freedomdaily--2020-02-04--Customs Seizes Massive Amount of Methamphetamine Worth Over $3 Million

—U.S .
Customs and Border Protection , Office of Field Operations ( OFO ) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 49-year-old man from Houston after discovering $ 3,260,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the SUV he was driving .
“ As persistent drug smugglers continue their pursuit of attempting to bring dangerous narcotics across the border , our frontline officers at CBP Field Operations are just as relentless in keeping our communities drug-free , ” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez , Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas .
CBP officers discovered 163 pounds of liquid methamphetamine within the gas tank of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Jan. 30 , a CBP officer at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge referred a blue 2002 Ford Expedition and the male U.S. citizen driver for further examination .
The secondary inspection , which included the utilization of non-intrusive imaging ( NII ) equipment allowed the officers to discover alleged liquid methamphetamine hidden within the SUV ’ s gas tank .
The extraction of the narcotics resulted in 163 pounds ( 73.94 kg ) , which were placed in four plastic buckets .
CBP OFO seized the methamphetamine , the vehicle and arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed drug smuggling attempt .
The case is being investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI ) .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-03--Mike Bloomberg Ad Uses Obama-Era Footage Of Caged Migrants To Criticize Trump

Mike Bloomberg , the former mayor of New York City and a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination , released an anti-Trump campaign advertisement that included footage from the Obama era .
The Bloomberg campaign released an ad that was meant to highlight unflattering events that have occurred during the Trump administration , such as the white nationalist march in Charlottesville , Virginia , the aftermath of a Florida school shooting , the Brett Kavanaugh hearings , and immigration enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border .
“ America demanded change and change is what we got , ” a narrator said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a montage of footage , supposedly all taken during the Trump presidency .
The campaign took direct aim at the Trump administration ’ s immigration enforcement measures , clipping images of Border Patrol agents doing their job and featuring footage of detained migrants .
However , a review by the Daily Caller News Foundation found that one still image used in the ad was taken in 2014 — during the Obama administration .
The DCNF compared this image to a photo taken by Ross D. Franklin for Getty Images in June 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Customs and Border Protection facility in Nogales , Arizona .
Franklin ’ s picture is featured below : A simple comparison of the two images can prove that they are , in fact , the same .
For example , the crossed legs of the individual laying down in the Bloomberg photo is the same as the crossed-legged individual seen in the middle of the Getty images photo .
The placing of the three mats near the head of the individual are stacked in the exact same position , as well .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual with a black shirt is seen sitting next to others with white shirts .
Additionally , a row of five individuals with white shirts are seen sitting together , their backs turned to the camera , at a table in both images .
The DCNF reached out to Julie Wood — a spokeswoman for the Bloomberg campaign — about the image but did not receive a response .
This is not the first time Obama-era footage of caged migrants has been mistakenly attributed to the Trump administration .
In an announcement about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June 2019 , Democrats on the House Oversight Committee tweeted out the same Getty image .
They deleted their tweet following online ridicule .

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freedomdaily--2020-02-04--DHS Offered To Test The Iowa Caucus App, But Democrats Declined

The Department of Homeland Security offered to test the app used in the Iowa Democratic caucuses — which is riddled with bugs and has led to complete election disarray , but that offer was declined .
Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said Tuesday that the department ’ s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offered to vet the app commissioned by the Iowa Democratic Party to tabulate the voting results , but that offer was turned down .
“ Our Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency had offered to test that app , from a hacking perspective .
They declined and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues with it , ” Wolf said Tuesday morning on “ Fox & Friends.
” “ I would say right now we don ’ t see any malicious cyber activity going on , ” he said .
The DHS chief also confirmed that no one hacked the app .
“ Nobody hacked into it , so this is more of a stress or load issue , as well as a reporting issue we have seen in Iowa .
What I would say is , given the amount of scrutiny that we have on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concerning event and goes to the public confidence of our elections , ” Wolf added .
The interview came amid election chaos at the Iowa Democratic caucuses Monday .
The state party has reported 0 % of election results from precincts in the state as of publication of this article .
The reason : A smartphone application , commissioned by the Iowa Democratic Party to tabulate and record votes , has proven faulty and unreliable .
Wolf ’ s comments indicate that Iowa Democrats did not properly test the app before using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operatives across the state have reported trouble operating the app and submitting voter data .
Notably , three alumni of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign run the firm that created the app , Shadow Inc. As far as election security , Wolf said the country remains more safe than ever before .
“ I would say that , today and this year , we are more secure than we ’ ve ever been .
So as we look at 2016 and our preparation for 2018 , we are eve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the acting DHS chief said .
“ So we are continuing to learn and build from the lessons that we ’ ve done , ” he said .


freedomdaily--2020-02-04--Clinton Campaign Veterans Run Firm That Built The Disastrous Iowa Caucus Phone App

The firm behind the phone app that caused delays in reporting the results of the Iowa Democratic caucus is operated by three Hillary Clinton campaign veterans .
The firm has also done business during the 2020 election cycle with Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg ’ s campaign .
Iowa Democrats intended to use the app , created by Shadow Inc. , to make it easier for the state ’ s 1,700-odd precincts to report the results of their individual caucuses .
But officials at precincts across the state reported that they had trouble operating the app and submitting the voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which said that it may have the results of the caucus available by Tuesday , had kept the identity of the app creator a secret in recent weeks as cyber security experts have questioned whether the technology was vulnerable to hackers .
HuffPost , citing multiple Democratic sources and campaign finance records , reported amid the caucus chaos late Monday that Shadow Inc. was behind the app .
ACRONYM , a Democrat-linked technology and campaign consulting nonprofit group , owns Shadow Inc .
Shadow Inc. ’ s website has scant information about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of social media accounts shows that three of the Washington , D.C.-based firm ’ s top executives worked on the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign .
The CEO of Shadow Inc. , Gerard Niemira , was the director of product on Clinton ’ s campaign , his LinkedIn profile says .
Ahna Rao , the product manager for Shadow Inc. , was the special assistant to the chief technology officer on Clinton ’ s campaign , according to her LinkedIn profile .
Krista Davis , the chief technology officer at Shadow , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , according to her LinkedIn profile .
Campaign finance records show that several state Democratic parties and multiple presidential candidates have paid Shadow Inc. for tech services .
Iowa state campaign finance reports show that the Iowa Democratic Party paid Shadow Inc. $ 44,666 on Nov. 15 and $ 18,517 on Dec. 6 .
The Nevada State Democratic Party paid Shadow $ 58,000 on Aug. 27 , 2019 , for technology services , according to Federal Election Commission records .
Buttigieg ’ s campaign paid Shadow $ 42,250 on July 23 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former South Bend mayor came under some criticism Monday for declaring himself victorious despite the dearth of results .


freedomdaily--2020-02-04--Cancer deaths decline in US, with advances in prevention, detection and treatment

The American Cancer Society recently reported a drop in the overall cancer death rate in the U.S. , with an overall 29 % decline in cancer deaths from 1991 to 2017 .
This resulted in 2.9 million fewer deaths over this span .
This decline was mainly attributable to progress in the four most common cancers : lung , colorectal , breast and prostate cancer .
This included a record decline of 2.2 % in the last year of the report ( 2016-2017 ) , led by a particularly steep recent drop in lung cancer .
And , an article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal of Medicine found that screening current and former heavy smokers with a low-dose CT scan is helping to detect the disease earlier , which is contributing to lower mortality .
I am the chief of hematology/oncology and medical director of the Cancer Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care .
I take care of patients with cancer , with particular expertise in leukemia and related diseases .
The steady decline in cancer deaths is quite encouraging , particularly in lung cancer – which provides a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the course of a disease .
A number of factors have contributed to the reduction in lung cancer deaths , according to the report .
Prevention has had a profound impact in reducing lung cancer over the past 25-plus years , primarily through smoking prevention and cessation programs .
Smoking among adults is at an all-time low in the U.S. , at 13.7 % .
Tobacco is a risk factor for most cancers , and this is particularly true for lung cancer , where smoking is the single greatest cause .
Improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as radon exposure represents the second most preventable cause of lung cancer .
Th advent of low-dose computer tomograhy ( CT ) screening for high-risk patients – current and former heavy smokers – has also played a critical role .
Early detection by CT has found lung cancers at a still curable stage , leading to at least a 20 % decrease in death rates .
Advances in treatment have accounted for the remainder of progress in lung cancer .
The introduction of new drugs , including immunotherapy – which won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its ability to harness the power of the immune system to kill cancer cells – provides hope for previously untreatable patients .
Despite these successes , lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death , with 228,820 new cases and 135,720 deaths predicted for 2020 in the U.S. Has progress stalled in the other common cancers ?
The gains in treating breast , prostate and colorectal cancer have slowed a bit over the past decade .
However , to put this in perspective , more deaths are predicted in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these other three cancers combined .
Breast , prostate and colorectal cancers have also all benefited from longstanding screening programs and earlier therapeutic successes , thus setting a higher bar for further improvement compared to lung cancer .
Some of the stalled progress may also reflect rising rates of obesity , which represents a risk factor for death from each of these cancers .
Last , immunotherapy has not yet realized the same gains in these cancers , as in lung and others .
That said , these data extend only up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet reflected in the report .
Some groundbreaking advances have yielded great successes in selected cancers , with the hope that such treatments may be more broadly applicable .
Immunotherapy has proven highly successful in melanoma .
Some may recall the treatment of former President Jimmy Carter with pembrolizumab , an immunotherapeutic drug .
This breakthrough , along with the introduction of drugs that specifically target cancer cells to kill them or at least slow their growth , or what scientists call molecular inhibitors , has led to the most pronounced reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 .
These same principles have since been applied with some degree of success to a variety of other cancers .
Indeed , this very strategy has been responsible for the some of the recent success with lung cancer .
Even more impressively , a specific class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors dramatically changed the course of chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) over the past two decades .
These drugs shut off a key signaling pathway that the CML cells depend upon for their growth and survival , thus converting CML @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with which most patients will live a near normal lifespan .
Targeted inhibitors have also revolutionized the treatment and prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a number of other blood cancers .
In addition , the past quarter century has seen tremendous advances in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia – the most common form of childhood cancer , with cure rates now approaching 90 % .
Another type of leukemia , acute promyelocytic leukemia , also now has cure rates in excess of 80 % , thanks to the introduction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Vitamin A ) and the subsequent addition of arsenic over the past several decades .
One of the most exciting advances has been another form of immunotherapy – chimeric antigen receptor ( CAR ) T cells – which have produced extraordinary results in some of the most challenging blood cancers .
These genetically re-engineered immune cells are reprogrammed to seek out and destroy cancer cells with remarkable efficiency .
This highly promising therapy is now FDA-approved for some types of leukemia and lymphoma ; it is also now being explored in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tumors .
Putting it all in perspective These remarkable advances in cancer prevention , detection and treatment provide great hope .
In fact , it is important to note that the ACS data extend only through 2017 , so many recent breakthroughs are not yet reflected in the report .
That said , there is still much work to be done , and funding support for ongoing research remains critical .
Improved participation in , increased availability of , and better design of clinical trials are also desperately needed to advance the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the number one cause of death in the U.S. , and we have made far too little progress with many types of cancer .
Furthermore , access to state-of-the-art , much less cutting-edge , cancer care remains limited , with significant racial and socioeconomic disparities .
This is particularly true for developing countries , where many tests and therapies are prohibitively expensive and are simply not available to most citizens .
Armed with a better understanding of cancer and a host of new strategies to treat it , we oncologists are quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressive results in the battle against cancer .
We must ensure not only continued progress , but also that these advances reach all patients , in an effort to stamp out cancer across the world .
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Jonathan M. Gerber does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-02-04--A clue to stopping coronavirus: Knowing how viruses adapt from animals to humans

As the novel coronavirus death toll mounts , it is natural to worry .
How far will this virus travel through humanity , and could another such virus arise seemingly from nowhere ?
As microbial ecologists who study the origins of new microbial species , we would like to give some perspective .
As a result of continuing deforestation , “ bushmeat ” hunting of wild animals and caring for our domestic animals , the novel coronavirus will certainly not be the last deadly virus from wild animals to infect humans .
Indeed , wild species of bats and primates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and HIV , respectively .
When humans interact with wild animal species , pathogens that are resident in those animals can spill over to humans , sometimes with deadly effects .
No new virus under the Sun ?
Most “ emergent ” viruses that are new to humans are regular inhabitants of other species .
In some cases , the animal hosts have reached a peaceful coexistence with their viruses , as in the case of bats .
In other cases , the viruses are as deadly in their wild animal hosts as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their immunodeficiency viruses .
Human activities have increased the rate of spillovers of wild animal viruses into our species , particularly from bats .
Deforestation has brought bats closer to human habitations , resulting in recurrent spread of Ebola from bats to humans in sub-Saharan Africa .
The trade in wild animals brought us SARS when bats infected captive civets in a live-animal market with the virus .
Most profoundly , hunting chimpanzees in Cameroon brought humans HIV about a century ago , most likely by way of an accident in handling an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viruses have come to us from bats by way of our domestic animals .
Hendra and Nipah virus spilled over in 1994 from fruit bats , by way of horses and pigs in 1999 , respectively .
In 2012 the MERS virus jumped to humans from camels , which were originally infected from bats several hundred years ago .
Caring for our horses ’ and camels ’ runny noses was responsible for bringing us Hendra and MERS .
Going further into the past , scientists have determined that agricultural and domestic animals delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For example , smallpox spilled over from camels , and measles came to us from cattle , both many centuries ago .
These virus infections were not a flash in the pan but stayed with us and infected most people as children until the recent past .
If not for vaccines , these viruses would still be a routine and deadly part of childhood .
While scientists do not yet know the species origin of the new coronavirus , it is unsurprising that it emerged in a market containing an astonishing variety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus spread ?
Scientists quantify the ability of a virus to spread by the statistic R0 , which measures the average number of people each contagious person infects .
When each individual carrying a virus infects more than one person ( R0 > 1 ) , the virus can spread indefinitely .
A happier outcome results when each infected person infects fewer than one person ( R0 < 1 ) , on average .
Such viruses may spread briefly in humans but eventually will disappear from the human population .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at an R0 around 1.4-2.5 , which means it could continue to spread indefinitely .
For comparison , seasonal influenza viruses have a median R0 of 1.28 , a rate that allows them to spread every year around the globe .
R0 is a dynamic parameter that can change rapidly .
The transmission rate can change upward as a result of the virus ’ evolution and adaptation to humans , or downward by changes in human behavior and technology .
For example , in the recent West African Ebola outbreak , the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infect over 28,000 people .
In this time , the virus evolved to become better at attaching to human cells , while becoming worse at attaching to cells of bats .
This human-adapted lineage went extinct as the West African Ebola outbreak ended .
The novel coronavirus could possibly follow suit and adapt to humans , thereby increasing its transmissibility .
Humans can combat the effects of viral evolution through behavioral changes that reduce virus transmission .
For example , when SARS first emerged , it spread rapidly , with a high R0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths worldwide .
However , SARS did not have the right stuff to spread indefinitely .
It soon became clear that infected individuals were not contagious until after they displayed early symptoms such as severe headaches and myalgia .
Thus , infected people could easily diagnose themselves and check into a hospital before infecting anyone .
Hence , the R0 dropped to less than 1 , which ensured eradication .
Like SARS , Ebola is terribly deadly and contagious , and also does not have the right stuff for persistence in humans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an infected individual , but can not be spread at a distance by sneezing or coughing .
The burial traditions of West Africans contributed significantly to the early and rapid outbreak of the virus , as family members directly handled the body of the deceased .
When people started avoiding contact with the bodily fluids of those infected , either alive or deceased , Ebola ’ s transmission rate plummeted to an R0 < 1 .
The R0 of Ebola decreased through changes in behavior alone , even in the most rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed therapies and vaccines .
So far , it seems scientists and health care workers may not be so lucky in containing the novel coronavirus because it is transmissible even before symptoms arise .
However , transmission will certainly be reduced if we follow familiar protocols for preventing cold and flu infection , such as self-quarantine , handwashing and generally avoiding others ’ germs .
Medical technology may provide solutions going forward .
One promising effort is a portable detection kit .
The VereCoV detection kit can detect and distinguish among three coronaviruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just two hours .
Long-term technological efforts may eventually include drug therapies and vaccination .
The stakes for containing the novel coronavirus are high .
If health officials can reduce virus transmission toward R0 < 1 through changes in behavior or through technology , we may reach eradication as seen globally in SARS and at least locally in Ebola .
But if the virus continues to spread at its current rate , or at an even higher rate through its evolution , the novel coronavirus could be with us indefinitely .
The virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viruses our species has accumulated over millennia from animals people have hunted or domesticated .
It may take a combination of changes in individual behavior , investment in the public health abroad , and the development of new technologies for the novel outbreak to end happily .
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The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Social media companies are taking steps to tamp down coronavirus misinformation – but they can do mo

Social media companies are taking steps to tamp down coronavirus misinformation – but they can do more

As we practice social distancing , our embrace of social media gets only tighter .
The major social media platforms have emerged as the critical information purveyors for influencing the choices people make during the expanding pandemic .
There ’ s also reason for worry : the World Health Organization is concerned about an “ infodemic , ” a glut of accurate and inaccurate information about COVID-19 .
The social media companies have been pilloried in recent years for practicing “ surveillance capitalism ” and being a societal menace .
The pandemic could be their moment of redemption .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surprisingly , Facebook , which had earned the reputation of being the least trusted tech company in recent years , has led with the strongest , most consistent actions during the unfolding COVID-19 crisis .
Twitter and Google-owned YouTube have taken steps as well to stem the tide of misinformation .
Yet , all three could do better .
As an economist who tracks digital technology ’ s use worldwide at The Fletcher School at Tufts University , I ’ ve identified three important ways to evaluate the companies ’ responses to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curtailing misinformation ?
Are they enforcing responsible advertising policies ?
And are they providing helpful data to public health authorities without compromising privacy ?
Social media companies can block , demote or elevate posts .
According to Facebook , the average user sees only 10 % of their News Feed and the platforms determine what users see by reordering how stories appear .
This means demoting and elevating posts could be as essential as blocking them outright .
Blocking is the most difficult decision because it bumps up against First Amendment rights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been criticized for its unwillingness to block false political ads .
But Facebook has had the most clear-cut policy on COVID-19 misinformation .
It relies on third-party fact-checkers and health authorities flagging problematic content , and removes posts that fail the tests .
It also blocks or restricts hashtags that spread misinformation on its sister platform , Instagram .
Twitter and YouTube have taken less decisive positions .
Twitter says it has acted to protect against malicious behaviors .
Del Harvey , Twitter ’ s vice president of trust and safety , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any pockets of smaller coordinated attempts to distort or inorganically influence the conversation.
” YouTube removes videos claiming to prevent infections .
However , neither company has a transparent blocking policy founded on solid fact-checking .
While all three platforms are demoting problematic content and elevating content from authoritative sources , the absence of consistent fact-checking standards has created a gray area where misinformation can slip through , particularly for Twitter .
Panic-producing tweets claimed prematurely that New York was under lockdown , and bots or fake accounts have slipped in rumors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources can cause problems .
For example , the widely read @ realDonaldTrump has tweeted misinformation .
Influential figures who are not officially designated authoritative sources have also managed to circulate misinformation .
Elon Musk , founder of Tesla and SpaceX , tweeted a false assertion about the coronavirus to 32 million followers and Twitter has declined to remove his tweet .
John McAfee , founder of the eponymous security solutions company , also tweeted a false assertion about the coronavirus .
That tweet was removed but not before it had been widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the social media companies must also ask how people are experiencing their platforms and interpreting the information they encounter there .
Social media platforms are meticulously designed to anticipate the user ’ s experience , hold their attention and influence actions .
It ’ s essential that the companies apply similar techniques to influence positive behavior in response to COVID-19 .
Consider some examples across each of the three platforms of failing to influence positive behaviors by ignoring the user experience .
For Facebook users , private messaging is , increasingly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the coronavirus .
Because these groups often bring together more trusted networks – family , friends , classmates – there is a greater risk that people will turn to them during anxious times and become susceptible to misinformation .
Facebook-owned Messenger and WhatsApp – both closed platforms in contrast to Twitter – are of particular concern since the company ’ s ability to monitor content on these platforms is still limited .
For Twitter , it ’ s essential to track “ influencers , ” or people with many followers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact and ought to pass through additional filters .
YouTube has taken the approach of pairing misleading coronavirus content with a link to an alternative authoritative source , such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization .
This juxtaposition can have the opposite of the intended effect .
A video from a non-authoritative individual appears with the CDC or WHO logo beneath it , which could unintentionally give viewers the impression that those public health authorities have approved the videos .
There is money to be made from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , some of those ads are not in the public interest .
Facebook set a standard by banning ads for medical face masks and Google followed suit , as did Twitter .
All three companies have offered free ads to appropriate public health and nonprofit organizations .
Facebook has offered unlimited ads to the WHO , while Google has made a similar but less open-ended offer and Twitter offers Ads for Good credits to fact-checking nonprofit organizations and health information disseminators .
There have been some policy reversals .
YouTube initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to COVID-19 , but then allowed some ads that follow the company ’ s guidelines .
Overall , the companies have responded to the crisis , but their policies on ads vary , have changed and have left loopholes : Users could still see ads for face masks served by Google even after it had officially banned them .
Clearer industry-wide principles and firm policies can help keep businesses and people from exploiting the outbreak for commercial gain .
Social media can be a source of essential data for mapping the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The key is that the companies protect user privacy , recognize the limits of data analysis and not oversell it .
Geographic information systems that build on data from social media and other sources have already become key to mapping the worldwide spread of COVID-19 .
Facebook is collaborating with researchers at Harvard and National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan by sharing data about people ’ s movements – stripped of identifying information – and high-resolution population density maps .
Search and location data on YouTube and its parent , Google , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered its trends analyses for COVID-19 in any systematic manner to date , perhaps out of reluctance because of the failure of an earlier Google Trends program that attempted to predict the paths of transmission of influenza and completely missed the peak of the 2013 flu season .
Think with Google , the company ’ s current data analytics service for marketers , offers a powerful example of insights that can be gleaned from Google ’ s data .
It could help with projects for contact tracing and social distancing compliance , provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that respects user privacy .
For example , as users ’ locations are tagged along with their posts , the people they ’ ve met and the places they ’ ve been can help determine whether people on the whole or in a location are complying with public health safety orders and guidelines .
Moreover , data shared by companies – stripped of identifying information – could be used by independent researchers .
For example , researchers could use Facebook-owned Instagram and CrowdTangle to correlate travelers ’ movements to COVID-19 hotspots with user @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research teams I direct have been analyzing coronavirus-related Twitter hashtags to identify the primary misinformation sources to detect patterns .
The expanding footprint of the pandemic and its consequences are evolving quickly .
To their credit , the social media companies have attempted to respond quickly as well .
Yet , they can do more .
This could be their time to rebuild trust with the public and with regulators , but the window to make the right choices is narrow .
Their own futures and the futures of millions may depend on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read our newsletter . ]
Bhaskar Chakravorti has founded and directs the Institute for Business in the Global Context at Fletcher/Tufts that has received funding from Mastercard , Microsoft , the Gates Foundation , the Rockefeller Foundation and the Onassis Foundation .
He is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Brookings India and a Senior Advisor on Digital Inclusion at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Fighting boredom with banjos and Russian grammar – tips from polar explorers for surviving months of

Fighting boredom with banjos and Russian grammar – tips from polar explorers for surviving months of isolation

Due to Antarctica ’ s extreme winter , which includes four months of total darkness , polar explorers endured intense confinement in close quarters for long periods of time .
American pioneer Richard Byrd explained , “ little things … have the power to drive even the most disciplined … to the edge of insanity .
The ones who survive with a measure of happiness are those who can live profoundly off their intellectual resources , as hibernating animals live off their fat.
” How did the Antarctic explorers of the early 1900s survive tedium in the time long before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sanity and welfare of the explorers .
“ It is necessary to be cut off from civilization … to realize fully the power music has to recall the past…to soothe the present and give hope for the future , ” said one of the youngest members of the Terra Nova Expedition ( 1910-1913 ) .
The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition ( 1902-04 ) included an official bagpiper .
Admiral Byrd brought a phonograph to the Advance Base in 1934 , calling music his “ only real luxury.
” When abandoning the slowly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s men were allowed to carry only two pounds of personal effects .
But Shackleton insisted that meteorologist Leonard Hussey take his six-pound banjo along , saying , “ It ’ s vital mental medicine , and we shall need it.
” Books played an huge role in the lives of polar explorers .
The library aboard Endurance included plays , poetry , books on exploration , the Encyclopedia Britannica and novels like “ The Brothers Karamazov.
” When the ship went down , Shackleton rescued a Rudyard Kipling poem .
He tore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to him by Queen Alexandra , abandoning the rest of the heavy text , though a crew member secretly saved it .
Poetry , one explorer explained , “ was useful , because it gave one something to learn by heart and repeat during the blank hour … when the idle mind is all too apt to think … of purely imaginary grievances.
” Some men even attempted to learn a language .
Roald Amundsen , the leader of the Norwegian Fram Expedition ( 1910-1914 ) , studied Russian grammar .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amundsen ’ s reading “ had the advantage of being incomparably stiffer .
Russian verbs are uncommonly difficult of digestion , and not to be swallowed in a hurry.
” Daily diaries were extremely common among polar explorers .
First , men were aware accounts of their experiences could have monetary value in the future .
Second , diaries served as records and keepsakes for their families .
Third , as many days tended to run together , diaries became a way to differentiate one day from another .
Finally , as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this life is one of the only ways in which a man can blow off steam.
” There is a long tradition of polar explorers creating newspapers for themselves .
Reports on the weather or accounts of visits to penguin colonies were interspersed with short stories , poetry , interviews , crossword puzzles and word games .
They were illustrated with both humorous and artistic drawings .
Over time , these texts took on a great deal of sexual content , including lewd jokes and fantasies .
As one explorer explained , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of depression to become a part of the atmosphere of our life was clear to all.
” Carsten Borchgrevink , the leader of the Southern Cross Expedition ( 1898-1900 ) said , “ The sameness of those cold , dark nights attacks the minds of men like a sneaking evil spirit .
We found that … playing chess and cards were very valuable pastimes.
” Sometimes men “ shouted and jumped during their game and it is a wonder they did not upset the little board on which they played.
” Chess was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1910-1913 ) .
According to Robert Falcon Scott , “ Our most popular game for evening recreation is chess ; so many players have developed that our two sets of chessmen are inadequate.
” For Antarctic explorers , almost all food was dried or consumed from tins .
Hoosh , a stew made from a mix of dried meat and fat , called pemmican , thickened with cereal , provided many of the calories of the earliest expeditions .
To break up the monotonous cuisine , men experimented with new foods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a few cases , such as the Fram expedition and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition , they even ate their dogs .
The often lackluster fare meant the men were often obsessed with food .
Many of their conversations revolved around their ideal meals from home .
In 1934 , Byrd wrote in his diary , “ I found the cook book !
… The whoop of joy I uttered sounded so loud that I was actually embarrassed .
… No book washed ashore to a castaway could have been more avidly studied.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocked with beer , wine and spirits .
There was debate over the value of alcohol on these expeditions – no one wanted to encourage drunkenness and alcohol could be dangerous in the field .
But Amundsen , the first man to the South Pole , felt differently : “ An occasional glass of wine or a tot of spirits were things that we all , without exception , were very glad of .
… Personally , I regard alcohol , used in moderation , as a medicine in the Polar regions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little in the course of the week are reconciled at once by the scent of rum.
” So what kind of man survived the best under severe isolation ?
According to Apsley Cherry-Garrard of the Terra Nova Expedition ( 1910-1913 ) , “ The men with the greatest store of nervous energy came best through this expedition … their strength of mind triumphed over their weakness of body .
If you want a good polar traveler , get a man without too much muscle … and let his mind be on wires—of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the latest research .
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Daniella McCahey has received funding from the American Institute of Physics , the National Science Foundation , the Royal Society of New Zealand , and the Newkirk Center for Science and Society .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Feeling overwhelmed? Approach coronavirus as a challenge to be met, not a threat to be feared

You have a choice to make when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic .
Do you treat this time as an insurmountable threat that pits you against everyone else ?
This option entails making decisions based solely on protecting yourself and your loved ones : stockpiling supplies regardless of what that leaves for others ; continuing to host small gatherings because you ’ re personally at lower risk ; or taking no precautions because the effort seems futile .
Or do you treat the coronavirus as a collective challenge that will require shared sacrifices to achieve a difficult but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking recommended precautions : practicing social distancing , hand-washing and restricting travel .
These actions might not be your most desired or convenient path as an individual , but they contribute to the broader social good , reducing the spread of COVID-19 .
As a professor of psychology and licensed clinical psychologist who studies how people think differently when they ’ re anxious , I recognize this global pandemic has all the ingredients to fuel a threat-oriented mindset .
The trajectory of the coronavirus is uncertain and unpredictable , the very features that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The way people process threatening events matters a lot for how well they ’ ll manage this period of uncertainty .
Some identification of threat is useful and will mobilize you to action , but a rigid overestimation of threat makes you panic or immobilizes you .
When you perceive a situation as a dire threat , it changes how you process information .
No longer do you consider the pros and cons of your choices evenhandedly , looking at the situation from multiple perspectives .
Instead , your attention narrows , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of danger and vulnerability .
Your interpretations become biased , so that you assume the worst when a situation is ambiguous – as almost all situations are .
And you preferentially remember information that confirms a prior belief that the world is a dangerous place and you don ’ t measure up .
Why is this a problem ?
After all , the world really is in the grip of an objectively dangerous pandemic .
Paying attention to this threat seems vital for staying safe .
The issue occurs when you believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet the demands of the situation .
If you feel the threat is insurmountable , then you give up .
Why try if you ’ re doomed to fail ?
And if you feel that your resources – be it food , money , time , energy – are inadequate or threatened , then you have nothing to share with others , and hoard what you can for yourself .
Feeling threatened can make you hyperfocused on monitoring for signs of danger , which can in turn mean consuming terrifying stories about COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay informed , but prior research makes clear that people are more prone to mental health problems , like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder , if they don ’ t limit media exposure .
In turn , reading about COVID-19 all the time increases the perception of threat , further fueling the need to monitor for danger signs in a vicious cycle that makes the world seem ever scarier .
Better to conceive a threat as a challenge It ’ s better for your mental health to see this time as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult but which can be met if everyone works together .
When you size something up as a challenge , it ’ s easier to rise to the occasion .
Instead of withdrawing from the problem , you shift to problem-solving .
People with this mindset draw on others to help , and they offer their own support to those in need .
Research has shown that working collaboratively and helping others has great mental health benefits for the helper .
Research on cognitive behavior therapy shows that shifting one ’ s outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than an insurmountable threat can be a successful way to treat anxiety disorders .
Cognitive therapy promotes questioning your thoughts instead of assuming the first one that pops into your mind is the most helpful .
An individual becomes a scientist , weighing the evidence for and against ideas to reach more balanced conclusions .
You become an explorer , thinking flexibly to consider new approaches to solving problems .
If you sniffle once , you don ’ t immediately assume you have COVID-19 – you maintain precautions , but also consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually act up and see if allergy medicine works .
It would be ludicrous not to acknowledge the real threats the world faces right now , and the disproportionate impact this difficult time has on already marginalized communities .
But you need not define this threat as insurmountable and get stuck there .
Choose instead to work together – albeit remotely – and accept the coronavirus challenge .
The shift from threat to challenge might just make it a little easier to stay home , to close the browser and stop reading about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a full 20 seconds and to buy just what you need at the store so others can do the same .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
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Bethany Teachman receives funding from the National Institute of Mental Health .
She is affiliated with University of Virginia and Chair of the Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science .


freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Study Raises Hope That Blood Plasma Can Treat Coronavirus Patients

A preliminary study released Friday found that blood serum from people who recovered from coronavirus was effective at treating critically-ill patients , raising hopes that the technique will curtail a pandemic that has already killed more than 30,000 people around the globe .
The new study , published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , looked at only five patients , and the authors of the report acknowledged the need for more extensive study .
But the research showed promising results , and health officials have already expressed optimism that blood transfers can be used to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s one of our top priorities , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the U.S. government ’ s top expert on infectious disease , said in a March 20 interview regarding clinical trials for convalescent serum .
Fauci expressed confidence in the technique because it has proved effective during other pandemics , including the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918 and the SARS outbreak in 2003 .
All five patients in the study , conducted in Shenzhen , China , have dramatically improved since receiving injections of blood plasma from recovered patients .
The patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 65 , were all on ventilators suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS ) when the were provided plasma treatments .
Body temperatures normalized within three days for four out of the five patients following plasma transfusions , according to the study .
ARDS in four of the patients cleared up within 12 days of the transfusion .
Three of the patients were taken off of ventilators within two weeks of the treatment .
Viral loads also decreased in the patients , and their scores on a test that gauges potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the five patients have been discharged from the hospital after spending between 51 and 55 days there .
The two other patients are in stable condition , the study said .
“ These preliminary findings raise the possibility that convalescent plasma transfusion may be helpful in the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19 and ARDS , but this approach requires evaluation in randomized clinical trials , ” reads the study .
The use of convalescent serum has proved effective in previous pandemics .
“ It ’ s really sort of a throwback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dean of the school of tropical medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine , told The Daily Caller News Foundation on March 17 .
He said that convalescent serum was used during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic .
The technique involves isolating antibodies in the blood of recovered patients and administering it either as a treatment to virus carriers , or as a preventative measure .
The study authors pointed to a study of 50 SARS patients that found a positive link between the use of convalescent serum and quicker hospital discharge rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study who received plasma transfusions died , while patients in the control group who did not receive the treatment had a mortality rate of nearly 24 percent .
A study of 93 patients during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009 also showed promising results .
Twenty percent of patients treated with plasma in that study died , a rate that was far lower than the 55 percent died without the treatment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Cuomo: Travel Restrictions On New York Are ‘Federal Act Of War’

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that government-mandated travel restrictions on his state would be a “ federal act of war.
” He also said he is willing to sue Rhode Island for implementing a policy requiring visitors from New York to self-quarantine for 14 days in order to slow the spread of coronavirus .
In an interview on CNN , Cuomo reacted to President Donald Trump ’ s statement on Saturday that he is considering travel restrictions from New York , New Jersey and Connecticut because of high rates of coronavirus there .
Rhode Island Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order Thursday that permits state police and the National Guard to enforce quarantine orders on New Yorkers in the state .
“ That ’ s a reactionary policy and I don ’ t think that ’ s legal .
We ’ re talking to Rhode Island now .
If they don ’ t roll back that policy , I ’ m going to sue Rhode Island because that clearly is unconstitutional , ” Cuomo said .
“ I understand the goal , ” he continued .
“ And I could set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not letting anyone in until they take a test to see whether or not they have the virus .
But there ’ s a point of absurdity , and I think what Rhode Island did is at the point of absurdity.
” New York — and New York City in particular — have emerged as the epicenters of coronavirus in the United States .
The state has confirmed more than 52,000 cases of coronavirus , while New York City has nearly 30,000 .
The entire United States has reported just over 110,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the second-highest state total with just over 8,800 confirmed cases .
Cuomo also criticized Trump ’ s suggestion of limiting travel from the tri-state area .
Trump told reporters he is concerned about travel from New York to Florida , which is a frequent destination for retired New Yorkers .
“ This would be a declaration of war on states , a federal declaration of war , ” Cuomo said of any travel ban .
He said other states and cities are soon likely to be hit by a wave of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feasible to lock down all of those areas .
“ I don ’ t think the president is looking to start a lot of wars with states about now for a lot of reasons.
” Wake up Right !
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freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Illegal Immigration in Italy Possible Coronavirus Cause?

Outside China , in Europe , Italy is thought to be ground zero for the Coronavirus pandemic .
Many have sought to understand why .
The Right Wire Report wondered why as well .
Many believe it was just time and chance , but perhaps not , and perhaps the pandemic started many years ago .
Prato , Italy , is the historical capital of Italy ’ s textile business .
It has attracted the largest concentration of Chinese-run textile workshops in Europe within less than 20 years .
Prato , which lies 25 km ( 16 miles ) from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a thriving hub of illegality committed by both Italians and Chinese .
As many as 50,000 Chinese live and work in the area ( 200,000 in Italy overall ) , making clothes bearing the prized “ Made in Italy ” label , which sets them apart from garments produced in China itself , even at the lower end of the fashion business .
Reuters reported back in 2013 – In some ways , the Chinese community of Prato has succeeded where Italian companies have failed , though competing with companies using illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy has barely grown over the past decade and is only just emerging from recession , partly due to the inability of many small manufacturers to keep up with the global competition .
Up to two-thirds of the Chinese in Prato are illegal immigrants , according to local authorities .
This report was in 2013 , but even in 2007 , this phenomenon was reported on by the BBC and reported the problem started even as far back as the 1990s .
About 90 % of the Chinese Italian factories – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chinese entrepreneurs by Italians who own the buildings – break the law in various ways , says Aldo Milone , the city councilor in charge of security .
But part of the problem is that 60 % of Chinese workshops last just two years , often closing and reopening under a different name to evade checks by tax authorities .
Illegal immigrants found by the police are ordered to leave Italy within five days , but there is no way of making sure that they actually do so , said the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a joke , ” he said .
Here is a past video report on the Italian-Chinese situation in Italy : So the On December 31 , 2019 , the World Health Organization ( ) was informed of an outbreak of “ pneumonia of unknown cause ” detected in Wuhan City , Hubei Province , China – the seventh-largest city in China with 11 million residents .
Wuhan is a world-renown textile hub in China that exports its trade globally .
Wuhan even has a world-renown textile university , Wuhan Textile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and has a global reach .
Infected travelers , primarily via air travel , are known to be responsible for introductions of the virus outside Wuhan .
On January 13 , 2020 , Thailand reported the first international case outside China , while the first cases within China , but outside of Wuhan were reported on January 19 , in Guangdong and Beijing .
The risk of further Coronavirus transmission was exacerbated , resulting from high travel volumes and mass gatherings in celebration of the Chinese New Year on January 24 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first of February Italy has a Coronavirus problem .
The search for patient zero in Italy has come up with several ideas .
Was patient zero from Germany ?
A Pakistani Migrant ?
A local farmer with a Chinese contact ?
Or someone else ?
The caution here is that the zero patient ’ s identity will be politicized in order to support the political idea of open-borders – or the reverse .
Has Of course , once Italy was infected , the entire content of Europe is now experiencing the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world will need to take a hard look at future immigration policies for no other reason than to prevent future pandemics .


freedomdaily--2020-03-28--ICE Air flying home 466 US citizens from Central America during COVID-19 outbreak

Topics in this post : coronavirus U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement WASHINGTON – On March 27 , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) , working with the U.S. Department of State , brought home a total of 257 United States citizens on the return leg of three separate removal flights via ICE Air Operations , bringing the total to 466 US citizens returning home since March 22 .
U.S. citizens occupied the Space Available ( “ Space A ” ) seats on flights to the United States from Honduras and El Salvador .
ICE removed Honduran nationals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the United States to their home countries on March 27 .
On the return flights to the United States , ICE facilitated the transportation of U.S. citizens in accordance with the OMB Circular A-126 and the DHS MD 0020.1 .
In total , ICE brought home 130 US citizens from Honduras on two separate flights , and 127 US citizens from El Salvador .
ICE will continue to work with the State Department to facilitate the safe return of U.S. citizens on future removal flight returns from Guatemala , Honduras and El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
These return operations could also potentially expand to other countries outside of the Northern Triangle .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Rhode Island Governor Orders Police, National Guard To Track Down New Yorkers

The National Guard in Rhode Island will begin going door-to-door on Saturday to enforce an executive order requiring visitors from New York to go into self-quarantine for 14 days in order to limit the spread of coronavirus .
Gov .
Gina Raimondo , who signed the order on Thursday , also authorized police to make traffic stops of vehicles with license plates from the Empire State , according to Bloomberg News .
“ Right now we have a pinpointed risk .
That risk is called New York City , ” said Raimondo , who signed an executive order on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a law .
That ’ s an order .
It comes with penalties .
It ’ s not a suggestion , ” she said at a press conference on Friday .
The order will extend through April 25 and apply to anyone who has visited New York in the past two weeks .
New York City is the epicenter of the United States ’ coronavirus pandemic .
As of Friday , there were more than 44,000 confirmed cases in New York City out of just over 100,000 in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of geographic size , has 203 confirmed cases .
Raimondo , a Democrat , activated 1,000 members of the state ’ s National Guard to begin making the door-to-door visits .
The National Guard members will post up at T.F .
Green airport in Warwick , as well as at Amtrak and bus stops across the state in order to screen for traveler from New York .
The maximum penalty for non-compliance with the order is a $ 500 fine and 90 days in jail , according to Bloomberg .
Raimondo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy related to travel from coronavirus hotspots in the U.S .
The White House on Wednesday urged New Yorkers to self-quarantine for 14 days if they leave the state , but has not issued a mandate .
Countries around the world have institute travel bans involving other nations .
President Donald Trump banned travel from China in late January , and from Europe on March 11 .
The executive director for Rhode Island ’ s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union blasted Raimondo ’ s order as a violation of the Fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the power to suspend some state laws and regulations to address this medical emergency , she can not suspend the Constitution , ” Brown said in a statement .
“ Under the Fourth Amendment , having a New York state license plate simply does not , and can not , constitute ‘ probable cause ’ to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver , no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be.
” “ We urge her not to follow through with such an ill-advised and @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Watch: President Trump Delivers Remarks at Naval Station Norfolk Send-Off for USNS Comfort – 3/28/20

President Donald Trump delivers a speech Saturday near the hospital ship USNS Comfort just before it embarks on a mission @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus .
Live Stream of President Trump ’ s Speech for the USNS @ @ @ @ @ Daily News and some content syndicated through CDN is available for re-publication without charge under @ @ @ @ @ Visit our syndication page for details and requirements .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-28--Preventing COVID-19 from decimating nursing home residents requires spending money and improving inf

Preventing COVID-19 from decimating nursing home residents requires spending money and improving infection control

At least 11 people have died from COVID-19 in New Orleans nursing homes in the past week , just after the deaths at a Seattle nursing home weeks ago showed the extreme danger of the virus in nursing home settings .
Nursing homes provide care for 1.3 million Americans every day in the U.S .
Under normal circumstances , these residents are more vulnerable to illness because they frequently are of advanced age and have multiple chronic conditions , such as diabetes and heart disease .
COVID-19 now presents a new and dangerous threat .
Residents of the Life Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle , were among the first in the U.S. to die from COVID-19 .
The frightening speed with which the virus has emerged in other long-term facilities raises urgent questions : How can nursing homes protect their residents ?
Should they admit patients with the virus ?
And what should they do if a resident becomes infected ?
These questions require immediate answers .
As a research team , we study quality of care in long-term care .
That includes disaster planning for nursing homes .
Based on recent decisions made by our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being done to stop the spread of the virus within these facilities .
More than two weeks ago , the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed strict limitations on nursing home visits , albeit with some exceptions for end-of-life situations .
While these measures are undoubtedly protecting nursing home residents across the country , they have not been universally effective , as we see from the cases now erupting .
Extreme vigilance to these limitations is essential , meaning that families and friends must accept the precautions and find alternatives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only in nursing homes but assisted living communities and all other senior care homes .
Also , every possible step must be taken to ensure that nursing home staff are not carrying the virus .
That said , there are alarming gaps in the government ’ s plan for protecting nursing homes .
There are no requirments that nursing homes keep known or suspected COVID-19 residents in isolation rooms .
Instead , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends only that they be placed in private rooms , preferably with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , facilities are advised they can accept new residents diagnosed with the virus as long as they follow the prescribed CDC precautions .
These guidelines ignore the extreme risk the disease poses to other nursing home residents and staff .
They also ignore the lapses , evident in many nursing homes , in adequate infection control .
Medical professionals working in long-term care are alarmed , particularly over the prospect that nursing homes will be forced to accept COVID-19 patients .
A March 19 resolution from the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear and present danger ” to nursing home residents .
The resolution also highlights a lack of preparedness at nursing homes to handle the “ severity and complexity ” of managing COVID-19 patients .
The resolution urges local , state and federal governments to establish specialized care sites for COVID-19 patients , away from nursing home residents to whom contact with the virus may well be deadly .
Others have made similar recommendations .
Viral outbreaks are not new to nursing homes .
Exposure to influenza and gastrointestinal illnesses such as norovirus causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year .
Regulations already require nursing homes to create and maintain their own prevention and control programs for communicable diseases .
Despite that , a recent University of South Florida analysis of federal nursing home records found some disturbing statistics : Nearly 60 % of nursing homes were cited at least once for inadequate infection control between 2017-19 ; 15 % were cited multiple times .
Equally disturbing is that new regulations were to include requirements for a full-time staffer in every facility with specialized training to manage the infection control program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services delayed the regulatory training required to implement the rule .
Enabling nursing homes to operate effectively during a pandemic requires a clear-eyed understanding of their capabilities , and limitations .
They are obligated to follow regulatory requirements , yet limited by reimbursement rates .
While nursing homes routinely accept previously hospitalized patients for convalescence and rehab as part of their role in the health care system , the novel coronavirus presents an unprecedented challenge : The homes don ’ t have the equipment or staff to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To prevent more deaths in nursing homes , the nursing home industry must begin to aggressively advocate for their patients through increased reimbursement and resource allocation .
Bottom line : These facilities urgently need more equipment , including effective facial protection and gowns and staff with the necessary infectious disease training .
Alternate sites , away from uninfected patients , must be established to care for patients being treated for and recovering from COVID-19 .
Dedicated staffing should be established for all COVID-19 patients to minimize transmission of the virus within the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home patients with COVID-19 would also help to defray some of the costs borne by nursing home facilities during this outbreak .
In the meantime , all of us need to remember this : Even places with the best infection control program will have difficulty caring for COVID-19 patients .
Nursing homes provide skilled care for a specific , highly impaired segment of the population – but they are not hospitals .
They are not designed or equipped to provide the hospital level of containment and care that COVID-19 patients require .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most certainly occur downstream will be imperative to prepare nursing homes for future outbreaks of COVID-19 or other such pathogens , the findings should not become fodder for punitive action against staff or management who are simply trying to do the best they can under dire circumstances .
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David Dosa receives funding from National Institutes of Aging and the Veteran ’ s Administration Kathryn Hyer and Lindsay J. Peterson do not work for , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Tu cerebro evolucionó para acumular suministros y avergonzar a los otros por hacer lo mismo

Coronavirus : social distancing may be a rare chance to get our sleep patterns closer to what nature intended


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: social distancing may be a rare chance to get our sleep patterns closer to what nature

Coronavirus: social distancing may be a rare chance to get our sleep patterns closer to what nature intended

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting daily routines around the world .
Overwhelmed hospitals , desolate schools , ghostly towns and self-isolation echo a campy horror flick , but an all too real one .
Companies are laying people off by the thousands , the service industry is teetering on the brink of collapse , and socialist ideas suddenly don ’ t sound so bad to an average citizen .
According to a recent poll by the University of Southern California , around 40 % of individuals feel anxiety about the pandemic , and more than half have been avoiding some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologist who aims to understand the role of sleep in what makes us tick , I focus mostly on how the sleep-wake cycle impacts our day-to-day social lives .
Which makes me think of one thing thing we can do , especially for those of us at home .
That is to sleep .
Sleep at the dawn of COVID-19 This reversible state of disengagement with the world is one of the most important protective and restorative factors in human life .
Slumber is essential for thinking clearly and staying upbeat during any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for maintaining immunological function , which is key to preventing and recovering from infectious diseases like COVID-19 .
Loosing sleep makes people more susceptible to viral infections , and it undermines recovery from the common cold as well as more serious conditions .
For this lethally stealthy bug , it may be even more important .
Unfortunately , it is exactly during times of social uncertainty and anxiety , when we need sleep the most , that it is most disrupted .
Anxiety over the future and fear for health of loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by increasing hyper-arousal and rumination – reactions known to intensify insomnia .
Isolation from regular social rhythms and natural light will further mess with our body clock , confusing us about when we are supposed to feel tired and when to perk up .
Most Americans are not meeting this crisis well-rested .
Research we have conducted over the past few years using CDC data on hundreds of thousands of Americans suggests that the smart phone age has led to substantial deterioration in both duration and quality of sleep .
A case in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team conducted suggests that over the past five years , millions more Americans report sleeping problems .
And the psychological toll is not too far away , but it will register most forcefully after the infection rates start to decline .
Once the pandemic peaks and the physical damage to bodies start to wane , only then will the full consequences of this pandemic on our well-being be apparent .
Inevitable increases in psychological complaints , suicide , and substance use disorders need to be anticipated and mitigated now .
Recall that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were millions more people with health and psychological problems in both U.S. and Europe .
So how to go about protecting our sleep ?
Besides the threats and challenges , this time actually provides hidden opportunities as well .
When is the last time that the majority of any population stayed at home for days , often without need to use alarm clocks ?
!
Besides connecting with those closest to us , many of us can sleep in and organize lives in ways that suit our biological ticker .
Larks can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snooze in .
Families can synchronize their meal and play routines in new ways , honoring the time of their internal clock ( what chrono-biologists call the ‘ circadian ’ phase ’ ) .
For most of our history we slept with one another when our bodies told us too , not by ourselves and only when work allowed .
This may be an unprecedented opportunity to embrace a basic human need to switch off on a regular basis , helping human bodies fight the wars only those bodies know how .
[ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research .
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Zlatan Krizan has received funding from the National Science Foundation , Federal Bureau of Investigation , and the Minnesota Department of Transportation .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Washington, DC: The Latest To Be Put Under Stay-At-Home Order

The mayor of Washington , D.C. , joining a growing number of leaders across the country , issued a stay-at-home order for the entire city amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday afternoon issued a stay-at-home order for the District of Columbia , reinforcing a previous direction for residents to only leave their home for essential activities .
The order came the same day as Maryland and Virginia , the two states that surround the nation ’ s capital , declared lockdowns .
“ Our message remains the same : stay home , ” Bowser said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to flatten the curve and protect yourself , your family , and our entire community from COVID-19 .
Many people want to know how they can help right now , and for most people this is how — by staying home.
” Bowser ’ s order specifies that D.C. residents may only leave their homes for the following reasons : engage in essential activities , such as obtaining medical care ; perform essential government services ; work in essential businesses ; essential travel ; and also “ allowable ” recreational activities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order may be guilty of a misdemeanor and , upon conviction , subject to a fine not exceeding $ 5,000 , imprisonment for not more than 90 days , or both , ” Monday ’ s order read .
There were roughly 400 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 so far in Washington , D.C. , according to the latest statics .
The combined cases in D.C. , Maryland and Virginia are near 3,000 .
“ We are no longer asking or suggesting Maryland residents stay home , we are directing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan earlier Monday , directing the residents in his state to remain under a stay-at-home order .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Trump Administration Includes Unaccompanied Minors In Border Closure Order

Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) confirmed that underage minors who unlawfully enter the U.S. without any parents or guardians are now subject to immediate deportation , the latest action in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Trump administration , under orders from the Center for Disease Control ( CDC ) , earlier this month declared that both the northern and southern borders would be sealed off to all non-essential traffic as a way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
While nearly all illegal aliens would be immediately repatriated under the order , CBP originally made an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first deemed that unaccompanied alien children , or UAC , apprehended at the border would be transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement .
However , the agency is now clarifying that , in some circumstances , they can be subject to the administration ’ s order .
“ All aliens CBP encounters may be subject to the CDC ’ s Order Suspending Introduction Of Persons From A Country Where A Communicable Disease Exists ( March 20 , 2020 ) , including minors , ” read a CBP statement obtained by the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are encountered without adult family members , CBP works closely with their home countries to transfer them to the custody of government officials and reunite them with their families quickly and safely , if possible , ” the statement continued .
However , the agency noted that not all UAC will be removed from the U.S. under the border closure order .
In the event that transferring an unaccompanied minor back to the home country is not possible , if trafficking is suspected , or the minor is suffering from illness , CBP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody of the Office Of Refugee Resettlement — the agency under Health and Human Services that manages the care of migrant families and children .
The move comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the U.S. and state governments across the country are implementing lockdown orders to combat the spread .
Roughy 156,300 people in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday afternoon .
Of those , nearly 2,900 patients have died from coronavirus-related illnesses .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Pro-Trump Super PAC Files FEC Complaint Alleging Bloomberg’s $18 Million DNC Donation Was Illegal

A political action committee supporting President Donald Trump filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission saying former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s donation to the Democratic Party was illegal .
Bloomberg ’ s $ 18 million donation to the Democratic National Committee is an attempt to circumvent contribution limits and violate campaign finance laws , Great America PAC said in the March 26 complaint .
The FEC is reviewing the complaint and will determine later if it will investigate .
The Daily Caller News Foundation received a copy of the complaint .
“ Having failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg is doing the next best thing and buying the Democratic Party itself , ” the group ’ s treasurer Dan Backer said Monday in a press statement .
He was responsible for writing the complaint .
He added : “ If the Federal Election Commission allows Michael Bloomberg to get away with this illegal transfer , they ’ ll have sold off our democracy to a billionaire oligarch.
” The DNC must be held accountable , Baker noted .
The group ’ s complaint highlights Bloomberg ’ s decision to forgo donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run .
The group said this unusual setup skirts the confines of the law distinguishing personal finances from campaign cash .
Federal rules allow individuals to donate $ 355,000 per year under normal conditions , but Bloomberg is taking advantage of a provision in campaign finance law allowing federal candidates to provide an unlimited amount of cash to party committees .
The FEC lacks a quorum so the agency is unlikely to provide insight on the legality .
Neither Bloomberg nor the DNC responded to the DCNF ’ s request for comment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xochitl Hinojosa addressed questions about the arrangement in a March 20 tweet .
“ Bloomberg was in earnest running for POTUS & transferred money to his campaign ahead of trying to win on Super Tuesday , ” she told her followers .
“ Didn ’ t win .
He , like any other candidate , can transfer that $ to a party cmte.
” The billionaire former Republican made the hefty donation after previously promising to create an independent expenditure campaign ahead of the election that would have kept staff employed throughout November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must find other forms of work .
Bloomberg became a big money man during his short presidential run , dumping more than $ 234 million into TV , radio and digital ads in the Super Tuesday states .
He suspended his campaign March 4 after a poor showing and tossed his unbridled support behind former Vice President Joe Biden , who throttled his Democratic opponents .
Biden fleshed out big wins in Minnesota , Alabama , Oklahoma and Tennessee , while Bloomberg managed to scrape together a win in American Samoa .
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading up to Super Tuesday , plastering advertisements on Facebook and in the media ecosphere .
The major digital push was all for naught , as it turns out .


freedomdaily--2020-03-30--FACT CHECK: Is Donald Trump A Stockholder In Thermo Fisher Scientific?

A post shared on Facebook claims President Donald Trump owns shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific , one of the companies manufacturing equipment for COVID-19 testing .
Financial disclosures show that Trump does not currently own stock in Thermo Fisher Scientific and hasn ’ t since before he took office in 2017 .
In a move not usual for countries with adequate scientific capabilities , the U.S. had the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) developed its own COVID-19 testing kits .
Numerous fact-checkers have previously debunked the claim that the U.S. rejected World Health Organization test kits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labs use Thermo Fisher Scientific products , including its Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-time PCR instrument , according to CDC testing instructions .
Some people , including journalist Amee Vanderpool , expressed concern that Trump would profit from testing for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
Similar sentiments also circulated on social media : “ So Trump turned down the WHO testing kits in February , ” claimed a March 7 post .
“ Lo and behold the CDC has ordered kits to be made by a company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fisher Scientific.
” There is , however , no evidence that Trump currently owns Thermo Fisher Scientific stock .
He owned between $ 500,001 and $ 1 million worth of the company ’ s stock in 2015 and less than $ 1,001 worth in 2016 , but financial disclosures show he had divested from the company by the time he took office in January 2017 .
Vanderpool ’ s article , headlined “ Trump Could Profit From Coronavirus Testing , ” appears to have first made the claim , citing an outdated 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later updated the story to reflect the fact that Trump ’ s recent financial disclosures show no evidence he owns stock in the company , but by that time the initial allegation had already spread across the internet .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-30--Liberty University Accuses NYT Of Misleading Public Over Liberty Coronavirus Cases

The president of Liberty University accused the New York Times of misleading the public over the amount of coronavirus cases at the university .
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said Sunday that the New York Times had lied about the university , emphasizing that “ there have been no cases of any on-campus student testing positive for coronavirus.
” Falwell referred to a March 29 New York Times story titled “ Liberty University Brings Back Its Students , and Coronavirus Fears , Too.
” “ The decision by the school ’ s president , Jerry Falwell Jr. , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lynchburg , Va , ” the Times captioned the story .
“ Then students started getting sick.
” The publication updated the story on March 30 to note that the “ story has been changed to reflect the first known positive coronavirus test of a Liberty University student.
” “ Big surprise , ” Falwell said in a series of tweets .
“ @ NYTimes lies about @ LibertyU again .
Here ’ s the truth.
” “ There have been no cases of any on-campus student testing positive for coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told to self isolate even though they had no symptoms solely because they had returned from New York .
One off-campus student who never left Lynchburg has tested positive from local contacts in the community.
” The university noted in a press release that the Times story that was both “ false and misleading ” and that the story claims that Liberty University “ students started getting sick ” after returning from spring break .
“ The Times attributed this erroneous conclusion about 12 students with symptoms to a local doctor who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says in the press release .
“ The truth is a far different story .
Both the numbers and the sequencing are wrong.
” The press release notes that “ despite the Times ’ sensational headline and story lead , ” Liberty University is only aware of three off-campus students who had enough symptoms to qualify for coronavirus testing .
Two of these students did not leave Lynchburg , Virginia for Spring Break .
One of these students tested negative during Spring Break , according to the university press release .
Neither the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-30--DOJ Is Probing Sen Richard Burr’s Stock Trades

The Justice Department is probing a series of stock trades that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr made in the weeks after receiving briefings about the coronavirus pandemic , CNN reported .
The Justice Department is coordinating with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the matter , and the FBI has contacted Burr , a North Carolina Republican , according to CNN , which cited two people familiar with the matter .
On March 19 , ProPublica reported that Burr sold between $ 628,000 and $ 1.72 million worth of shares in various companies on Feb. 13 .
The stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burr made the trades .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen more than 35 % since then as the pandemic spreads across the globe .
As chairman of the Senate Intelligence panel , Burr had received briefings about the threat posed by coronavirus .
During a speech before a private group on Feb. 27 , Burr said that the coronavirus strain was “ much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history.
” “ It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ STOCK Act , passed in 2012 , for lawmakers to profit from information they ’ ve obtained through the course of their official duties .
There is no indication so far that Burr made the stock trades based on information he received as a senator .
He has volunteered to turn over information to the Senate Ethics Committee .
Burr ’ s lawyer , Alice Fisher , told CNN that he “ welcomes a thorough review of the facts in this matter , which will establish that his actions were appropriate.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — including a Senator — may participate in the stock market based on public information , as Senator Burr did .
When this issue arose , Senator Burr immediately asked the Senate Ethics Committee to conduct a complete review , and he will cooperate with that review as well as any other appropriate inquiry , ” she said .
The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-31--FACT CHECK: Is Amazon Suspending All Deliveries Except For Medical Supplies Due To Coronavirus?

An image shared on Facebook claims Amazon is suspending all deliveries except for medical supplies during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Amazon is not suspending all deliveries except for medical supplies .
The company is temporarily suspending shipments of non-essential items to their warehouses for third-party sellers who use Fulfillment by Amazon .
The rumor that Amazon is suspending the shipment of all non-medical supplies began circulating on social media amid countless companies adjusting their operations in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic .
The popular e-commerce website ships more than 2.5 billion packages a year in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , suspending all deliveries except for medical supplies .
No notice of such a move can be found on the website , and products can still be purchased online .
The confusion appears to stem from news that broke earlier this month that Amazon would be limiting the shipment of non-essential items from third-party sellers to its warehouses in the U.S. and U.K .
The freeze , instituted March 17 , will be effective through at least April 5 , according to Reuters .
“ We are seeing increased online shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as household stapes and medical supplies are out of stock , ” said an Amazon spokesperson in a statement to The Hill .
“ With this in mind , we are temporarily prioritizing household staples , medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so we can more quickly receive , restock and ship these products to customers.
” Amazon includes baby products , health and household items , beauty and personal care , grocery , industrial and scientific , and pet supplies among its categories of essential products .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to store and ship their products through the Fulfillment by Amazon program will temporarily be unable to send their products to fulfillment centers if they are not deemed essential or in high demand .
The same freeze applies to vendors who wholesale their products to Amazon , according to Business Insider .
But that does not mean Amazon is suspending all deliveries except for medical supplies .
Consumers can purchase and receive non-essential products from Amazon , but the products may become unavailable as existing warehouse stock gets depleted , according to Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products on Amazon ’ s website and fulfill the shipments themselves , per a help document on Amazon.com .


freedomdaily--2020-03-31--A Chinese Biologist Carrying Suspected SARS And MERS Samples Attempted To Enter The US

Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officials prevented a Chinese national from sneaking undeclared biological materials into the United States in late 2018 , roughly one year before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
An unnamed Chinese biologist carrying suspected vials of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) arrived at the Detroit Metro Airport in November 2018 , according to an FBI tactical intelligence report obtained by Yahoo News .
The individual arrived at the airport carrying vials labeled “ Antibodies ” in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he claimed that a colleague in China requested the vials be delivered to a researcher at a U.S. institute .
However , upon further inspection by CBP , officials made a startling discovery .
“ Inspection of the writing on the vials and the stated recipient led inspection personnel to believe the materials contained within the vials may be viable Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) materials , ” read a portion of the FBI ’ s unclassified report obtained by Yahoo News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biological Intelligence Unit of the FBI ’ s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate ( WMDD ) .
While it does not provide the identity of the Chinese biologist , or the intended recipient of the dangerous vials he was carrying , the report did conclude that the incident exposed a security risk for Americans .
“ The Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate assesses foreign scientific researchers who transport undeclared and undocumented biological materials into the United States in their personal carry-on and/or checked luggage almost certainly present a US biosecurity risk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WMDD makes this assessment with high confidence based on liaison reporting with direct access , ” it continued .
The Chinese scientists intercepted at the Detroit Metro Airport was not isolated case .
The FBI report , which addressed security risks of foreign researchers in the U.S. , cited two other incidents when Chinese nationals attempted to enter the U.S. with undeclared flu samples and suspected E. coli .
The FBI report is surfacing as the Chinese government endures criticism for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak , where the first reported case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Chinese Communist Party initially attempted to silence whistleblowers who warned of the fledging crisis , and only after the virus spread exponentially did government authorities acknowledge the severity of the situation .
The Chinese government has since attempted to hide the actual number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in its country , and government officials have tried spreading misinformation about the virus .
As of Tuesday afternoon , more than 40,000 individuals around the world have died due to coronavirus-related illnesses .


freedomdaily--2020-03-31--Chinese Government Finally Acknowledges Underreporting Coronavirus Cases

A top Chinese health official said Wednesday that the government will begin counting coronavirus patients without symptoms in its official tally of cases of the virus , in what is a tacit acknowledgement that Beijing has underreported data on the pandemic .
China ’ s National Health Commission disclosed that the government is monitoring 1,541 people who have tested positive for coronavirus but have no symptoms .
Chang Jile , the head of the health agency , said at a press conference in Wuhan that the government will start reporting asymptomatic patient numbers on Wednesday .
“ From April 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and management of asymptomatic people in daily epidemic notifications , and respond to social concerns in a timely manner , ” Jile said , according to CCTV .
Jile ’ s statement is the first time that the government has officially acknowledged that it has undercounted patients .
China ’ s official tally has hovered just above 80,000 cases for several weeks , while countries around the globe have seen their case numbers explode .
The United States had reported more than 160,000 positive cases as of Tuesday .
Analysts outside China have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has underreported its case load .
According to Caixin Global , an independent news outlet in China , the government quarantines asymptomatic patients , and adds them to the official case tally if they begin showing signs of disease .
The South China Morning Post , a Hong Kong-based outlet , reported on March 22 that Beijing failed to record more than 43,000 positive tests for so-called “ silent carriers , ” or asymptomatic patients .
There have also been anecdotal reports that the government is not reporting the number of fatalities from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 3,300 deaths since the virus emerged out of Wuhan in November 2019 .
Residents of the city have said that they ’ ve seen a surge in urns outside of funeral homes in the metropolis .
Determining the prevalence of asymptomatic cases is key to shaping health officials ’ strategy to respond to the coronavirus pandemic .
If coronavirus was transmitted mainly by patients who show symptoms , those patients could more easily be isolated in order to prevent transmission , making it easier to slow the pandemic .
But if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not know they are infected , the pandemic becomes harder to contain .
Epidemiologists are increasingly confident that asymptomatic patients play a key role in spreading coronavirus .
“ We now know that asymptomatic transmission likely [ plays ] an important role in spreading this virus , ” Dr. Michael Osterholm , the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota , told CNN .
Osterholm told the network that asymptomatic transmission “ surely can fuel a pandemic like this in a way that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control.
” U.S. and international health officials early on in the pandemic cited China ’ s data to conclude that coronavirus was likely not spread by asymptomatic carriers .
Dr. Bruce Aylward , who led a fact-finding mission to China last month , insisted in multiple statements that it did not appear as if coronavirus was being transmitted by asymptomatic carriers .
The absence of asymptomatic cases led Aylward to tout Beijing ’ s draconian crackdown in Wuhan and other provinces to stop the spread of the virus .


freedomdaily--2020-03-31--‘Lack Of Confidence’: DOJ Watchdog Finds More Problems With FBI’s FISA Procedures

The Justice Department office of the inspector general has a “ lack of confidence ” in the FBI ’ s procedures to validate information used to obtain spy warrants on American citizens , the watchdog said in a report released on Tuesday .
The office of the inspector general ( OIG ) found errors in all 29 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant applications that were subject to the review .
The audit is a follow up to an investigation of the FBI ’ s surveillance of Carter Page , the former Trump campaign aide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI for making dozens of errors and omissions in four applications the bureau submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) .
The findings prompted the Justice Department to retract two of the warrants because they were based on faulty information .
The OIG review released Tuesday suggests that the FBI ’ s problems are widespread .
“ As a result of our audit work to date and as described below , we do not have confidence that the FBI has executed its Woods Procedures in compliance with FBI policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to FBI Director Christopher Wray .
As part of the review , the OIG reviewed documents known as Woods Files for 29 applications filed from between October 2014 and September 2019 .
FBI agents and officials are supposed to provide proof in the Woods Files for every factual statement made in applications submitted to the FISA Court in order to show that the applications are “ scrupulously accurate.
” The OIG investigation of the Carter Page FISA applications found numerous errors with the Woods Files used in that investigation .
The OIG report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that FBI agents working the case failed to validate the information from the infamous Steele dossier .
According to the latest audit , OIG investigators were unable to locate four Woods Files for the 29 FISA applications , suggesting that FBI agents never filled them out .
The OIG audit also identified “ apparent errors or inadequately support facts ” in the 25 applications that were available for review .
The audit also found that the FBI and Justice Department ’ s National Security Division did not conduct appropriate oversight of FISA procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the errors were material , or that they would have changed the FBI ’ s decision to file the applications , or the FISA Court ’ s decision to grant them .
The audit does not provide specific information about the applications that were reviewed .
An OIG report released on Dec. 9 found that the FBI made at least 17 significant errors and omissions in the final Carter Page FISA application .
The Justice Department deemed the final two Page FISAs to be invalid because of all of the errors .