweizer, “If you look at [Richard Burr’s] trading history going back several years, you cannot find a similar type of transaction.”
“Does [Richard Burr] have access to non-public information?” asked Schweizer. “In other words, does he have information [about] something that’s going to adversely affect the economy [or] stock market that is not out there in the public? Absolutely, he did. We know he got these private briefings, and we know that in some cases, the next day after briefings, he was dumping stock. So to me, it’s a clear-cut case, and any attempt to kind of muddy the water or have the Senate Ethics Committee sort of slap his wrist is just wrong. None of us would get the benefit of that, why should a United States senator?”
“I think the Department of Justice should open an investigation,” advised Schweizer. “He’s admitted that he himself made the trades. He’s not using the defense that some other people are using, which is that, ‘Well, my broker did it.’ He’s admitting that he made the trades. What he’s saying is, ‘I based those trades on public information,’ which kind of makes him a Svengali, because at this time in February, the stock market is near an all-time high, and the coronavirus [was] not really something that people [were] aware of.
Schweizer went on, “They were aware of it in China, but nobody was talking about the sort of apocalyptic numbers publicly at that time [as] they are now, so to me, the evidence is pretty clear, and if you look at the people who have been prosecuted on insider trading charges elsewhere, there’s far less evidence than there is in this case.”
Schweizer estimated, “Senator Burr should resign from office, and if he’s not going to resign from office, I think it’s incumbent upon the Senate leadership to make an example of him that this is not acceptable behavior, and,at least censure him or even throw him out of the body if those rules apply, but he needs to be prosecuted, or these laws and rules are meaningless. They are meaningless if they’re not going to be enforced. “
Corrupt congressional self-enrichment includes funneling taxpayer funds to corporations politicians and officials are invested in, explained Schweizer.
“Look at the giant massive bailout bill that the House has put together, that the Senate is voting on, [and] that the president’s probably going to sign,” recommended Schweizer. “These are massive bills with all kinds of intricate details concerning industries. … The people writing that legislation [and] voting on that legislation [are] buying and selling stock in these very companies that they are bailing out.”
The reason “bailouts” are directed to “large publicly traded corporations” and not “mom and pop restaurants around the street,” assessed Schweizer, is that politicians own stock in large public companies and not in small local businesses.
Politicians and government officials must place their investments into blind trusts to avoid such aforementioned abuses of power, Schweizer concluded.
“This is a huge problem,” determined Schweizer. “The only way to deal with it — and it’s not a perfect solution — is that any elected official or senior government official that has any assets — let’s say above a hundred thousand dollars — they should all be put into a blind trust with a sworn deposition under the penalty of a felony that you will not talk to the trustees of your trust about anything.”
Schweizer remarked, “That’s the only way you’re going to nip this in the bud, because it is something that occurs all the time, and people that are rewriting healthcare law or rewriting the defense budget should not be allowed to be trading stock in the very companies that are going to be affected by the bills.”
“What the political class is telling us is, you know, ‘Trust us. We didn’t do it. This just needs to go away,’ and nobody else in America is allowed to do that other than these people,” Schweizer said.
Breitbart News Tonight broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot channel 125 weeknights from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Eastern or 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific.
Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter.


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Silver Lining: Ohio Orders Baby Body Part Chop Shops to Stop Performing ‘Elective’ Abortions

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost ordered two abortion clinics in the state to follow a directive that bans non-essential or elective procedures during the coronavirus pandemic .
Yost sent letters Saturday to Women ’ s Med Center in Dayton and Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati Surgery Center after receiving complaints that both had refused to close following an order from Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton .
“ You and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions , ” Yost said , reported the Columbus Dispatch : Non-essential surgical abortions are those that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current or future health of a patient .
If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the ( health director ’ s ) order , the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures .
The order from Acton on Wednesday reportedly said , “ all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures that utilized ( personal protective equipment ) should not be conducted.
” “ The state is attempting to preserve supplies of equipment needed in combating the virus , ” reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded the procedure be considered an “ essential ” service that is the equivalent of “ health care.
” CBS reported Iris E. Harvey and Kersha Deibel , the respective heads of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region , said in a joint statement the Southwest Ohio Region clinic was in compliance with Acton ’ s order , which allows Planned Parenthood to “ still continue providing essential procedures , including surgical abortion , and our health centers continue to offer other health care services that our patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this care.
” A statement by several abortion advocacy groups Wednesday also said : The National Abortion Federation also stated that abortion is “ part of the continuum of pregnancy care.
” “ It is an essential health service , ” the group that represents abortion providers said .
However , in a statement sent to Breitbart News , Patrina Mosley , Family Research Council ’ s director of life , culture , and women ’ s advocacy , disagreed completely : Mosley continued the abortion lobby considers the coronavirus pandemic yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population growth in the midst of a quarantine that will inevitably produce a baby boom.
” In Maine , a group of abortion and birth control clinics openly said it was extending its contraception prescriptions for women by three months for fear more time at home during the pandemic would result in a “ baby boom.
” “ It ’ s just human nature , if you ’ re home , there are more opportunities to have sexual relations , ” said Evelyn Kieltyka , vice president of program services at Maine Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I haven ’ t looked at the data , but my memory says that in times when people have had to stay home for long periods of time , there could be a little baby boom , ” she added .
“ The nation ’ s largest abortion supplier , Planned Parenthood , founded by renowned eugenicist , Margaret Sanger , is a billion-dollar business , ” Mosley said .
“ Do you think they are going to stand by now and not get paid ?
It ’ s important to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care .
”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost ordered two abortion clinics in the state to follow a directive that bans non-essential or elective procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Yost sent letters Saturday to Women’s Med Center in Dayton and Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati Surgery Center after receiving complaints that both had refused to close following an order from Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton.
“You and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions,” Yost said, reported the Columbus Dispatch:
Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the (health director’s) order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures.
The order from Acton on Wednesday reportedly said, “all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures that utilized (personal protective equipment) should not be conducted.”
“The state is attempting to preserve supplies of equipment needed in combating the virus,” reported the Dispatch.
The abortion industry has demanded the procedure be considered an “essential” service that is the equivalent of “health care.”
CBS reported Iris E. Harvey and Kersha Deibel, the respective heads of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, said in a joint statement the Southwest Ohio Region clinic was in compliance with Acton’s order, which allows Planned Parenthood to “still continue providing essential procedures, including surgical abortion, and our health centers continue to offer other health care services that our patients depend on. Our doors remain open for this care.”
A statement by several abortion advocacy groups Wednesday also said:
Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care. It is also a time-sensitive service for which a delay of several weeks, or in some cases days, may increase the risks or potentially make it completely inaccessible.
The National Abortion Federation also stated that abortion is “part of the continuum of pregnancy care.”
“It is an essential health service,” the group that represents abortion providers said.
"As we navigate COVID-19, it is critical that leaders treat outpatient abortion providers as essential businesses, and that hospital systems ensure the continuation of abortion care as an essential service."https://t.co/zsj2HQ97le — NAF (@NatAbortionFed) March 17, 2020
However, in a statement sent to Breitbart News, Patrina Mosley, Family Research Council’s director of life, culture, and women’s advocacy, disagreed completely:
Abortion is not healthcare. Keeping the doors open to kill children in the middle of a pandemic shows you exactly who the abortion industry is and have always been: a tool of eugenics.
Mosley continued the abortion lobby considers the coronavirus pandemic yet another “opportunity to continue to control population growth in the midst of a quarantine that will inevitably produce a baby boom.”
In Maine, a group of abortion and birth control clinics openly said it was extending its contraception prescriptions for women by three months for fear more time at home during the pandemic would result in a “baby boom.”
“It’s just human nature, if you’re home, there are more opportunities to have sexual relations,” said Evelyn Kieltyka, vice president of program services at Maine Family Planning, reported the Union Leader.
“I haven’t looked at the data, but my memory says that in times when people have had to stay home for long periods of time, there could be a little baby boom,” she added.
“The nation’s largest abortion supplier, Planned Parenthood, founded by renowned eugenicist, Margaret Sanger, is a billion-dollar business,” Mosley said. “Do you think they are going to stand by now and not get paid? It’s important to understand that abortion is a business – not health care.”


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--Italy Sees One-Day Death Toll of Nearly 800 From Chi-Com Virus

March 21 ( UPI ) -- Italy again set a one-day death toll record from COVID-19 , reporting another 793 deaths Saturday .
Italy 's Civil Protection Department said the country 's overall coronavirus death toll reached 4,825 , with 53,578 confirmed cases .
Some 6,000 people have recovered from the disease .
Most of the cases are centered in the Lombardy region -- 17,370 .
A strict nationwide lockdown , including restrictions on travel and closure of most stores , had been in place for 11 days in Italy , but the number of known coronavirus cases continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming hospitals .
Meanwhile , new figures released Saturday show that the number of coronavirus cases in Spain jumped 25 percent in 24 hours .
The number of cases increased by almost 5,000 in one day and more than 300 people died from the virus in the same time frame .
That brings the total number of cases in Spain to 24,926 , with 1,612 people in intensive care and 1,326 deaths , the Spanish government said .
Compared to Friday , the figures represent a 25 percent increase in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people in intensive care and a 32 percent jump in the death toll .
In Spain , 2,125 people have recovered , according to the Worldometer .
The country 's hospitals and intensive care units are struggling to cope with the demand .
Despite some Madrid hotels being temporarily converted to hospitals , Madrid is still the hardest hit part of the country with 8,921 cases , 767 people in intensive care and 804 deaths .
Spain is second only to Italy in all of Europe in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia , which has 791 cases and seven deaths , ordered people off Sydney 's famous Bondi Beach after thousands defied a ban on large gatherings .
The beach is still open , but only 500 people are allowed on it , Australian Police Minister David Elliott said after making the decision with `` a significant level of disappointment '' to remove people from the beach .
Amid coronavirus travel restrictions and growing number of cases and deaths worldwide , the U.S. Air Force has flown dozens of Americans back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The evacuation of 89 Americans from Honduras on Friday night on a pair of charter flights came after the State Department issued a rare Level 4 travel advisory .
The advisory warned U.S. citizens not to travel internationally , saying they may have to remain outside the United States for an `` indefinite time frame . ''
One couple , Beth Rosenzweig and Ray Bahr , in Honduras ' Bay Islands since March 9 for a scuba trip , said they were stranded after the evacuations , along with other Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their responsibilities , '' Bahr told The Washington Post , adding that he believes more than a dozen Americans are still stuck at his hotel .
Honduras has 24 cases of the coronavirus and zero deaths , according to the John Hopkins global tracker .
The United States has 19,624 cases and 260 deaths .
Columbian President Ivan Duque ordered a 19-day nationwide quarantine starting next week to curb the coronavirus spread and ensure access to food , medical care and other essential services .
Columbia has over 150 cases and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Singapore , which has 385 cases , reported its first two deaths from the virus .
A 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man died Saturday , Singapore 's Health Ministry said in a statement .
The United Arab Emirates , which has 140 cases , also reported its first two deaths .

1/2
An ambulance arrives at Humanitas Gavazzeni hospital first aid service as workers of a funeral agency take away a body during the coronavirus crisis in Bergamo, Italy, on Saturday. Photo by Filippo Venezia/EPA-EFE
March 21 (UPI) -- Italy again set a one-day death toll record from COVID-19, reporting another 793 deaths Saturday. Italy's Civil Protection Department said the country's overall coronavirus death toll reached 4,825, with 53,578 confirmed cases. Some 6,000 people have recovered from the disease. Advertisement
Most of the cases are centered in the Lombardy region -- 17,370.
A strict nationwide lockdown, including restrictions on travel and closure of most stores, had been in place for 11 days in Italy, but the number of known coronavirus cases continued to rise about 15 percent every day, overwhelming hospitals.
Meanwhile, new figures released Saturday show that the number of coronavirus cases in Spain jumped 25 percent in 24 hours.
The number of cases increased by almost 5,000 in one day and more than 300 people died from the virus in the same time frame. That brings the total number of cases in Spain to 24,926, with 1,612 people in intensive care and 1,326 deaths, the Spanish government said.
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Compared to Friday, the figures represent a 25 percent increase in the number of cases, a 40 percent increase in the number of people in intensive care and a 32 percent jump in the death toll.
In Spain, 2,125 people have recovered, according to the Worldometer.
The country's hospitals and intensive care units are struggling to cope with the demand.
Despite some Madrid hotels being temporarily converted to hospitals, Madrid is still the hardest hit part of the country with 8,921 cases, 767 people in intensive care and 804 deaths.
Spain is second only to Italy in all of Europe in the number of coronavirus cases.
On Saturday, authorities in Australia, which has 791 cases and seven deaths, ordered people off Sydney's famous Bondi Beach after thousands defied a ban on large gatherings.
The beach is still open, but only 500 people are allowed on it, Australian Police Minister David Elliott said after making the decision with "a significant level of disappointment" to remove people from the beach.
Amid coronavirus travel restrictions and growing number of cases and deaths worldwide, the U.S. Air Force has flown dozens of Americans back to the United States who were stranded in Honduras.
Advertisement
The evacuation of 89 Americans from Honduras on Friday night on a pair of charter flights came after the State Department issued a rare Level 4 travel advisory. The advisory warned U.S. citizens not to travel internationally, saying they may have to remain outside the United States for an "indefinite time frame."
One couple, Beth Rosenzweig and Ray Bahr, in Honduras' Bay Islands since March 9 for a scuba trip, said they were stranded after the evacuations, along with other Americans.
"Our government has literally stepped back from their responsibilities," Bahr told The Washington Post, adding that he believes more than a dozen Americans are still stuck at his hotel.
Honduras has 24 cases of the coronavirus and zero deaths, according to the John Hopkins global tracker. The United States has 19,624 cases and 260 deaths.
Columbian President Ivan Duque ordered a 19-day nationwide quarantine starting next week to curb the coronavirus spread and ensure access to food, medical care and other essential services.
Columbia has over 150 cases and has not reported any deaths.
On Saturday, Singapore, which has 385 cases, reported its first two deaths from the virus.
A 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man died Saturday, Singapore's Health Ministry said in a statement.
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The United Arab Emirates, which has 140 cases, also reported its first two deaths.


thelibertydaily--2020-03-21--. . . More Than 2,600 Medical Workers Infected in Italy — 8.3% of Country’s Total

Five more Italian doctors have died from coronavirus , bringing the death doll among medics in the country to 13 as it was revealed 2,629 health workers have been infected .
Initially three new fatalities were named as Luigi Ablondi , former general manager of Crema hospital , Giuseppe Finzi , a hospital doctor in Cremona and a general practitioner in Bergamo called Antonino Buttafuoco .
Then later today it emerged another two medical workers had passed away from the illness , the Italian national federation of doctors guilds said .
More than 2,600 medical workers have been infected with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country 's total cases , it emerged last night , as the government extended lockdown measures beyond the start of April today .
There has been growing concerns about the safety of front-line medical staff who come into regular contact with infected patients .
Dr Buttafuoco , who tested positive for the virus , was unable to overcome the symptoms of the disease and passed away yesterday at the age of 66 .
Dr Giuseppe Finzi , 62 , worked at University Hospital of Parma and had previously run for mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Luigi Ablondi died at the Cremasco hospital , which he had run for 11 years , on Monday at the age of 66 , according to Il Nuovo Torrazzo .
It was also announced that pneumologist at Sant'Anna hospital in Como , Giuseppe Lanati , and GP Luigi Frusciante , who was a GP in Sagnino , had died on Sunday .
Both Lanati , 73 , and Frusciante , 71 , had come out of retirement to help their community during the coronavirus crisis , which had hit Italy harder than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors Raffaele Giura and Franco Galli also died of coronavirus , local media reported last week .
The latest figures on infected healthcare workers were released by a health foundation which said the 'huge number ' of infected medics showed that procedures and protection equipment for doctors were 'still inadequate ' .
The problem is far worse than in China , because ' 8.3 per cent is more than double the percentage of the Chinese cohort ' , the Gimbe foundation 's president Nino Cartabellotta told Italian media .
According to the figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of infected medics has risen by more than 1,500 just in the last eight days .
The figure of 2,629 infected medical professionals means that nearly 0.3 per cent of Italy 's health workers have caught the disease - taking them out of service when they are desperately needed .
'No more talking : adequately protect those who must protect us , ' Cartabellotta urged last night .
It came as Italy recorded a record 4,207 infections and 475 new deaths from the virus yesterday , squashing hopes that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the pathogen .
Prime minister Giuseppe Conte has now warned that quarantine measures 'must be extended beyond their original deadline ' .
Some had initially been due to expire as early as next Wednesday .
Italy 's 475 new deaths are the largest number that any country , even China , has reported in a single day since the outbreak began late last year .
The previous record high of 368 deaths was also recorded in Italy , on Sunday .
The mounting death toll forced the army to intervene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport dozens of coffins out of the city .
The local crematorium has been overwhelmed by the crisis with staff handling 24 bodies a day , twice the usual maximum .
Italy 's new surge in cases , which takes the total to 35,713 , puts an end to four days of stalling infection numbers and dampens hopes that the quarantine is working .
Italians have been ordered to stay indoors , with schools and universities shut , shops closed except for grocery stores and pharmacies , and heavy restrictions on travel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lag time between the lockdown being imposed and its effects becoming noticeable in the figures .
'The main thing is , do not give up , ' Italian National Institute of Health chief Silvio Brusaferro said in a nationally televised press conference .
'It will take a few days before we see the benefits ' of containment measures , said Brusaferro .
'We must maintain these measures to see their effect , and above all to protect the most vulnerable . '
Imposed nationally on March 12 , the shutdown of most Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were initially due to expire on March 25 with schools shut until April 3 .
But prime minister Giuseppe Conte said today that the lockdown will be extended beyond the April 3 deadline .
'The measures we have taken ... must be extended beyond their original deadline , ' Conte told Thursday 's edition of the Corriere della Sera newspaper .
A top government minister hinted yesterday that the school closure could be extended well into next month , if not longer .
Italy 's National Research Council ( CNR ) expects a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new infections in the Lombardy region around Milan by next Tuesday or Wednesday .
The northern region of around 10million people has been at the epicentre of the crisis since the start , reporting two thirds of all the deaths in the nation of 60 million .
It has been under lockdown since March 8 .
Noting that infections are starting to rise in the south , where many Italians moved after the start of containment measures in the north , the CNR predicts that figures across Italy will only stabilise between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been fears that the health system of the poorer south would be entirely unable to cope with an outbreak on the scale which the north has suffered .
The rates within Italy itself remained stable yesterday , with two-thirds of the deaths - 1,959 in all - reported in the northern Lombardy region around Milan , the Italian financial and fashion capital .
The neighbouring Emilia-Romagna region of Bologna has suffered a total of 458 fatalities , and Turin 's Piedmont region has had 154 deaths .
Rome 's Lazio region has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
Doctors on the front line of Italy 's coronavirus outbreak have described 'catastrophic ' scenes in hospitals which are creaking with the sheer volume of cases .
Some patients have been lying face-down on their hospital beds , which researchers believe can raise survival rates in intensive care by improving oxygen levels in the blood .
A new Oxford University study has suggested that Italy may be particularly vulnerable because it has such an old population and the elderly come into frequent contact with the young .
Italy 's population is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Japan .
Oxford researchers said it was common for young adults in rural areas to live with their parents and grandparents but to commute into cities , such as Milan , to work and socialise .
Young people may have been picking up the virus while travelling and brought it home without realising they were ill , the Oxford researchers said .
The study is a warning to Britain , which has an ageing population .
Older people are known to be more likely to die of Covid-19 if they are infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushing 10,000 student doctors into service , scrapping their final exams , in an effort to help the struggling health service cope with the coronavirus .
University Minister Gaetano Manfredi said the government would let this year 's medicine graduates start work some eight or nine months ahead of schedule and waive the mandatory exams they normally sit before qualifying .
'This means immediately releasing into the National Health System the energy of about 10,000 doctors , which is fundamental to dealing with the shortage that our country is suffering , ' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be sent to work in general practitioners ' clinics and at old peoples ' homes , freeing up more experienced colleagues who will be sent to the rapidly filling hospitals .
Over three weeks , 1,135 people have needed intensive care in Lombardy , the northern region hardest hit .
The region has only 800 intensive care beds , according to Giacomo Grasselli , head of the intensive care unit at Milan 's Policlinico hospital .
Authorities have been working to set up hundreds of intensive care beds in a specially created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but are still waiting for sufficient respirators and qualified personnel .
Italy 's fleet of the dead : Military trucks transport scores of coronavirus victims ' coffins to be cremated Coffins of coronavirus victims were whisked away on a fleet of army trucks last night after a cemetery in northern Italy was overwhelmed by the death toll .
The column of army trucks brought the dead out of Bergamo on Wednesday night in what Italians have called 'one of the saddest photos in the history of our country ' .
The cemetery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mounting death toll in the city , where more than 4,300 people have been infected and at least 93 have died .
Mortuaries are full and crematorium staff have been handling 24 bodies a day , including the regular drumbeat of non-virus deaths , meaning the bodies of virus victims have had to be dispatched to neighbouring provinces .
An army spokesman confirmed today that 15 trucks and 50 soldiers had been deployed to move bodies to neighbouring provinces .
Italian media said there were around 70 coffins in the grim procession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the crematorium to the highway and out of Bergamo .
Giacomo Angeloni , the local official in charge of cemeteries in Bergamo , said earlier this week that the crematorium was handling around 24 bodies a day , almost twice its normal maximum .
Local authorities in Bergamo had appealed for help with cremations after being overwhelmed by the death toll .
The pews of the crematorium church have been removed to leave space to lay out scores of coffins but more have been arriving every day .
One Italian who saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was 'one of the saddest photos in the history of our country ' , while another said it was a 'photo of war ' .
'We are Italians and it is at times like these that we bring out the best in us .
We will get out of it and we will do it for them too , ' one said .

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Five more Italian doctors have died from coronavirus, bringing the death doll among medics in the country to 13 as it was revealed 2,629 health workers have been infected.
Initially three new fatalities were named as Luigi Ablondi, former general manager of Crema hospital, Giuseppe Finzi, a hospital doctor in Cremona and a general practitioner in Bergamo called Antonino Buttafuoco.
Then later today it emerged another two medical workers had passed away from the illness, the Italian national federation of doctors guilds said.
More than 2,600 medical workers have been infected with coronavirus in Italy - 8.3 per cent of the country's total cases, it emerged last night, as the government extended lockdown measures beyond the start of April today.
There has been growing concerns about the safety of front-line medical staff who come into regular contact with infected patients.
Dr Buttafuoco, who tested positive for the virus, was unable to overcome the symptoms of the disease and passed away yesterday at the age of 66.
Dr Giuseppe Finzi, 62, worked at University Hospital of Parma and had previously run for mayor of Soragna, local media report.
Dr Luigi Ablondi died at the Cremasco hospital, which he had run for 11 years, on Monday at the age of 66, according to Il Nuovo Torrazzo.
Luigi Ablondi, 66, the former general manager of Crema hospital died at the Cremasco hospital on Monday, it was revealed today
Italian doctors Giuseppe Finzi (left) and Antonino Buttafuoco (right) both died of coronavirus, it was announced today
Luigi Frusciante (left) and Giuseppe Lanati (right), who were in their 70s, both came out of retirement in order to help fight the growing coronavirus crisis in their communities
It was also announced that pneumologist at Sant'Anna hospital in Como, Giuseppe Lanati, and GP Luigi Frusciante, who was a GP in Sagnino, had died on Sunday.
Both Lanati, 73, and Frusciante, 71, had come out of retirement to help their community during the coronavirus crisis, which had hit Italy harder than any other country outside China.
Previously doctors Raffaele Giura and Franco Galli also died of coronavirus, local media reported last week.
The latest figures on infected healthcare workers were released by a health foundation which said the 'huge number' of infected medics showed that procedures and protection equipment for doctors were 'still inadequate'.
The problem is far worse than in China, because '8.3 per cent is more than double the percentage of the Chinese cohort', the Gimbe foundation's president Nino Cartabellotta told Italian media.
According to the figures, which are drawn from official data, the number of infected medics has risen by more than 1,500 just in the last eight days.
The figure of 2,629 infected medical professionals means that nearly 0.3 per cent of Italy's health workers have caught the disease - taking them out of service when they are desperately needed.
'No more talking: adequately protect those who must protect us,' Cartabellotta urged last night.
It came as Italy recorded a record 4,207 infections and 475 new deaths from the virus yesterday, squashing hopes that the unprecedented national lockdown was beginning to slow the spread of the pathogen.
Prime minister Giuseppe Conte has now warned that quarantine measures 'must be extended beyond their original deadline'. Some had initially been due to expire as early as next Wednesday.
A coronavirus patient lies on his front in an intensive care unit at the Oglio Po hospital in Cremona today. Researchers believe lying face down can raise survival rates in intensive care by improving oxygen levels in the blood
Medical staff collect a patient from an ambulance at a hospital in Rome earlier this week - with more than 2,600 medical workers infected across Italy, adding to the country's crisis
Health workers in face masks work in a crowded area outside the Spedali di Brescia hospital in Italy, amid warnings that protection equipment and procedures for doctors are 'inadequate'
A triage department of the Spedali di Brescia hospital shows the first recovery of patients suspected of having coronavirus
Pope Francis during a solitary mass today at the chapel of the Santa Marta guest house in the Vatican where he lives
This graph published by the Gimbe foundation showed that the number of infected medical workers has risen sharply
New cases per day in Italy: The number of daily cases was fairly stagnant at the start of this week, settling down at around 3,500 new patients per day
99% of people who died from virus had previous health problems More than 99 per cent of Italian virus deaths so far are patients who had previous health conditions, a study by the country's health authority suggests. Research into 355 deaths showed that only three of the victims, 0.8 per cent, had no pre-existing health problems. Nearly half of them - 48.5 per cent - had three or even more health conditions before they were infected with coronavirus. Another 25.6 per cent had two other 'pathologies', while 25.1 per cent had one. The research is consistent with previous findings that people with existing medical problems are more likely to die if they catch the coronavirus. According to the Italian study, the most common of these problems include high blood pressure and heart disease. Some 76.1 per cent of the dead patients had previously had problems with high arterial blood pressure, the study found. More than a third - 35.5 per cent - had diabetes, while 33.0 per cent had ischemic heart disease. Nearly a quarter, 24.5 per cent, had suffered from atrial fibrillation. Less common examples included dementia and liver disease. The study also found that the average age of people who died from the virus was 79.5. Again, that is consistent with previous findings that older people are more vulnerable to the disease. Advertisement
Italy's 475 new deaths are the largest number that any country, even China, has reported in a single day since the outbreak began late last year.
The previous record high of 368 deaths was also recorded in Italy, on Sunday.
The mounting death toll forced the army to intervene in the city of Bergamo yesterday to transport dozens of coffins out of the city.
The local crematorium has been overwhelmed by the crisis with staff handling 24 bodies a day, twice the usual maximum.
Italy's new surge in cases, which takes the total to 35,713, puts an end to four days of stalling infection numbers and dampens hopes that the quarantine is working.
Italians have been ordered to stay indoors, with schools and universities shut, shops closed except for grocery stores and pharmacies, and heavy restrictions on travel.
However, officials warn there is a lag time between the lockdown being imposed and its effects becoming noticeable in the figures.
'The main thing is, do not give up,' Italian National Institute of Health chief Silvio Brusaferro said in a nationally televised press conference.
'It will take a few days before we see the benefits' of containment measures, said Brusaferro.
'We must maintain these measures to see their effect, and above all to protect the most vulnerable.'
Imposed nationally on March 12, the shutdown of most Italian businesses and a ban on public gatherings were initially due to expire on March 25 with schools shut until April 3.
But prime minister Giuseppe Conte said today that the lockdown will be extended beyond the April 3 deadline.
'The measures we have taken... must be extended beyond their original deadline,' Conte told Thursday's edition of the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
A top government minister hinted yesterday that the school closure could be extended well into next month, if not longer.
This beach in Amalfi was empty despite the sunshine today with Italy remaining under an unprecedented national lockdown
Health workers take a patient on a wheelchair into an ambulance outside a hospital in Brescia in northern Italy this week
Hospital workers prepare coffins at the Ponte San Pietro hospital in Bergamo on Tuesday, in the province of Lombardy which has been the worst-affected region of Italy
Medics and paramedics from China arrived in Milan on Wednesday. The 37-strong team of doctors and paramedics will be deployed to hospitals in Italy's most affected areas, bringing with them 20 tons of equipment to combat coronavirus
Layoffs banned and rents reduced in Italian economic plan Companies are barred from laying off workers and rents have been reduced under Italy's economic survival plan. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte hailed his €25billion (£23bn), 127-point programme as the 'Italian model' that the rest of Europe could adopt. Firms are prohibited from laying off workers for the next two months without 'justified objective reasons' while the self-employed and seasonal workers such as tour guides will receive €600 payments. The government will also cover €100 bonuses for low-wage employees. Families are being issued €600 vouchers to cover the expense of having to hire baby sitters, with a shutdown of schools and kindergartens expected to last weeks. The self-employed who have to look after their children will receive 'parental leave' payments that cover half of their declared monthly incomes. Conte has shut down all forms of business except for pharmacies and grocery stores for two weeks starting on March 12. The government is compensating owners of closed shops by offering them tax credits to cover 60 per cent of their March rent payment. The self-employed and freelancers with home mortgages can ask to have their payments suspended for up to 18 months if they can prove that their incomes fell by a third. A variety of taxes and social service payments are being suspended for sectors and professions deemed most affected by the crisis. The government is also sending €20million to repair the damage caused to prisons by rioters who were anxious about the new disease. Italy's sport federations get four-month tax privileges and 130 million euros will go to support cinemas and the movie industry. Advertisement
Italy's National Research Council (CNR) expects a 'significant reduction' in the growth rate of new infections in the Lombardy region around Milan by next Tuesday or Wednesday.
The northern region of around 10million people has been at the epicentre of the crisis since the start, reporting two thirds of all the deaths in the nation of 60 million.
It has been under lockdown since March 8.
Noting that infections are starting to rise in the south, where many Italians moved after the start of containment measures in the north, the CNR predicts that figures across Italy will only stabilise between March 25 and April 15.
There have been fears that the health system of the poorer south would be entirely unable to cope with an outbreak on the scale which the north has suffered.
The rates within Italy itself remained stable yesterday, with two-thirds of the deaths - 1,959 in all - reported in the northern Lombardy region around Milan, the Italian financial and fashion capital.
The neighbouring Emilia-Romagna region of Bologna has suffered a total of 458 fatalities, and Turin's Piedmont region has had 154 deaths.
Rome's Lazio region has a toll of 32 deaths and 724 infections.
Doctors on the front line of Italy's coronavirus outbreak have described 'catastrophic' scenes in hospitals which are creaking with the sheer volume of cases.
Some patients have been lying face-down on their hospital beds, which researchers believe can raise survival rates in intensive care by improving oxygen levels in the blood.
A new Oxford University study has suggested that Italy may be particularly vulnerable because it has such an old population and the elderly come into frequent contact with the young.
Italy's population is the second-oldest in the world, behind only Japan.
Oxford researchers said it was common for young adults in rural areas to live with their parents and grandparents but to commute into cities, such as Milan, to work and socialise.
Young people may have been picking up the virus while travelling and brought it home without realising they were ill, the Oxford researchers said.
The study is a warning to Britain, which has an ageing population. Older people are known to be more likely to die of Covid-19 if they are infected with the virus.
Cardiac surgeon Antonino Marchese looks at hospital beds in the Casal Palocco hospital near Rome yesterday
A triage department of the Spedali di Brescia hospital in northern Italy which has been the worst-affected region of Italy
A deserted area outside the Colosseum in Rome, which is usually heaving with tourists, after Italians were ordered to stay inside unless necessary
Pope Francis reads a message during his weekly general audience at the Vatican yesterday with only a few people present
Hospital workers in face masks stand over trolleys at the Ponte San Pietro hospital in Bergamo on Tuesday as they prepare coffins
A family who were relaxing on a lawn were ordered to move by Italian police in San Donato Milanese near the city of Milan on Tuesday, after they flouted the country's coronavirus quarantine rules
Medical staff collect a patient from an ambulance at the second Covid-19 hospital in Rome, Italy, which is fighting the biggest virus outbreak outside of China
An Italian solider stands guard at an unknown soldier altar in Rome on Wednesday. The country was rocked by more than 400 coronavirus related deaths today, the highest one-day total of any country since the first case was detected in China in late 2019
In a sign that Italy is scrambling to react to the outbreak, Dr Sergio Cattaneo (pictured) said he has seen unused wards outfitted into an intensive care unit in six days
Doctors on the front line of Italy's coronavirus outbreak have described 'catastrophic' scenes in hospitals which are creaking with the sheer volume of cases. Pictured: staff preparing to open a new hospital in Rome
Italy is also rushing 10,000 student doctors into service, scrapping their final exams, in an effort to help the struggling health service cope with the coronavirus.
University Minister Gaetano Manfredi said the government would let this year's medicine graduates start work some eight or nine months ahead of schedule and waive the mandatory exams they normally sit before qualifying.
'This means immediately releasing into the National Health System the energy of about 10,000 doctors, which is fundamental to dealing with the shortage that our country is suffering,' he said in a statement.
The graduates will be sent to work in general practitioners' clinics and at old peoples' homes, freeing up more experienced colleagues who will be sent to the rapidly filling hospitals.
Over three weeks, 1,135 people have needed intensive care in Lombardy, the northern region hardest hit.
The region has only 800 intensive care beds, according to Giacomo Grasselli, head of the intensive care unit at Milan's Policlinico hospital.
Authorities have been working to set up hundreds of intensive care beds in a specially created facility in the Fiera Milano exhibition center, but are still waiting for sufficient respirators and qualified personnel.
Medical director Antonino Marchese holds a press conference before the opening of the third coronavirus Hospital in Casal Palocco, Rome
Italian Medics are struggling to keep pace with the escalating number of cases
Italy's fleet of the dead: Military trucks transport scores of coronavirus victims' coffins to be cremated
Coffins of coronavirus victims were whisked away on a fleet of army trucks last night after a cemetery in northern Italy was overwhelmed by the death toll.
The column of army trucks brought the dead out of Bergamo on Wednesday night in what Italians have called 'one of the saddest photos in the history of our country'.
The cemetery in Bergamo can no longer cope with the mounting death toll in the city, where more than 4,300 people have been infected and at least 93 have died.
Mortuaries are full and crematorium staff have been handling 24 bodies a day, including the regular drumbeat of non-virus deaths, meaning the bodies of virus victims have had to be dispatched to neighbouring provinces.
A fleet of army trucks on a highway in Bergamo last night, transporting the coffins of coronavirus victims out of the city after the local cemetery became overwhelmed by the virus death toll
The army vehicles drive along a Bergamo road as seen from the window of a nearby building, taking coffins out of the city
Italian army trucks are parked next to a monument in Bergamo yesterday as they prepared to take coffins out of the city. At least 93 people have died of coronavirus in Bergamo and more than 4,000 have been infected
Italian soldiers, some of them wearing face masks, gather next to some of their trucks in Bergamo yesterday where local crematorium staff have been handling 24 bodies a day
An army spokesman confirmed today that 15 trucks and 50 soldiers had been deployed to move bodies to neighbouring provinces.
Italian media said there were around 70 coffins in the grim procession last night as the bodies were taken from the crematorium to the highway and out of Bergamo.
Giacomo Angeloni, the local official in charge of cemeteries in Bergamo, said earlier this week that the crematorium was handling around 24 bodies a day, almost twice its normal maximum.
Local authorities in Bergamo had appealed for help with cremations after being overwhelmed by the death toll.
The pews of the crematorium church have been removed to leave space to lay out scores of coffins but more have been arriving every day.
One Italian who saw the picture of a column of trucks said it was 'one of the saddest photos in the history of our country', while another said it was a 'photo of war'.
'We are Italians and it is at times like these that we bring out the best in us. We will get out of it and we will do it for them too,' one said.
Italian soldiers speak to people at the entrance of the cemetery in Bergamo, where bodies have had to be moved out of the city because local undertakers and crematorium staff cannot cope
The army intervenes to move the bodies from the main cemetery of Bergamo, in Lombardy which has been worst affected by the health crisis in Italy
Army trucks drive along a road in Bergamo yesterday in what Italians have described as one of the 'saddest' images in the country's history
An Italian soldier carries a bag in each hand while police officers wearing masks are also on the scene near the cemetery
An army spokesman confirmed today that 15 trucks and 50 soldiers, some of which are pictured, had been deployed to move bodies from Bergamo to neighbouring provinces


thelibertydaily--2020-03-22--What Happened to “RUSSIA! RUSSIA! RUSSIA!”? After 3+ Years of Russia Hoax, CNN Fake News Suddenly Fi

What Happened to “RUSSIA! RUSSIA! RUSSIA!”? After 3+ Years of Russia Hoax, CNN Fake News Suddenly Finds the Love for Putin/Russia

Just how desperate is CNN to make the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus response look bad ?
Perhaps a clue @ @ @ @ @ sharing of the Russian government ’ s assessment of the alleged effectiveness of their own @ @ @ @ @ it is .
Can CNN now be accused of being a Russian asset ?
That @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worked in the past .
Yeah , we ’ re quite confused as @ @ @ @ @ mainstream media will help amplify Russia ’ s message if they think it helps make @ @ @ @

Just how desperate is CNN to make the Trump administration’s coronavirus response look bad? Perhaps a clue can be found in their sharing of the Russian government’s assessment of the alleged effectiveness of their own response:
Does Russia have coronavirus under control? According to information released by Russian officials, Putin's strategy seems to have worked. https://t.co/eWIulAXYnn — CNN (@CNN) March 21, 2020
Well, there it is.
I see we're just regurgitating Russian propaganda now https://t.co/RKmpG6YYQA — Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) March 21, 2020
Can CNN now be accused of being a Russian asset? That seems to be how it’s worked in the past.
I was told that your network criticized President @realDonaldTrump for 2 years, alleging he was doing the bidding of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. But now you are implyng Vladimir Putin is a good guy. I am so confused. Did someone lie to me? — DocWashburn (@DocWashburn) March 21, 2020
So, now CNN accepts what Putin says as the truth!? We're living in the Matrix, and there's a serious glitch. https://t.co/FzlVYfovZW — Crapplefratz – Will Tweet For Food (@Crapplefratz) March 22, 2020
Oh so we believe Russia now? — Reaganette (@Ezinger44) March 21, 2020
The same people who pushed the Russia effected the election are trusting the numbers put out by Putin — Glenn Amurgis (@gamurgis) March 21, 2020
Yeah, we’re quite confused as well.
OK, who’s Putin’s puppet now? — GregEsq (@GregEsq) March 21, 2020
Of course CNN is running interference for Vladimir Putin. Of course it is. https://t.co/2MLsUzHBR6 — Sean Davis (@seanmdav) March 21, 2020
Someone should go to CNN's door and grill them about why they're unwittingly promoting Russian propaganda. — China Is Asshoe! (@thealexvanness) March 22, 2020
did…..did a Russian bot write this? https://t.co/cx4XAHG2mR — Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) March 21, 2020
Lol this week I've watched people buy reports from state-controlled communist countries hook line and sinker https://t.co/dSxrw3HwoB — Robert (@JRAMNOTTHAGOAT) March 21, 2020
CNN is Team Anyone but America.#EnemyOfThePeople — Alpha Barbie ?? (@AlphaBarbieSays) March 21, 2020
Funny. I read another report that said the complete opposite. https://t.co/InW1OCW4bG — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 22, 2020
Thanks for the propaganda — Gary (@garyalan82) March 21, 2020
Russia is clearly lying: https://t.co/IBXGLfC5ua Russian media is claiming there are almost no cases and mocking other countries like the US for taking drastic measures. That's a dangerous message and western news outlets shouldn't help amplify it. https://t.co/gYDIA4zy60 — (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) March 21, 2020
And yet the mainstream media will help amplify Russia’s message if they think it helps make Trump look worse.
UPDATE: Garry Kasparov adds…