freedomdaily--2020-03-22--DNC Responds To Carter Page Lawsuit, Claiming Steele Dossier Is ‘Substantially True’

Lawyers for the Democratic National Committee claimed in court filings this week that the Steele dossier ’ s statements regarding Trump campaign aide Carter Page were “ substantially true , ” a defense that is at odds with the findings of the Justice Department ’ s inspector general .
“ Here , the ‘ gist ’ of the complained-of statements — that Page coordinated with Russian government contacts as an adviser to the Trump campaign — aligns with Page ’ s own description of his conduct , ” the DNC lawyers asserted in a court filing on Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to a defamation lawsuit that Page filed on Jan. 30 accusing the DNC and two lawyers for its outside law firm , Perkins Coie , of providing false information to journalists that came from Christopher Steele , a former British spy .
Perkins Coie , which also represented the Clinton campaign , hired the firm Fusion GPS in April 2016 to investigate Donald Trump .
Fusion GPS in turn hired Steele to investigate Trump ’ s possible ties to Russia .
Steele produced 17 memos as part of the project , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” between the Trump campaign and Russian government .
The FBI relied heavily on Steele ’ s information to obtain four warrants to conduct electronic surveillance on Page .
The special counsel and Justice Department inspector general ( IG ) have since poured cold water on Steele ’ s allegations of a Trump-Russia conspiracy .
The special counsel said that investigators found no evidence that any Trump associates , including Page , conspired with Russia , or were involved in hacking or releasing Democrats ’ emails .
The inspector general found numerous problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report from the IG , Steele ’ s primary source for his dossier told the FBI in January 2017 that the ex-spy exaggerated some of the information in the salacious document , including about Page .
The IG ’ s findings have prompted calls for reforms to how the FBI conducts investigations involving surveillance of American citizens .
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which grants wiretap authorization , also accused the FBI of submitting misleading and false information in order to gain authorization to spy on Page .
The DNC continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Steele ’ s work .
“ Even if the statements at issue — published by third parties named in Page ’ s first failed lawsuit — could be attributed to Defendants , those statements were substantially true , and thus can not be defamatory as a matter of law , ” the DNC ’ s attorneys asserted .
The DNC ’ s lawyers claim that Page has acknowledged that he “ had significant business and political ties to Russia.
” “ Consequently , Page ’ s own allegations demonstrate the substantial truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and met with associates of the Russian government , ” the lawyers said .
“ Plaintiffs ’ defamation claims should be dismissed based on that basis alone.
” While Page has acknowledged doing business in Russia in the past and knowing some officials in the Russian government , he has vehemently denied the specific allegations in the dossier .
Steele claimed that Page worked with Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to maintain relations with the Kremlin .
Steele also wrote that Page came up with the idea of using WikiLeaks as a conduit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DNC .
Steele also asserted that Page met with two Kremlin insiders , Igor Sechin and Igor Diveykin , during a highly-publicized trip he made to Moscow in July 2016 .
The dossier says that Page met with Sechin to discuss a bribe involving a contract related to Rosneft , the Russian oil giant that Sechin controls .
Steele also alleged that Page and Diveykin discussed exchanging blackmail material related to both Trump and Hillary Clinton .
Page has insisted for years that he did not meet with Sechin and Diveykin in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found no evidence that Page met either Sechin or Diveykin during his Moscow trip .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--Top WHO Official Won Election With China’s Help, Now Running Interference For China on Coronavirus

World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus won his post after China backed him in the May 2017 election .
Now , Tedros is leading the WHO , an arm of the United Nations , in providing cover for China ’ s oppressive regime as it attempts to shirk responsibility for the global coronavirus pandemic .
Despite all evidence to the contrary , Chinese authorities are weaving a false counternarrative in which China was actually the victim of a foreign virus that it quickly moved to contain .
And the WHO is helping them do it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency ” and held up the country as a model response — even though the communist regime covered and then concealed the severity of the outbreak .
Chinese authorities forced scientists who discovered the virus in December to destroy proof of the virus , U.K. newspaper The Sunday Times reported .
The Chinese regime also punished doctors who tried to warn the public in the outbreak ’ s early stages and suppressed information about the virus online .
A Chinese real estate mogul who criticized his government ’ s response has since gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan in January , spreading the virus all over China and all over the world , before China restricted travel to Wuhan on Jan. 22 , The New York Times reported Sunday .
One study found that “ if interventions in [ China ] could have been conducted one week , two weeks , or three weeks earlier , cases could have been reduced by 66 percent , 86 percent and 95 percent respectively – significantly limiting the geographical spread of the disease.
” The WHO echoed China ’ s false talking points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early stages of the outbreak .
“ Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) identified in # Wuhan , # China , ” the WHO tweeted on Jan. 14 .
The very next day , America ’ s first documented coronavirus patient arrived back in the U.S. after traveling to Wuhan , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s timeline .
Tedros praised China ’ s disastrous handling of the pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world to follow .
“ China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response , ” he said on Jan. 30 , shortly after returning from a trip to Beijing .
“ Tedros apparently turned a blind eye to what happened in Wuhan and the rest of China and , after meeting with Xi in January , has helped China to play down the severity , prevalence and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak , ” University of Texas-San Antonio professor Henry Thayer and Citizens Power Initiatives for China vice president Lianchao Han @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in The Hill .
The pair called on Tedros to resign , adding : “ From the outset , Tedros has defended China despite its gross mismanagement of the highly contagious disease .
As the number of cases and the death toll soared , the WHO took months to declare the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic , even though it had met the criteria of transmission between people , high fatality rates and worldwide spread.
” The WHO is now touting China ’ s claims to have reduced the number of new infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are , once again , fudging the numbers for propaganda purposes , a Wuhan doctor told Japanese media company Kyodo News .
He worked closely with China during his time as Ethiopia ’ s health minister , and China backed Tedros ’ s 2017 bid for WHO director-general , media outlets noted at the time .
Tedros won the election despite widely covered accusations that he covered up three different cholera epidemics as health minister in Ethiopia .
Though he goes by “ Dr .
Tedros , ” the WHO chief isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a PhD in public health .
Just months after taking over at the WHO , Tedros tapped former Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe , a notorious human rights violator , to be a UN Goodwill ambassador and only backed down after an international outcry .
“ Diplomats said [ Mugabe ’ s ] appointment was a political payoff from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus — the WHO ’ s first African director-general — to China , a long-time ally of Mugabe , and the 50 or so African states that helped to secure Tedros ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times columnist Rebecca Myers wrote in October 2017 .
“ Chinese diplomats had campaigned hard for the Ethiopian , using Beijing ’ s financial clout and opaque aid budget to build support for him among developing countries , ” she added .
Washington Post columnist Frida Ghitis similarly noted at the time that China “ worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help Tedros defeat the United Kingdom candidate for the WHO job , David Nabarro .
Tedros ’ s victory was also a victory for Beijing , whose leader Xi Jinping has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s muscle in the world.
” The WHO and China ’ s Embassy to the U.S. didn ’ t respond to repeated requests for comment for this article .
While Tedros has covered for the Chinese regime throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , he hasn ’ t hesitated to criticize the U.S. and other China adversaries for their coronavirus response , as Michael Collins , a research associate for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations , noted in a Feb. 27 blog post .
On Feb. 3 , Tedros rebuked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off their borders to China when it became clear that the communist nation wasn ’ t containing the virus ’ s spread .
“ There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade .
We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent , ” he said .
The day after President Donald Trump referred to the coronavirus as a “ foreign virus , ” the WHO implicitly rebuked him .
“ Kind quick reminder : viruses have no nationality , ” the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quickly amplified by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua News .
A WHO official later rebuked Trump again on Wednesday .
“ Viruses know no borders and they don ’ t care about your ethnicity , the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank , ” said Mike Ryan , the executive director of WHO ’ s Emergencies Program .
Ryan added , “ This is a time for solidarity , this is a time for facts , this is a time to move forward together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no blame in this.
” His comments aligned nicely with China ’ s aggressive propaganda campaign .

For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--‘My first question every time I see a new patient now is: Could this be COVID-19?’ A Seattle doctor

‘My first question every time I see a new patient now is: Could this be COVID-19?’ A Seattle doctor on the frontlines

The Conversation is running a series of dispatches from clinicians and researchers operating on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic .
Inside , as usual , patient beds are near capacity , and the emergency department is filled with not only the usual mix of patients with trauma , stroke , chest pain and other concerns , but also dozens of people worried they might have COVID-19 .
I am an emergency and critical care physician who cares for patients in the emergency department and intensive care units at Seattle ’ s Harborview Medical Center , a public hospital with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffed by doctors from the University of Washington School of Medicine .
UW Medicine has seen dozens of COVID-19 cases since the first patient arrived here in late February .
Everything feels different in the hospital now .
Door entrances are locked , streets outside are quiet , the building feels empty given the lack of visitors and outpatients but also bustling with a different kind of energy .
As emergency and critical care doctors and nurses , we think about and train for these types of situations regularly , but nobody expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S .
But here we are , and as a result , my colleagues and I have been working to find out ways to help not only our patients but also other doctors around the country who will soon experience what we have , if they haven ’ t already .
Within a few days at Harborview , we went from normal operations in late February to thinking about how to protect ourselves , our colleagues and our patients with every encounter .
Every time I see a new patient , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regardless of why they come in , is : “ Could this be COVID-19 ?
” If the answer is yes , I begin the laborious process of “ donning ” personal protective equipment , moving the patient to one of our few isolation rooms , and then “ doffing , ” or removing , personal protective equipment .
These words were barely in my lexicon two weeks ago .
My biggest fear is missing a case and potentially exposing hundreds of other health care workers and patients .
In the last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment for almost half of all patient encounters .
In the emergency department , this means not only having suspicion with every cough and runny nose , which are so common this time of year , but also considering whether patients who come in after car crashes , falls or even cardiac arrest may also be infected .
This is in direct tension with the knowledge that resources , like personal protective equipment , testing and isolation rooms , are finite .
In the ICU , under normal conditions , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending time at the bedside with critically ill patients and having deep conversations with families , learning about the patient and what they value .
This not only helps me make medical decisions in line with what my patients care about , but it also allows me to form important human connections that make the job enjoyable .
These interactions are deeply difficult now and often relegated to brief visits in full personal protective equipment or phone interactions .
Instead of sitting face to face with patients , I now call their cellphones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a personal connection that much harder .
Face-to-face family meetings have been moved to telephone or telemedicine as well .
Being in the ICU is lonely enough for patients ; but that feeling of being alone has to be that much more profound with visitor limitations and health care workers having to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe .
My colleagues and I are worried , but in odd ways unique to health care providers who tend to worry about others more than themselves .
I ’ m more worried about running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not being able to take care of patients .
I ’ m also worried about bringing the virus into my home , where I have a 1-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son .
Fortunately , children have not yet been heavily impacted by this disease , but my 70-year-old mother also lives with my wife and me , and she is in a higher-risk age group .
After hearing about health care providers getting sick , I , like many of my colleagues , have reminded my spouse about my preferences if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In these challenging weeks , one thing I did not expect was the overwhelming number of emails and texts from friends and colleagues throughout the country , who recognized that , while Seattle was first , their day with COVID-19 was soon to come .
As a result , several colleagues and I began to collect “ lessons learned ” on our department ’ s website .
Fortunately , UW Medicine has also been generous about sharing all of our protocols so that others can benefit from our experience .
Some of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use personal protective equipment , but the number of guidelines and protocols that we ’ ve had to rapidly develop has been staggering , such as changing how we safely place breathing tubes without exposing ourselves .
To the public , I want everyone to know : We ’ re ready for this and we ’ re here for you , but we can not do it alone .
We need your help in so many ways .
Our health system is already taxed and busy ; our hospital runs over 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Please follow local public health guidelines about social distancing and hand hygiene .
Please do not use or buy personal protective equipment .
Not only is it generally not effective when reused , but it is in short supply .
Donate it to health facilities if you have it .
If we get sick , we can ’ t care for you .
Lastly , be kind and patient .
We ’ re in this for months , at best .
We need all the support we can get .
[ Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sign up for our newsletter . ]
Nicholas Johnson receives funding from the National Institutes of Health .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--Sen Tom Cotton Calls Democrats’ Fight To Hold Coronavirus Bill Hostage Over Climate Change A ‘Disgra

Sen Tom Cotton Calls Democrats’ Fight To Hold Coronavirus Bill Hostage Over Climate Change A ‘Disgrace’

Sen. Tom Cotton said Monday that his Senate Democratic colleagues are holding up the Senate ’ s coronavirus bill so they can push green energy policies , among a slew of other “ radical ” measures .
The Arkansas Senator railed against his colleagues , telling his Twitter followers that they were putting American ’ s lives at risk over global warming .
His criticism comes after Senate Democrats failed to pass a procedural cloture vote on a phase-three coronavirus stimulus bill .
“ This report is correct .
Pelosi & Schumer are willing to risk your life , your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical , left-wing wish list that has nothing to do with this virus .
Disgraceful , ” Cotton told his Twitter followers Monday after Senators failed to hash out an agreement .
Democrats on the House select committee were among the first to ask leadership to consider climate change before jumping into the legislation .
“ In responding to this crisis , we must be careful not to exacerbate the ongoing climate crisis , ” Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor of Florida , Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico , and Jared Huffman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
They want any such bill helping the aviation industry to include “ adoption of low-carbon fuels , support for greenhouse gas efficiency standards , and/or electrification of ground support equipment at airports.
” “ We must strongly oppose misguided or surreptitious attempts to boost polluters at the expense of the public health .
Instead , we should look for solutions that can also move us toward a clean energy economy and to a healthier , stronger and more just America , ” they wrote .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate bill would give $ 1,200 checks to every American , with married couples receiving $ 2,400 .
That check will go to Americans making less than $ 75,000 per year .
Income earners who make above $ 99,000 would not receive any money .
Some activists argued for using the country ’ s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as leverage .
“ The Republican COVID Stimulus 3 bill does include funds to purchase oil for the SPR .
That ’ s the leverage to get ITC with direct pay/cash grant included , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Generate Capital , said in a tweet Monday .
“ I think there is an outside chance we could get the ITC with direct pay on COVID Stimulus 3 .
As long as the SPR money is in play , we have a chance , ” he added , referring to the bill , which contains the $ 3 billion in the Department of Energy requested Friday to restock the SPR with low-priced oil .
The DOE ’ s move came after crude prices fell into the $ 30s as the Saudis push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up prices before Russia insisted flooding the market with hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil .
Moscow is worried the U.S. will use shale oil to take advantage if Saudi Arabia ease off production .
Oil prices have hovered around $ 30 per barrel ever since .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--Northam Closes Virginia Schools For The Rest Of The Year, Shuts Down Nonessential Businesses

The governor of Virginia shut down Virginia schools until the end of the school year and nonessential businesses for the @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced the closures at a Monday afternoon press conference where @ @ @ @ @ closed is an important way to prevent the virus , WAVY reports .
“ School @ @ @ @ @ the speed at which COVID19 spreads and protect the capacity of our healthcare system , @ @ @ @ @ Virginia governor also closed down nonessential businesses , such as hair salons and barber shops @ @ @ @ @ only serve takeout and delivery to customers for the next 30 days .
Wake up @ @ @ @ @ Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--China Concealed Over 43,000 Confirmed Coronavirus Cases By End Of February

More than 43,000 people who tested positive in China for coronavirus by the end of February were not included in the nation ’ s official tally of confirmed cases , according to a report Sunday .
The figure represents so-called “ silent carriers , ” people who tested positive for the virus but showed no symptoms , according to Chinese government data obtained by the South China Morning Post .
The asymptomatic individuals were placed in quarantine and were monitored by authorities , but they were not added to China ’ s official tally of confirmed coronavirus cases , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to report asymptomatic coronavirus cases in its official tally goes against the World Health Organization ’ s guidance that anyone who tests positive for the virus should be counted as a confirmed case , regardless of their symptoms .
WHO has said that asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus is “ extremely rare , ” however , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has reported instances of asymptomatic individuals spreading the virus .
“ Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms , ” the CDC stated .
“ [ B ] ut this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way the virus spreads.
” And a joint study by a panel of experts in China , the United States , Britain and Hong Kong in January estimated that upwards of 79 % of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wuhan were spread by individuals showing mild or no symptoms .
“ These undocumented infections often experience mild , limited , or no symptoms and hence go unrecognized , and , depending on their contagiousness and numbers , can expose a far greater portion of the population to the virus than would otherwise occur , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment on China ’ s failure to report asymptomatic coronavirus cases .
China ’ s handling of coronavirus at the onset of the outbreak has come under intense scrutiny .
In early January , Chinese authorities reprimanded of the first doctors in Wuhan to warn people about the virus , accusing him of “ spreading rumors online ” and “ severely disrupting social order.
” The doctor , 34-year-old Li Wenliang , was forced to sign a statement apologizing for blowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from coronavirus in February .
Five million people fled Wuhan by the time Chinese authorities locked down what was then the epicenter of the virus on Jan. 23 , enabling the virus to spread around the world at a remarkable pace .
As of Monday morning there have been 343,692 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 15,430 deaths worldwide , according to Johns Hopkins University .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--Fleeing from the coronavirus is dangerous for you, the people you encounter along the way and wherev

Fleeing from the coronavirus is dangerous for you, the people you encounter along the way and wherever you end up

COVID-19 is affecting life in nearly every corner of the globe .
Public health officials are heavily relying on two community interventions to curb the pandemic spread : social distancing and restricted travel .
Because these measures interrupt personal contact , they can be effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
But the guidelines and restrictions can be confusing , leave room for interpretation , and may even seem to contradict each other .
Colleges and universities across the globe are shutting down , potentially forcing many thousands of students to fly or drive home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even the entire state of California have been put under “ shelter in place ” restrictions that ask people to stay home as much as possible .
Despite this , some people are fleeing to family , friends , second homes or even campsites in more rural areas .
As an infectious disease epidemiologist , the idea of increased travel during a time when disease is spreading so rampantly scares me .
So how does travel , whether voluntary or compelled , fit into the mix of restrictions and guidelines being rolled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact does travel have on this pandemic ?
Shared facilities and close quarters at colleges – think dorms , dining halls and fitness centers – are havens for germs and facilitate the spread of diseaese .
Recent moves to cancel classes , close schools and shut down dormitories are an attempt to promote social distancing and reduce the likelihood of community-based disease spread .
While closing high-risk areas like these during a pandemic is a proactive step to slow disease and protect students ’ health , it may seem contradictory to another public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents may need to find alternate housing or travel to stay with family or friends , and students have been crisscrossing the U.S. and the globe over the last few weeks .
From an epidemiological perspective , there are two major concerns when it comes to travel .
The first is that a traveler who is free of COVID-19 but forced to travel – presumably to escape potential exposure – actually faces an increased risk of becoming exposed to the coronavirus if it is circulating at the destination .
Secondly , an infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A sick traveler could expose others while in transit , such as in the airport or while stopping for gas or food .
They could also introduce the virus into previously unexposed communities .
Since it ’ s proving so difficult to limit the spread of this virus once it hits a new place or population , as evidenced by the pandemic itself , it is important to protect unexposed communities .
Take Houston , Texas , for example .
The first cases were imported by travelers returning home from abroad .
Repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. ensued , and the virus eventually established itself in the city and began to spread locally .
The truth is that any degree of travel can facilitate both the interpersonal and geographic spread of disease , driving COVID-19 into more places and putting additional people at risk .
Run to the hills or shelter in place ?
For students kicked out of schools or tourists coming home from a trip abroad , travel may be unavoidable .
But what if you just want to flee a major city and go somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described above apply to voluntary travelers .
The more time you spend in airports , gas stations and public restrooms , the higher your chances of being exposed to the coronavirus .
There is also the risk that your destination is no safer than what you left behind .
Only people who have not been exposed to coronavirus should even consider traveling , and knowing whether you are infected or not is surprisingly difficult .
On average , five to 10 days pass between the moment of infection and when symptoms first start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere between 20-50 % of people with COVID-19 may never show symptoms at all , while 80 % may have only mild signs , though these numbers may change as epidemiologists learn more about who is really infected .
If you are infected and don ’ t know it but still travel , you could be giving the coronavirus a free ride to your destination with many pit stops along the way .
The safest way to travel right now is to not travel at all .
The current advice is to shelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on domestic and international travel .
These are changing quickly but are not likely to let up soon .
If you have the slightest reason to believe you have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 , even if you do not have symptoms , you have an ethical dilemma to consider before traveling .
Your decision to travel could create unnecessary health risk to friends , family and others in your community , including people who may ultimately not recover from illness .
But if you must travel right now , do it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advice of the World Health Organization , and in the U.S. , listen to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Strictly adhere to guidelines for hygiene , and heed medical advice if you are sick .
If you are doing everything in your power to protect yourself from infection , you are also doing some things that limit your potential spread of the virus , saving others from exposure .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read our newsletter . ]
Rebecca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grant from the N.I.H .
Fogarty International Center .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--How do we protect ourselves at home during coronavirus, and what if someone has been exposed? 4 ques

How do we protect ourselves at home during coronavirus, and what if someone has been exposed? 4 questions answered

Editor ’ s note : As coronavirus spreads through the country , states have closed schools and nonessential businesses and prohibited group gatherings .
This leaves most of us at home , but many of us live in close quarters with other people .
We asked public health experts from the UNLV School of Public Health how people can protect themselves from being infected with the new coronavirus in these situations .
1 .
How do we protect ourselves from each other ?
The idea behind social distancing is to create physical separation that reduces each individual ’ s risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to limit contact with others is straightforward , your contact isn ’ t really limited unless you live alone .
While you can ’ t avoid your family members altogether , you will have to think about your living situation and take reasonable steps that are appropriate for you and your family .
If there is someone with a compromised immune system in your home , the other family members should act as if they are a risk of infection to that person .
They should limit direct contact with the compromised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their hands before any contact , just as a health care worker would .
Family members with compromised immune systems should also maintain a six-foot separation from other family member when possible .
They should stay home and allow other family members to run errands such as picking up food or prescriptions for them .
During these uncertain and stressful times , it is important that we maintain our emotional interactions with others .
You can still use text messages , phone calls or video chat to be part of each others ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time for sleepovers , travel to visit relatives or friends , playdates , parties or small group gatherings .
It is also not the time to visit older family members or friends at high risk of disease .
2 .
What if someone in my household has been exposed ?
Just because a person has been exposed does not mean that they will get sick .
The purpose of self-quarantine is to keep exposed people away from well people so that if they do become sick , they don ’ t spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed , a person under self-quarantine stayed home while the rest of the family went about their normal lives .
As everyone is now staying at home , you might be forced to spend more time in close contact with someone who has been exposed to a known case of coronavirus .
Infected people may be able to spread the virus before the symptoms begin , but experts don ’ t yet know how likely they are to infect others and when they become infectious .
This is why it is important that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their household .
While other members of the household don ’ t need to do anything in particular , people under self-quarantine should : • Practice social distancing with other household members , which means staying at least six feet away .
If possible , stay in a separate room .
• Clean high-touch surfaces , including your phone , game controllers , remotes , light switches , faucets and toilet handles , regularly .
But be mindful of using strong chemicals in enclosed spaces , as improperly used chemicals can cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the person does not develop the disease within 14 days of exposure , the risk has passed and the person no longer needs to self-quarantine .
3 .
One of us is sick .
What do I do now ?
If you have to take care of a sick family member , you must also protect yourself .
There are additional things that both of you can do to protect your health : • Isolate the sick person from other people in the household in a separate room if possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for that person , minimizing the risk to other family members .
• In addition to everyone practicing regular hand-washing , the caregiver should wash their hands after any direct contact with the sick person .
• The sick person should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze , then discard it .
• If the weather permits , open windows to increase ventilation .
You should continue these practices until the person is no longer infectious .
Because testing is difficult to obtain , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms have resolved and at least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared .
4 .
What if I can ’ t do these things ?
Many of these actions , such as hand-washing and cleaning , can be done by anyone , even if several people are living in a small household .
While putting a sick relative in a separate room is ideal , it may not be an option in a small space .
In that case , the sick person should stay at least six feet away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask if they have one to limit the spread of their infection .
If you don ’ t have a mask , a bandana or scarf may provide some protection against spreading disease to other family members as well .
[ Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research .
Sign up for our newsletter . ]
Brian Labus previously received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health .
Shawn Gerstenberger has received funding from the CDC , EPA , NSF and HUD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Three Square Food Bank , Rebuilding Together of Southern Nevada , the Nevada Public Health Institute and Nevada Public Health Foundation .
Casey Barber 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 their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-23--Buildings grown by bacteria — new research is finding ways to turn cells into mini-factories for mat

Buildings grown by bacteria — new research is finding ways to turn cells into mini-factories for materials

Buildings are not unlike a human body .
They have bones and skin ; they breathe .
Electrified , they consume energy , regulate temperature and generate waste .
Buildings are organisms – albeit inanimate ones .
But what if buildings – walls , roofs , floors , windows – were actually alive – grown , maintained and healed by living materials ?
Imagine architects using genetic tools that encode the architecture of a building right into the DNA of organisms , which then grow buildings that self-repair , interact with their inhabitants and adapt to the environment .
Living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science fiction into the laboratory as interdisciplinary teams of researchers turn living cells into microscopic factories .
At the University of Colorado Boulder , I lead the Living Materials Laboratory .
Together with collaborators in biochemistry , microbiology , materials science and structural engineering , we use synthetic biology toolkits to engineer bacteria to create useful minerals and polymers and form them into living building blocks that could , one day , bring buildings to life .
In one study published in Scientific Reports , my colleagues and I genetically programmed E. coli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sizes , stiffnesses and toughness .
In another study , we showed that E. coli can be genetically programmed to produce styrene – the chemical used to make polystyrene foam , commonly known as Styrofoam .
In our most recent work , published in Matter , we used photosynthetic cyanobacteria to help us grow a structural building material – and we kept it alive .
Similar to algae , cyanobacteria are green microorganisms found throughout the environment but best known for growing on the walls in your fish tank .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunlight to grow and , in the right conditions , create a biocement , which we used to help us bind sand particles together to make a living brick .
By keeping the cyanobacteria alive , we were able to manufacture building materials exponentially .
We took one living brick , split it in half and grew two full bricks from the halves .
The two full bricks grew into four , and four grew into eight .
Instead of creating one brick at a time , we harnessed the exponential growth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – demonstrating a brand new method of manufacturing materials .
Researchers have only scratched the surface of the potential of engineered living materials .
Other organisms could impart other living functions to material building blocks .
For example , different bacteria could produce materials that heal themselves , sense and respond to external stimuli like pressure and temperature , or even light up .
If nature can do it , living materials can be engineered to do it , too .
It also take less energy to produce living buildings than standard ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building materials uses a lot of energy and emits a lot of CO2 .
For example , limestone is burned to make cement for concrete .
Metals and sand are mined and melted to make steel and glass .
The manufacture , transport and assembly of building materials account for 11 % of global CO2 emissions .
Cement production alone accounts for 8 % .
In contrast , some living materials , like our cyanobacteria bricks , could actually sequester CO2 .
Teams of researchers from around the world are demonstrating the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many scales , including electrically conductive biofilms , single-cell living catalysts for polymerization reactions and living photovoltaics .
Researchers have made living masks that sense and communicate exposure to toxic chemicals .
Researchers are also trying to grow and assemble bulk materials from a genetically programmed single cell .
While single cells are often smaller than a micron in size – one thousandth of a millimeter – advances in biotechnology and 3D printing enable commercial production of living materials at the human scale .
Ecovative , for example , grows foam-like materials using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ceramic tiles using microorganisms .
Although these products are rendered lifeless at the end of the manufacturing process , researchers from Delft University of Technology have devised a way to encapsulate and 3D-print living bacteria into multilayer structures that could emit light when they encounter certain chemicals .
The field of engineered living materials is in its infancy , and further research and development is needed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial availability .
Challenges include cost , testing , certification and scaling up production .
Consumer acceptance is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction industry has a negative perception of living organisms .
Think mold , mildew , spiders , ants and termites .
We ’ re hoping to shift that perception .
Researchers working on living materials also need to address concerns about safety and biocontamination .
The National Science Foundation recently named engineered living materials one of the country ’ s key research priorities .
Synthetic biology and engineered living materials will play a critical role in tackling the challenges humans will face in the 2020s and beyond : climate change , disaster resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space exploration .
If humanity had a blank landscape , how would people build things ?
Knowing what scientists know now , I ’ m certain that we would not burn limestone to make cement , mine ore to make steel or melt sand to make glass .
Instead , I believe we would turn to biology to help us build and blur the boundaries between our built environment and the living , natural world .
[ Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research .
Sign up for our newsletter . ]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Science Foundation , the US Department of Energy , and the US Department of Defense .


freedomdaily--2020-03-24--Cuomo And Trump Both Say Economic Standstill Is Unsustainable, But Differ On How Quickly To Get Back

Cuomo And Trump Both Say Economic Standstill Is Unsustainable, But Differ On How Quickly To Get Back To Business

President Donald Trump and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo have both acknowledged that the economic slowdown from coronavirus is unsustainable , but the two Queens-born politicos differ on how quickly the U.S. can get back to business without stoking the pandemic .
Speaking at a press conference , Cuomo laid out a preliminary plan to slowly reintroduce younger people back into the workforce .
He also supported widespread testing to identify Americans who have unwittingly recovered from infection .
Cuomo ’ s proposal was a far more nuanced version of Trump ’ s pledge Monday that “ America will…soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will relax White House guidelines encouraging Americans to practice social distancing , avoid discretionary travel and avoid restaurants , bars , and other businesses .
The White House proposed 15-day guidelines last week encouraging social distancing measures .
They are not legally enforceable , but many states and cities have adopted them by limiting crowd sizes and issuing “ stay-at-home ” orders .
Trump said that there would be “ tremendous repercussions ” to a protracted economic standstill .
“ We ’ re not going to let the cure be worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump ’ s comments reflect a growing sense of economic unease as unemployment rates have already started skyrocketing .
But his remarks also stoked concerns that a focus on the economy will come at the cost controlling the spread of coronavirus .
“ Don ’ t make us choose between a smart health strategy and a smart economic strategy , ” Cuomo said Tuesday .
“ We can do both , and we must do both.
” The Democrat said that coronavirus cases are reaching “ astronomical numbers ” in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the next two weeks .
“ We ’ re not slowing it , and it is accelerating on its own , ” he said .
While slowing the virus was Cuomo ’ s chief focus , he also acknowledged Trump ’ s concern that social distancing policies are “ unsustainable.
” “ There is no doubt about that .
No one is going to argue against that , ” Cuomo said of an extended economic standstill .
But he added that “ job 1 has to be to save lives.
” Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what Trump is backing .
The Republican told reporters Tuesday that he would like to have the U.S. “ opened up and raring to go ” by Easter , which is April 12 .
Cuomo said that the number of coronavirus cases in New York is expected to peak in 14 to 21 days .
As of Tuesday , New York state had nearly 26,000 cases out of 50,000 in the U.S.. New York City has nearly 15,000 of those .
Cuomo said that officials are developing blood tests to spot individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not know that they were ever infected .
“ People who are recovered , you test them , you test the antibodies , you find out that they resolved themselves of the virus , ” said Cuomo , who estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have contracted coronavirus without knowing it .
“ Once they ’ re resolved they can go back to work.
” “ Ramp up the economy with those individuals .
So you ’ re refining your public health strategy , and at the same time you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be consistent if you do it intelligently.
” Cuomo also said that “ lower risk individuals ” should not be quarantined with older people , who are at higher risk of death from coronavirus .
Cuomo ’ s slower path to recovery is in line with several health policy experts , including Scott Gottlieb , who served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in the Trump administration .
Gottlieb has for weeks called for increased testing for coronavirus as a strategy to identify people who are asymptomatic , and who could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also endorsed using blood serum tests to find out who has already been infected .
“ Once you hit a peak in the number of cases and you start to come down that epidemic curve you can start to substitute in case-based interventions , ” Gottlieb said Tuesday on CNBC .
“ You can slowly take your foot off the brake of population-based mitigation and press down on those case-based interventions and hopefully we ’ ll have more screening in place , and that will help us do that .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-24--Customers Could Be Left Without A Connection As Verizon Slows In-Home Internet Installations

Verizon is pulling back on in-home internet installations and visits to reduce the continued spread of coronavirus , a company spokesman told the Daily Caller News Foundation Tuesday .
“ We are minimizing our in-home installation work to critical needs to keep our employees and customers safe and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , ” Verizon spokesman David Weissmann said .
Verizon ’ s move comes as major telecommunications companies work to keep the U.S. online .
The announcement came as a surprise to Defense One Executive Director Kevin Baron , who broke the news about the move on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major change apparently , their website says they are ‘ minimizing installations for the safety of our customers and employees , ” he noted , adding : “ Agent tells me next date for a house call : November 30 , 2020.
” Baron said Verizon gave him the runaround when he attempted to increase his home internet speeds .
“ I ’ m sure now 1000s of home and businesses are in dire straits .
I ’ ll manage with what I have , trying to stay connected like everyone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s internet connection not considered as essential as power/water/gas in a lock-down pandemic , ” he told followers .
Customers can self-install , which requires Verizon to mail people the equipment , or they can pick it up at one of the company ’ s Fios Locations , according to the Verizon website .
However , many of the stores are working on reduced schedules as the company tries to prevent the virus spread .
Internet connections are staying steady so far , according to some analysts .
“ The performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t give any indication that we ’ re going to be in that type of situation , ” Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr told Axios Monday .
“ There ’ s nothing in the current traffic patterns and traffic flows that suggest that.
” Carr was referring to Netflix , AYouTube , and Amazon ’ s decision to reduce their bandwidth usage in Europe as demand skyrocket thanks to more people working from home .
Other analysts share Carr ’ s optimism .
“ We ’ re having to go out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we ’ re sending our employees out to get that done , but right now , the network is performing quite well , ” AT & T CEO Randall Stephenson , said Sunday on CNN ’ s Reliable Sources .


freedomdaily--2020-03-24--CDC: Coronavirus Lived Up To 17 Days In Cruise Ship Cabins

Coronavirus was found on surfaces in the cabins of a Japanese cruise ship 17 days after passengers disembarked , according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Monday , raising the possibility that the virus can remain viable for much longer than previously believed .
Genetic material from coronavirus , technically known as SARS-CoV-2 , “ was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated on the Diamond Princess but before disinfection procedures had been conducted , ” says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left out of Yokohoma , Japan on Jan. 20 , had 712 out of 3,711 passengers and crew test positive for coronavirus .
Nearly half of those displayed no symptoms of illness .
Thirty-seven patients experienced serious symptoms , while eight people died .
The CDC estimated that the high rate of infected passengers who displayed few symptoms could partially explain the high rate of infection on the ship .
An earlier study found that coronavirus remained viable for up to three days on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in aerosols up to 3 hours post aerosolization , up to 4 hours on copper , up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel , ” reads a study released by researchers from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease on March 11 .
The CDC said that its findings call for more research on the viability of coronavirus on surfaces .
“ Although these data can not be used to determine whether transmission occurred from contaminated surfaces , further study of fomite transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the researchers said .
Experts are torn on whether coronavirus is being widely spread via surfaces .
Health officials have advised people to frequently wash their hands and avoid touching their faces in order to prevent transmission from surfaces .
As of Monday , more than 43,000 Americans have tested positive for coronavirus .
More than 550 have died .
Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-24--Just as in coronavirus, young people are key to stopping tuberculosis

The world is experiencing a historic pandemic of a novel coronavirus that has completely altered our daily lives and the entire world economy .
Younger people experience more mild or moderate infections , although they are not spared from severe disease .
There is increasing concern that the massive disruption of this crisis may bring about a resurgence of tuberculosis , or TB – an ancient disease , in contrast to COVID-19 – due to the overwhelming impact of the coronavirus on health systems and on public health capacity .
Given severe disruption to daily life and to health services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to access care – for example , if they are unable to get transportation , if clinic or hospital activities are diverted to COVID-19 and unable to treat TB patients , or if labs stop processing TB testing .
With delayed diagnosis and care , TB cases may increase .
Experts estimate that TB kills 4,000 people every day and 1.5 million people every year , making it the leading infectious cause of death globally .
Progress made in ending TB has not been fast enough .
Ending the TB pandemic requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the most vulnerable groups .
As a pediatric infectious disease physician and researcher , I study how to improve care engagement and outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with TB or HIV .
In a study in Botswana , our team interviewed health care workers about what changes are needed in youth TB management to improve outcomes .
I believe that tackling TB infections and transmission must include addressing youth needs in TB care and putting young people at the forefront of this fight .
Youth between 10 and 24 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , or 1.8 million cases annually , and disease in youth may contribute to TB transmission within communities and households .
Despite this , dedicated public health approaches or treatment guidelines have not been developed for youth with TB .
Young people face challenges accessing TB diagnosis and completing treatment .
The transitions of adolescence can make it challenging for youth to engage with health services , particularly for complex and stigmatized diseases such as TB and HIV .
They often rely on family to keep them engaged in care , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and resources , they may leave treatment .
Adolescents may be particularly affected by TB/HIV stigma , challenges in adhering to medications and structural barriers to care .
They are also less likely to engage in testing and treatment for HIV , which often coincides with TB disease .
While health care workers attempt to adapt their management to adolescent needs , they have limited time and resources to do this , and lack dedicated guidelines , training or evidence-based models to guide their efforts .
One nurse we interviewed told us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the challenges , they end up lost.
” Despite longstanding knowledge that youth are at risk for TB , current care models may not meet young people ’ s needs .
What might more responsive care look like ?
The health care workers we interviewed strongly advocated for youth-friendly interventions similar to those being implemented in HIV treatment .
That can include peer support groups or networks to help provide socialization and education about treatment .
These groups go a long way to break through the isolation and stigma that young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaces , resources for more intensive counseling and dedicated training for health care workers to provide youth-friendly care .
Other strategies such as increasing community-based care models or home visits bring treatment closer to young people .
Most importantly , we found that young people should be involved at each stage of planning , implementing and assessing the impact of such interventions .
Youth can speak to their own needs and can best advocate for improvements to care and public health agendas .
Young TB activists Phumeza Tisile and Nandita Venkatesan , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medications for drug-resistant TB , have given powerful voice to TB survivors .
Further , youth who have gone through TB treatment can serve as a key resource for their peers .
As one nurse noted , “ after they complete treatment they are different people than when they came , and they can be the best teachers for others.
” Young people are central to the fight On March 16 , as the White House introduced stronger guidelines for social distancing in an effort to avoid a catastrophic surge in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinates the coronavirus response , had a distinct message for young people .
“ I think the millennials can help us tremendously .
… Public health people like myself don ’ t always come out with compelling and exciting messages that a 25- to 35-year-old may find interesting and something that they would take to heart .
The millennials can speak to one another about how important it is in this moment to protect all ( vulnerable ) people … There ’ s more millennials now than in any other cohort , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Birx is directly applying lessons from her decades of fighting HIV to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Young people have always been leading the fight against HIV .
In the 1980s , it was young ACT UP activists who pioneered patient advocacy and revolutionized the process by which novel drugs were quickly tested in clinical trials , speeding advancements to effective antiretroviral therapy .
Ryan White , a world-changing teenager , courageously fought against HIV stigma and discrimination , and his legacy includes the comprehensive national HIV care program that bears his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HIV pandemic are that young people have the ability to drive social and systemic change .
We don ’ t yet know what lies ahead for the global TB , HIV or coronavirus pandemics .
But we would do well to look to adolescents and youth to advocate for the solutions that will bring an end to this crisis , and to all global infectious disease emergencies .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enane receives funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development .


freedomdaily--2020-03-24--Just as in coronavirus, young people are key in stopping tuberculosis

The world is experiencing a historic pandemic of a novel coronavirus that has completely altered our daily lives and the entire world economy .
Younger people experience more mild or moderate infections , although they are not spared from severe disease .
There is increasing concern that the massive disruption of this crisis may bring about a resurgence of tuberculosis , or TB – an ancient disease , in contrast to COVID-19 – due to the overwhelming impact of the coronavirus on health systems and on public health capacity .
Given severe disruption to daily life and to health services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to access care – for example , if they are unable to get transportation , if clinic or hospital activities are diverted to COVID-19 and unable to treat TB patients , or if labs stop processing TB testing .
With delayed diagnosis and care , TB cases may increase .
Experts estimate that TB kills 4,000 people every day and 1.5 million people every year , making it the leading infectious cause of death globally .
Progress made in ending TB has not been fast enough .
Ending the TB pandemic requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the most vulnerable groups .
As a pediatric infectious disease physician and researcher , I study how to improve care engagement and outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with TB or HIV .
In a study in Botswana , our team interviewed health care workers about what changes are needed in youth TB management to improve outcomes .
I believe that tackling TB infections and transmission must include addressing youth needs in TB care and putting young people at the forefront of this fight .
Youth between 10 to 24 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , or 1.8 million cases annually , and disease in youth may contribute to TB transmission within communities and households .
Despite this , dedicated public health approaches or treatment guidelines have not been developed for youth with TB .
Young people face challenges accessing TB diagnosis and completing treatment .
The transitions of adolescence can make it challenging for youth to engage with health services , particularly for complex and stigmatized diseases such as TB and HIV .
They often rely on family to keep them engaged in care , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and resources , they may leave treatment .
Adolescents may be particularly affected by TB/HIV stigma , challenges in adhering to medications and structural barriers to care .
They are also less likely to engage in testing and treatment for HIV , which often coincides with TB disease .
While health care workers attempt to adapt their management to adolescent needs , they have limited time and resources to do this , and lack dedicated guidelines , training or evidence-based models to guide their efforts .
One nurse we interviewed told us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the challenges , they end up lost.
” Despite long-standing knowledge that youth are at risk for TB , current care models may not meet young people ’ s needs .
What might more responsive care look like ?
The health care workers we interviewed strongly advocated for youth-friendly interventions similar to those being implemented in HIV treatment .
That can include peer support groups or networks to help provide socialization and education about treatment .
These groups go a long way to break through the isolation and stigma that young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaces , resources for more intensive counseling and dedicated training for health care workers to provide youth-friendly care .
Other strategies such as increasing community-based care models or home visits bring treatment closer to young people .
Most importantly , we found that young people should be involved at each stage of planning , implementing and assessing the impact of such interventions .
Youth can speak to their own needs and can best advocate for improvements to care and public health agendas .
Young TB activists Phumeza Tisile and Nandita Venkatesan , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medications for drug-resistant TB , have given powerful voice to TB survivors .
Further , youth who have gone through TB treatment can serve as a key resource for their peers .
As one nurse noted , “ after they complete treatment they are different people than when they came , and they can be the best teachers for others.
” Young people are central to the fight On March 16 , as the White House introduced stronger guidelines for social distancing in an effort to avoid a catastrophic surge in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinates the coronavirus response , had a distinct message for young people .
“ I think the millennials can help us tremendously .
… Public health people like myself don ’ t always come out with compelling and exciting messages that a 25 to 35 year-old may find interesting and something that they would take to heart .
The millennials can speak to one another about how important it is in this moment to protect all ( vulnerable ) people … There ’ s more millennials now than in any other cohort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment.
” Birx is directly applying lessons from her decades of fighting HIV to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Young people have always been leading the fight against HIV .
In the 1980s , it was young ACT UP activists who pioneered patient advocacy and revolutionized the process by which novel drugs were quickly tested in clinical trials , speeding advancements to effective antiretroviral therapy .
Ryan White , a world-changing teenager , courageously fought against HIV stigma and discrimination , and his legacy includes the comprehensive national HIV care program that bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HIV pandemic are that young people have the ability to drive social and systemic change .
We don ’ t yet know what lies ahead for the global TB , HIV or coronavirus pandemics .
But we would do well to look to adolescents and youth to advocate for the solutions that will bring an end to this crisis , and to all global infectious disease emergencies .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A. Enane receives funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development .


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Mayor De Blasio Releasing Hundreds Of Inmates Out Of Rikers Island Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is releasing around 300 prisoners from Rikers Island as a means to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
During a press conference Tuesday night , de Blasio said he would release roughly 300 nonviolent inmates from Rikers Island who are most at risk of dying from COVID-19 .
To meet the criteria for release , these inmates must be over 70 years old , imprisoned for nonviolent crimes , and have less than a year left to serve .
“ We want to identify anyone in those categories and get them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that it would take several days to process their release .
He continued : “ Some have many months , some have only a few months , some have only weeks , but I ’ m going to treat this category across the board.
” Individuals jailed in Rikers for domestic violence or sexual offenses are not eligible to be released , de Blasio said : “ Although we ’ ll continue to look at cases individually , I ’ m not comfortable releasing those individuals at this point.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus in the United States has hit New York particularly hard .
There have been 53,852 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 728 deaths across the U.S. as of Wednesday morning .
New York has , by leaps and bounds , the most number of positive cases and deaths from the disease , with more than 25,600 reported cases and 218 deaths .
California , for comparison , has reported the second highest number of cases , with 2,644 people having tested positive for the virus , along with 52 deaths .
Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total number of cases — has the second-highest number of coronavirus-related deaths , with 123 who have passed away from the disease .
More prisoners could soon be released in New York City .
de Blasio said he is in talks with New York state and district attorneys on possibly releasing an additional 800 inmates .


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--FLASHBACK To March 3: Bill De Blasio Asks New Yorkers To Ignore Coronavirus And Get On With Their Li

FLASHBACK To March 3: Bill De Blasio Asks New Yorkers To Ignore Coronavirus And Get On With Their Lives

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was dismissing the impact of the coronavirus nearly two weeks before blasting President Donald Trump for not mobilizing the military to confront the virus .
De Blasio told Meet The Press ’ Chuck Todd on March 22 that he asked Trump to mobilize the military to take the virus head on .
He went on to suggest that if the president doesn ’ t act immediately , then “ people will die who could have lived otherwise.
” He made similar comments a week prior , telling MSNBC ’ s Joy Reid on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war-like situation … We ’ re in a wartime scenario with a Mar-a-Lago attitude being used by the federal government.
” De Blasio was singing a different tune earlier in March .
“ Since I ’ m encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus , ” the Democrat told his Twitter followers on March 3 , no more than two weeks before likening the outbreak to a type of World War that required nationalizing industries .
De Blasio went on to offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do instead of social distancing “ I thought I would offer some suggestions .
Here ’ s the first : thru Thurs 3/5 go see “ The Traitor , ” he said , referring to a 2019 crime drama about the life and times of a Mafia mob boss .
Meanwhile , media pundits lambasted Trump for supposedly not acting fast enough to address the virus despite his decision in January to institute a travel ban on China , where the coronavirus , or COVID-19 originated .
They also lashed out at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration has “ it totally under control .
It ’ s one person coming in from China , and we have it under control .
It ’ s going to be just fine.
” De Blasio ’ s office has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment regarding his change of heart .
Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Hotter weather brings more stress, depression and other mental health problems

The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work .
“ Thinking about your mental health – which includes stress , depression and problems with emotions – for how many of the last 30 days was your mental health not good ?
” Would your answer be different if the weather had been much cooler or much hotter over the past month ?
We found that cooler days , compared to the comfortable temperature range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit , make people less likely to report days of bad mental health , while hotter days increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get to people after about 10 consecutive days , but cooler days have an immediate effect .
We also wanted to know the economic cost of increasing temperatures in terms of potential changes in mental health .
Our estimate : The average American would be willing to pay between US $ 2.60 and $ 4.60 to avoid an additional very hot day ( over 80°F ) in the past month in order to maintain current mental health status .
Average global temperature has increased by about 1.4°F ( 0.8°C ) since global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-thirds of this increase occurring in the last 40 years .
The trend continues .
While numerous studies have linked heat to negative physical outcomes , including increased heat-related deaths , scientists have just began to analyze the effects of heat on mental health .
An emerging field of research has discovered increased reports of bad mental health , more expressions of negative emotions and higher suicide rates as the temperature rises .
The promotion of mental health has – for the first time – been included in the United Nations Sustainable Development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached by 2030 .
In a rapidly warming world , temperature increases pose a challenge to achieving that goal of “ good health and well-being.
” Our study attempted to gauge the magnitude of that challenge by quantifying the effect of temperature on self-reported mental health .
How we do this work Our research relied on finding the relationship between day-to-day fluctuations in county-level temperature and self-reported mental health for over 3 million Americans between 1993 and 2010 , as compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via phone surveys .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health is not straightforward : There is no “ market ” for people to directly purchase mental health .
We used two nonmarket valuation methods , including a longstanding technique pioneered by Nobel Laureate Gary Becker , to estimate how much the average American would be willing to pay to mitigate the impact of temperature on poorer mental health .
What still isn ’ t known We would like to further explore which demographic and socioeconomic groups are particularly vulnerable to hotter days .
We would also like to know how community-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment – and individual adaptation actions – like air conditioning and migration – mediate the effects of temperature on individual mental health .
For example , previous studies have shown that the observed increase in heat-related deaths would have been larger in the absence of air conditioning .
Is this also the case for mental health ?
Answering these questions would help target policies in a cost-effective way .
Economist Mengyao Li led this research and coauthored this article .
The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--ICE Air flying home US citizens from Central America during COVID-19 outbreak

Topics in this post : coronavirus U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) , working with the U.S. Department of State , has brought home a total of 209 United States citizens on the return leg of two removal flights via ICE Air Operations .
U.S. citizens occupied the Space Available seats on flights to the United States from Honduras and El Salvador .
ICE removed Honduran nationals with final orders of removal from the United States to their home country on March 22 , and Salvadoran nationals on March 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ICE facilitated the transportation of U.S. citizens in accordance with the OMB Circular A-126 and the DHS MD 0020.1 .
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 Salvador throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic .
These return operations could also potentially expand to other countries outside of the Northern Triangle .
Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast @


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Coronavirus Scammers – Toilet Paper 360 Sheets Only $600

American Military News – The novel coronavirus has created an environment that con-artists are seizing on , from peddling medical masks and vaccines that don ’ t exist to offering no-interest emergency loans .
“ This is a scammer ’ s paradise right now , ” said Sue McConnell , president of the Cleveland Better Business Bureau .
“ The fact that many of us are worried , isolated , facing a disease that is a threat to all of us , and that this is happening on a global scale has created a breeding ground for fraud.
” Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Text messages promising emergency money to help cover everyday expenses .
This scam exists in cities including Columbus .
The link can compromise the security of your cellphone or computer .
• Emails posing as the Center for Disease Control or the World Health Organization or other entities .
The emails falsely promise important information to fight the virus or products that are in short supply .
Opening an attachment or clicking on links can cause malware to infect your computer and compromise your passwords to financial websites or other important sites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising to sell you medical masks , hand sanitizer or other protection products .
The con-artists ask for upfront payments or deposits .
The products are never sent .
The BBB in Cleveland reports a company called “ Juicy Trends ” claiming to sell protective masks called “ SafeBreath95.
” The website was registered from the Bahamas .
• Door-to-door coronavirus testers are being reported to the BBB .
The fraudsters are collecting money and offering to test the victim for coronavirus .
“ This method of testing is not legitimate , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text messages claiming to be from a representative of a gas or electric company or other utility .
The calls say the household needs to get a new meter because of coronavirus .
Of course , there ’ s a cost of $ 300 or $ 600 .
But there ’ s no meter .
There ’ s no such thing .
• Unexpected calls from fraudsters claiming to be from your bank or a government agency .
If this happens , hang up .
The Secret Service is warning Americans that scammers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their money and personal information .
See this CBS News video report : Other reports around the web indicate that scammers too are not letting a good crisis go to waste .
Here are just a few we found : NBC News – Coronavirus scam alert : From fake Starbucks coupons to fraud , cons are going viral .
BBC – Police are warning people to be vigilant after a suspected conman tried to get a homeowner to hand over their dog for Coronavirus quarantine .
Forbes – COVID-19 ‘ Vaccine ’ Seller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vile Coronavirus Scams .
Time – COVID-19 Scams Are Everywhere Right Now .
Here ’ s How to Protect Yourself .
The Guardian – US authorities battle surge in coronavirus scams , from phishing to fake treatments Perhaps this isn ’ t a total scam , just price gouging .
QUILTON Toilet Paper 3 PLY 360 SHEETS Toilet Tissue Equal To 18 Regular Rolls on Ebay We screenshot the offer and put on the feature photo of this post in case it goes ( current bid $ 600US ) – given to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia .
It ’ s hard enough to deal with Coronavirus let alone the scammers .
Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Irresponsible: Nevada Governor Bars Anti-Malaria Drugs For Coronavirus Treatment

The governor of Nevada has barred the use of anti-malaria drugs within the state after President Donald Trump said that the medication could be used as treatment for COVID-19 .
Democratic Nevada Gov .
Stephen F. Sisolak signed an emergency order Tuesday barring the use of the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for treating patients diagnosed with the coronavirus , the Associated Press reports .
The governor , who did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation , reasoned that neither experts nor Nevada doctors have a consensus on whether the drugs can treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after Trump announced that the Federal Drug Administration is waiving “ outdated rules and bureaucracies ” to test various “ anti-viral therapies ” that may combat the virus .
This includes malaria drugs .
“ It ’ s shown very encouraging early results , and we ’ re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately , ” the president said .
“ And that ’ s where the FDA has been so great.
” A nationwide shortage of the drugs is reportedly spurred by doctors prescribing the medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ProPublica reports .
“ It ’ s disgraceful , is what it is .
And completely selfish , ” Executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association Garth Reynolds told the publication .
The Illinois Pharmacists Association began receiving emails and calls from members on Saturday who warned that they were receiving questionable prescriptions , ProPublica reports .
Reynolds told the publication that the IPA has begun efforts to urge doctors against this .
“ We even had a couple of examples of prescribers trying to say that the individual they were calling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I mean , that ’ s fraud.
” Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Biden Keeps Pushing Misinformation About The Coronavirus. Here Are 5 Examples

Former Vice President Joe Biden has repeatedly pushed misinformation about the COVID-19 coronavirus in political attacks against President Donald Trump and his administration .
Biden , the Democratic frontrunner for president , has sought to politically capitalize on the coronavirus pandemic .
But on at least five different occasions , Biden and his campaign have spread misinformation about the response to the virus .
Biden was dinged by fact-checkers after he falsely accused Trump of cutting the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
“ We increased the budget of the CDC .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wiped all that out .
… He cut the funding for the entire effort , ” Biden said at the Feb. 26 debate .
Former 2020 Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg made a similarly false accusation during the debate .
“ They ’ re both wrong to say the agencies have seen their money cut , ” the AP noted in a fact-check of the comments .
Biden falsely said that Trump rejected coronavirus tests from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
“ The World Health Organization offered the testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give it to us now .
We refused them .
We did not want to buy them , ” Biden stated during the March 15 Democratic debate .
But that wasn ’ t true .
“ The WHO never offered to sell test kits to the United States , ” PolitiFact said in its fact-check of Biden ’ s comments .
Biden spread the false claim that Trump referred to the virus as a “ hoax ” at his Feb. 28 campaign rally in South Carolina .
On March 3 , Biden tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying “ coronavirus ” followed by , “ this is their new hoax.
” In reality , Trump said that Democrats ’ political reaction to the virus was a “ hoax.
” “ The video makes it seem like Trump is calling the disease itself a hoax , which he hasn ’ t done .
The words are Trump ’ s , but the editing is Biden ’ s , ” PolitiFact noted , rating the claim “ false.
” Biden ’ s campaign produced a video falsely accusing Trump of silencing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
But that wasn ’ t true at all , as The Washington Post noted in a fact-check .
In the video , Biden campaign adviser Ron Klain claimed the Trump administration silenced career CDC official Nancy Messonnier .
Klain claimed that Messonnier had been sidelined from briefing reporters after delivering a widely discussed warning about the virus ’ s impact on Americans ’ lives .
“ But Klain ’ s framing of the Messonnier situation is simply wrong , ” the Post ’ s fact-check noted , adding that Messonnier continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in question .
The Post awarded four out of four Pinocchios to the Biden campaign ’ s false claim .
Biden falsely said Tuesday on “ The View ” that he hasn ’ t criticized Trump on coronavirus .
“ I ’ ve not been criticizing the president , but I ’ ve been pointing out where there ’ s disagreement as to how to proceed , ” Biden asserted .
“ The coronavirus is not his fault , but the lack of speed and alacrity with which to respond to it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply critical of Trump before his appearance on “ The View , ” and he ’ s continued launching criticism after the interview .
“ Donald Trump is wholly unfit to lead this nation — and that has become even clearer in the last few weeks , ” Biden wrote in a tweet Tuesday afternoon .
Biden ’ s campaign didn ’ t return a request for comment for this article .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our original content , please contact [ email protected ]


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Viriginia Gun Shop Owners Warn Northam Against Closing Shops Over Coronavirus as Sales Skyrocket

“ Make no mistake , ” the governor said .
“ If you are essential and open , you have a special responsibility to do the right thing.
” Northam ’ s guidance did not mention gun shops as either essential or nonessential , though he did list indoor shooting ranges as nonessential .
He did not respond to a request for comment as to whether gun shops are considered essential .
Virginia gun shop owners told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Northam has a history of taking a stand against the right to bear arms .
If Northam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one said , this could infringe on Virginians ’ Second Amendment rights .
“ The Second Amendment says you shall not infringe , ” Steve Clark , the owner of Clark Brothers Gun Shop in Warrenton , Virginia , told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ And that ’ s a simple definition.
” “ Our founding forefathers were absolutely magnificent and incredibly smart and they didn ’ t write it in lawyer-ease , ” he continued .
“ They wrote it so that regular people could understand it ” Connecticut Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Phil Murphy , both Democrats , issued executive orders closing gun shops in their states , while Democratic San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo declared that “ gun stores are nonessential.
” These declarations prompted panic buying of guns before stores closed .
Wake County , North Carolina , Sheriff Gerald Baker announced Tuesday that he will suspend new applications for pistols and concealed carry firearms until the end of April because of an “ unprecedented ” demand for weapons .
Conversely , Democratic Illinois Gov .
JB Pritzker declared gun stores were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DCNF that “ everybody has a different definition ” of what essential means .
“ I ’ m going to tell you what it is essential for is for my livelihood , ” he said .
But gunshop owner , firearms instructor , and federal firearms manufacturer John Shepherd told the DCNF that he would understand if Northam closes gun shops “ if it is necessary to stop the spread of pandemic virus ” for “ the sake of the country.
” Shepherd owns Saddle Ridge Armory in Catlett , Virginia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be necessary , ” he said .
“ I know that most Virginians , the majority of them already have firearms based on the numbers we ’ ve seen in the past two years , ” adding that sales at Saddle Ridge Armory have gone up every quarter .
Shepherd referenced the serious situation in Italy and Spain where the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on inhabitants in these countries .
While he can see why many would think that shutting down gun shops would be “ an infringement , ” people must think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Shepherd also noted that Northam does have bias towards Second Amendment rights and could potentially use coronavirus as an excuse to close gun shops as a “ potential foot in the door to kind of curb firearm sales.
” Meanwhile , other Virginia gun store owners echoed Clark ’ s statements .
Asked whether he considers his store to be essential , JC Firearms owner J.C. Grotenrath told the DCNF , “ I consider people ’ s rights to be essential.
” “ I have a big problem with people not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Staffard , Virginia , gun shop owner said .
“ People should be allowed to protect themselves.
” “ And if grocery stores start to run dry , people start breaking into homes to take things , ” he continued .
“ People have the right to protect themselves .
They should be allowed to.
” Gun sales at JC Firearms have gone up dramatically , Grotenrath said .
These sales have been largely those who don ’ t yet possess firearms and think , “ I want to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner said .
“ People have the right to defend themselves , ” he added .
“ Do they not ?
Certain people have the right to defend their homes , their own lives , so we ’ re going to try to cure the coronavirus but not allow people to protect themselves ?
“ Furthermore , ” he added .
“ I feel a lot safer in a community where there ’ s more people who are armed ’ cause it means there ’ s going to be less crime.
” Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotsylvania County , Virginia , where he both sells guns and provides gunsmithing services .
“ I would have that fall under the essential category there , ” he told the DCNF .
“ Hey , there are weapons out there that need to be serviced , maintained not just by the public , but by law enforcement agencies , ” he said .
“ And we also do some contractors as well .
So shutting them down would actually endanger the public safety more.
” Hall ’ s shop has seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the coronavirus , “ probably on a factor of nearly 10 times greater than what it would normally be , ” he told the DCNF .
Sometimes Hall sees spikes in sales after talk of anti-gun legislation or in the aftermath of a shooting , but he said that he has not seen anything like this in the last 15 years .
“ I would say he would be putting the public more at risk , ” Hall said if Northam were to shut down gun shops .
“ They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of doing something like that.
” “ I ’ m just talking to people in general on it already , ” he continued .
“ It wouldn ’ t do much for him as far as people thinking of him being responsible or anything like that.
” Many people are concerned about their safety right now , he said .
“ That ’ s why they ’ re buying the guns , ” Hall told the DCNF .
“ So if they ’ re concerned on their safety and now to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety really doesn ’ t matter and go to fend for yourself and hope for the best , ’ it just makes the problem worse.
” The gun shop owner said his customers told him that they are buying guns because they ’ ve seen how people are behaving in stores over things as small as toilet paper .
“ They ’ re worried that it could get worse.
” “ Some customers have actually told me they ’ ve had their neighborhood and their neighbors broken into and they stole nothing but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , referencing store items like toilet paper that have become scarce due to coronavirus panic .
“ And they ’ re worried , where are they going to try next time , if they break in.
” Like fellow gun shop owner Grotenrath , Hall has also noticed that many of his customers are first time buyers .
It ’ s a matter of self defense , he said .
“ So , I ’ ve seen a lot of first time buyers coming in , they ’ re picking up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s typical first time buyer type of things that they ’ re buying and saying , ‘ Hey , I need something in case somebody breaks in and there ’ s no police around cause it was shut down.
’ ” Hall said he knows of several gun shops in his area that would continue to stay open and ignore such a ban from Northam .
“ The only thing that would probably actually make us stop the sales would be if they took down that background check system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as that ’ s up , we ’ re still allowed to issue firearms to the people.
” “ But besides that , yeah , we can still take orders , ” Hall continued .
“ We can still hold guns for folks until it comes back up .
We just wouldn ’ t be able to actually hand them to them.
” Should Northam decide to ban gun shops , Clark , the Warrenton gun shop owner , said he would probably get in touch with his lawyer and ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ?
What is going to be the penalties and how they define essential and non-essential ?
” “ Because if they ’ re making a list , I see a bunch of guys sitting around the table and they ’ re all brainstorming , ‘ Well who do you think ’ s essential ?
Let ’ s think of this one .
Let ’ s name that , ’ ” Clark said .
“ And there ’ s going to be so many of them that they won ’ t even think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to decide who ’ s essential and non-essential.
” “ And who gets to decide who ’ s nonessential and essential ?
” Clark asked .
“ That ’ s probably going to be illegal , whatever they come up with.
” Clark has a “ whole lot of issues ” with Northam ’ s regulations already , he said .
The gun shop owner said some of Northam ’ s proposed gun laws are illegal , and that the governor has backed off some regulations because “ he was getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wake up Right !
Subscribe to our Morning Briefing and get the news delivered to your inbox before breakfast !


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Bipartisan Effort Underway To Hold Chinese Government Financially Accountable For Coronavirus Outbre

Bipartisan Effort Underway To Hold Chinese Government Financially Accountable For Coronavirus Outbreak

A law firm advised by the younger brother of former Vice President Joe Biden has partnered with a lobbying shop with deep connections to President Donald Trump to push a federal class-action lawsuit seeking to hold the government of China accountable for the economic carnage caused by their mishandling of the coronavirus crisis .
The lawsuit , filed in early March by a Miami-based law firm advised by Francis Biden , accuses the government of China of deliberately covering up the outbreak at its onset for their own economic self-interest .
And on Monday , in a deliberate effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its lawsuit , the Berman Law Group entered into a partnership with Lucas | Compton , a lobbying and public affairs firm which includes in its ranks former Trump Organization vice president George Sorial , who has worked closely with Trump since 2002 .
“ We believe that this is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue .
This is an American issue , ” Berman ’ s senior litigation strategist Jeremy Alters , a prominent Democratic fundraiser , told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ The best way to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold China accountable.
” “ Anyone who is willing to participate and help , we plan to work with to help move this lawsuit forward to collect for the citizens of the United States for this terrible tragedy that ’ s happened , ” Alters said .
“ But there ’ s no one better to help us show a strong unified bipartisan effort in this lawsuit than Lucas | Compton.
” Lucas | Compton managing partner Travis Lucas echoed Alters ’ s sentiment , saying he hopes the bipartisan partnership forged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paradigm ” for what Congress should be doing to take China to task for the coronavirus outbreak .
“ We should be unified in our response and our strategy about how we manage and navigate the situation with the government of China , ” Lucas said .
“ The government of China needs to be held accountable , not only to its people but also the rest of the world.
” The class-action lawsuit highlights the measures taken by the Chinese government to conceal the coronavirus outbreak at its onset , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first blew the whistle on the virus and China ’ s 17-day delay in notifying the world about the ease of human to human transmission .
The government of China , “ acting from their own economic self-interest and looking to protect their place as a super-power , failed to report the outbreak as quickly as they could have , ” the lawsuit states .
Alters said he anticipates that hundreds of millions of Americans whose health or finances have been affected by the outbreak will ultimately be eligible to join in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese government could easily reach trillions of dollars , Alters said .
“ The number grows every day .
It started at hundreds of billions and now we ’ re well into the trillions , ” Alters said .
“ You have literally almost every restaurant in the country shut down with the exception of takeout , you have businesses like airlines losing money hand over fist every day.
” Sovereign countries like China typically are protected by the doctrine of sovereign immunity in matters of legal liability , but the class-action lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this matter due to the commercial activity exception spelled out in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act .
“ China has massive assets in the United States , ” Alters noted .
“ If China has been reckless and careless with the health of our citizens , I am confident that the court and our government will hold them accountable under the law with enforcement against their assets or their businesses in the United States.
” “ There are many ways that this can proceed ahead and pressure on their business interests here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Berman has received thousands of calls from people asking to be added to the lawsuit since it was filed on March 13 .
Alters urged any American who has been diagnosed by coronavirus , or has been economically impacted by the outbreak , to join the lawsuit by going to DemandChinaPay.org .
“ The more Americans that become part of this lawsuit , the more powerful it will be , ” Alters said .


freedomdaily--2020-03-25--Could chloroquine treat coronavirus? 5 questions answered about a promising, problematic and unprove

Could chloroquine treat coronavirus? 5 questions answered about a promising, problematic and unproven use for an antimalarial drug

An Arizona man died , and his wife was hospitalized , after taking a form of chloroquine , which President Trump has touted as an effective treatment for COVID-19 .
The couple decided to self-medicate with chloroquine phosphate , which they had on hand to kill parasites in their fish , after hearing the president describe the drug as a “ game changer.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of NIH ’ s National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases , quickly corrected the statement , explaining that Trump ’ s comments were based on anecdotes and not a controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemist who specializes in discovery and development of antiviral drugs , and I have been actively working on coronaviruses for seven years .
However , because I am a scientist and I deal in facts and evidence-based medicine , I am concerned about the sweeping statements the president has been making regarding the use of chloroquine or the closely related hydroxychloroquine , both antimalarial drugs , as cures for COVID-19 .
So let ’ s examine the facts .
What are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine ?
These are both FDA-approved antimalarial drugs that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chloroquine was originally developed in 1934 at the pharmaceutical company Bayer and used in World War II to prevent malaria .
Although the FDA has not approved its use for these conditions , both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus .
What triggered talk that this drug might work ?
After the initial outbreak of MERS in 2012 , scientists conducted random screens of thousands of approved drugs to identify one that might block MERS infection .
Several drugs , including chloroquine , showed the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But these drugs were not extensively pursued because ultimately they did not show enough activity to be considered further .
When the new coronavirus appeared , many drugs that had shown some initial promise against the related coronaviruses MERS and SARS were at the top of the list as worthy of further evaluation as possible treatments .
So the science is real , and a number of labs around the world are now investigating these drugs and testing them in clinical trials in the U.S. , France and China .
But so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the drugs are safe and effective for treating COVID-19 , as it is still very early in the testing process .
Why would antimalarial drugs work on a virus ?
It is still unclear how the chloroquines ( or any antimalarial drug ) would work against COVID-19 , which is a virus .
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites that are spread by mosquitoes , whereas COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
Viral infections and parasitic infections are very different , and so scientists wouldn ’ t expect what works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has been suggested that the chloroquines can change the acidity at the surface of the cell , thereby preventing the virus from infecting it .
It ’ s also possible chloriquines help activate the immune response .
One study that was just published tested hydroxychloroquine in combination with an antibacterial drug ( azithromycin ) , which worked better to stop the spread of the infection than hydroxychloroquine alone .
However it ’ s only one preliminary study that was done on a limited test group .
To my knowledge , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity against treating coronaviruses .
However , another potential drug has risen to the forefront .
Remdesivir , developed by Gilead Pharmaceuticals , seems to be highly effective at preventing viruses – including coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS , and filoviruses such as Ebola – from replicating .
In late February the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases launched a clinical trial for Remdesivir .
And this month Gilead launched two phase III trials of the drug in medical centers in Asia .
Should I start taking them to ward off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine have not been appropriately evaluated in controlled studies , not to mention that they have numerous and , in some cases , very deadly side effects .
No one should take a drug that has not been proven to be safe and effective for a disease or condition for which it is not approved .
There are just so many issues that can arise , from side effects to serious toxicity and death due to possible interactions with other medications and other underlying health conditions .
So until these or any drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials and have been approved by the FDA , no one should be self-medicating .
[ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic , and we can help .
Read our newsletter . ]
Katherine Seley-Radtke has previously consulted for Gilead Pharmaceuticals .
She is also involved in many other aspects of the antiviral field , including serving on numerous funding agency grant review panels dealing with antiviral , antibactieral , antiparasitic and antifungal research .
In addition , I have received funding from the National Institutes of Health for @ @ @ @ @