freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Elon Musk Floats Possible Solution To Coronavirus Strain, Still Says The Panic Is ‘Dumb’

Billionaire Elon Musk believes a drug developed four decades ago to ward off malaria in Africa can help put the skids to coronavirus , though the tech guru still believes the virus panic is “ dumb.
” “ Maybe worth considering chloroquine for C19 , ” Musk told his Twitter followers Monday that choloroquine , or hydroxycholoroquine , could help researchers who are looking for an antidote to a virus that has infected roughly 4,600 American .
The panic is still overblown , he added .
Researchers also believe the drug has promise .
Musk apparently has some experience with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received chloroquine via central line through my chest & both arms .
Had near-fatal case of falciparum , ” he noted .
“ Would ’ ve died for sure if not for chloroquine .
Doesn ’ t mean it works for C19 , but maybe better than nothing.
” Musk , who got into some hot water on March 8 when he said the “ coronavirus panic is dumb , ” also cited a research paper Monday from Tim Smith of Elsevier ’ s Gold Standard that showed the benefits of choloroquine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It has a lot of potential , though we ’ re not going on a lot of data yet , ” Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor School of Medicine , said Wednesday of early research on chloroquine .
Researchers found in a study published Tuesday that after a week of treatment , 70 percent of patients were clear of the virus after being administered with chloroquine , compared to just 12.5 percent of patients who were not given drugs The Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his company is prepared to “ make ventilators if there is a shortage.
” People on Twitter mocked Musk for the suggestion , with some people saying that there is a shortage and that he should stop talking and start acting .
Musk has gotten grief in the past for offering outlandish advice on other pressing matters .
He constructed a small submarine from spare SpaceX Falcon parts in 2018 to help save a 12-member soccer team stuck in the flooded Tham Luang cave that year .
People panned the idea after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without help from the submersible .
Musk called Vernon Unsworth , a British caver who lives in Thailand , a “ pedo ” on social media as the two continue their tit-for-tat .
The barb came shortly after Unsworth suggested in a 2018 interview with CNN that the Tesla CEO should “ stick his submarine where it hurts .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Trump Confirms He Will Close Southern Border to Illegal Aliens, Asylum Seekers

President Donald Trump confirmed reports that his administration will turn away illegal aliens and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border .
During a White House press briefing on Wednesday regarding the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic , Trump confirmed speculation that the southern border will be closed off to asylum seekers and anyone else who attempts to enter the U.S. illegally .
“ On asylum seekers and people who cross the southern border illegally , are you planning to invoke [ 42 U.S. Code § 265 ] which would allow you to prohibit entry of certain people across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
“ The answer is yes , ” the president answered .
When asked when this order will take place , Trump said it would be executed “ very soon , probably today.
” Under 42 U.S. Code § 265 — a subsection of the U.S. legal code — the Surgeon General has the authority , with approval by the president , to prohibit the entry of individuals and property in the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign country .
Such an order can be executed for as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interest of public health .
The southern border is a top destination for foreign nationals either hoping to claim asylum or enter the interior of the U.S. illegally .
Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) apprehended more than 851,000 individuals along the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2019 , a time when the administration dealt with an unprecedented influx of family units from Central America .
Earlier on Wednesday , an official with the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) said the administration is considering all options to protect U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % committed to protecting the American people against the spread of the coronavirus and all options are on the table , ” Heather Swift , a DHS spokeswoman DHS spokeswoman , said to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Trump earlier in March announced a near-total travel ban from Europe to the U.S .
He also announced on Wednesday that all non-essential traffic between the U.S.-Canada border , with consent from the Canadian government , would be temporarily closed .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-19--CDC Data Shows Younger Adults Also End Up In Hospital From Coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released its first batch of data on coronavirus patients in the U.S. , showing that while older adults are more likely to experience severe problems with the virus , younger adults are also falling seriously ill. Fifty-five percent of coronavirus hospitalizations were younger than 65 , with 20 percent between 20 and 44 years , according to the CDC data .
Twelve percent of ICU admissions have been for adults have been in that lower age bracket , the federal agency said .
The CDC collected the data from 2,449 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , through March 16 .
As of Thursday , more than 9,400 Americans have tested positive for the virus .
At least 150 have died , according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University .
The public messaging around coronavirus has been aimed at adults over 65 , and those with underlying health conditions .
People in those groups have been urged to stay away from crowds , and to stay at home if possible .
But the CDC data suggests that younger people are also at risk of bad outcomes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate that severe illness leading to hospitalization , including ICU admission and death , can occur in adults of any age with COVID-19 , ” the CDC report says .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force , said Wednesday that health officials have seen higher-than-expected rates of serious illness for younger adults in Europe .
“ There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some young people getting seriously ill and very seriously ill in the ICUs , ” Birx said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still at much higher risk of winding up in the hospital and dying from coronavirus , the CDC data suggests .
“ Similar to reports from other countries , this finding suggests that the risk for serious disease and death from COVID-19 is higher in older age groups , ” the CDC report says .
The data shows that while adults 65 and older made up 31 percent of cases of coronavirus in the U.S. , they accounted for 45 percent of hospitalizations , 53 percent of admissions to Intensive Care Units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The data shows that 1.8 percent of coronavirus cases ended in death , with mortality rates spiking for older age groups .
Just over 10 percent of patients 85 and older died , while 2.7 percent of cases between 65 and 74 resulted in death .
For the 20-44 age range , just 0.1 percent of cases ended in death .
Children have largely been spared by coronavirus , with just 2.5 percent of patients 19 or younger ending up in the hospital .
No children in that age range have gone into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The CDC provided data only for patients whose ages were known .
Many of the patients are still sick with COVID-19 , so their ultimate outcomes are not reflected in the report .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Clinical Trial Raises Hopes That Malaria Drug Could Be Coronavirus Cure

The results of a clinical trial in France and studies conducted in lab settings are building hope that a drug usually used to treat malaria and arthritis can treat and possibly cure coronavirus patients , though scientists say more data is needed before drawing a firm conclusion .
“ It has a lot of potential , though we ’ re not going on a lot of data yet , ” Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor School of Medicine , said of early studies of hydroxycholoroquine , a malaria drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump asked the White House ’ s coronavirus task force about possibly using the drug , task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said Wednesday .
Birx said that the drug is being studied “ very carefully , ” as are several other potential therapeutics .
On Tuesday , a team of French scientists released the first results of a clinical study of the use of hydroxychloroquine on 24 coronavirus patients from southeast France .
The research team , led by Didier Raoult , a renowned infectious disease expert from l ’ Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 days along with azithromycin , a common antibiotic .
Researchers said the drugs cleared the virus in the nose and throat of most observed patients in three to six days .
The study found that after six days of treatment , 70 percent of patients administered hydroxychloroquine were clear of the virus , compared to just 12.5 percent of patients who were not given drugs .
Azithromycin boosted the effect of hydroxychloroquine , according to the study .
After six days of treatment , all patients treated with the drug combination “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 57.1 percent of patients treated with hydroxycholorquine by itself .
“ We therefore recommend that COVID-19 patients be treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to cure their infection and to limit the transmission of the virus to other people in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the world , ” wrote researchers , who acknowledged the small sample size of the study .
Lab studies have showed that hydroxychloroquine , which was developed in the 1940s , inhibited coronavirus .
A study published in Cell Discovery on Wednesday by three Chinese scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or in a lab culture .
Hotez , the infectious disease expert , told The Daily Caller News Foundation he was “ enthusiastic ” about early results of studies involving hydroxychloroquine , though he said more data is needed to determine if the drug can effectively treat coronavirus .
“ We urgently need to accelerate new antimicrobial therapies .
If hydroxychloroquine could be approved in therapy it would be a game-changer , ” Hotez said .
“ The important next step is to show that it has an impact on reducing severity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that an ideal study would be conducted in areas with high rates of transmission , such as the Lombardy region in Italy .
More clinical trials are underway .
A researcher at Asan Medical Center , a top research hospital in South Korea , is conducting a clinical trial of 150 patients with mild cases of coronavirus .
The lead researcher , Sung-Han Kim , estimates that the trial will be completed in May .
According to NBC News , French drugmaker Sanofi is working with health authorities to study whether hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is encouraged by preliminary findings , according to NBC News , but still does not have enough data to determine its efficacy .
Health officials in Belgium and South Korea have recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine patients displaying either severe or mild symptoms from COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
The United Kingdom appears to have some hope for the drug .
On Sunday , government officials there banned the export and hoarding of hydroxychloroquine and two other drugs that could be useful as therapeutics , according to Pharmaceutical Technology .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--How to stop touching your face to minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs

Public health officials consistently promote hand-washing as a way for people to protect themselves from the COVID-19 coronavirus .
However , this virus can live on metal and plastic for days , so simply adjusting your eyeglasses with unwashed hands may be enough to infect yourself .
Thus , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have been telling people to stop touching their faces .
We are experts in psychological science and public health .
Brian Labus is an expert in communicable diseases who knows what people should do to avoid becoming infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps clients change their habits and manage stress in healthy ways .
Kimberly Barchard is an expert in research methods who wanted to know what the research says about face-touching .
Together , we used our clinical expertise and the research literature to identify the best practices to reduce face-touching and lower people ’ s chances of catching COVID-19 .
People touch their faces frequently .
They wipe their eyes , scratch their noses , bite their nails and twirl their mustaches .
People touch their faces more when they are anxious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they aren ’ t feeling anything at all .
Studies show that students , office workers , medical personnel and people on trains touch their faces between nine and 23 times per hour , on average .
Why is it so hard to stop ?
Face-touching rewards us by relieving momentary discomforts like itches and muscle tension .
These discomforts usually pass within a minute , but face-touching provides immediate relief that eventually makes it a habitual response that resists change .
Habit reversal training is a well-established behavior modification technique that helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviors , such as nervous tics , nail-biting and stuttering .
It trains people to notice the discomfort that prompts their habits , select another behavior to use until the discomfort passes and change their surroundings to lessen their discomfort .
You may have already changed some of your other habits – for example , by coughing into your elbow instead of your hands , or greeting others with a bow or wave instead of a handshake .
But unlike coughing and hand-shaking , people frequently touch their faces without being aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reducing face-touching is becoming aware of it .
Each time you touch your face , notice how you touched your face , the urge or sensation that preceded it and the situation you were in – what you were doing , where you were physically or what you were feeling emotionally .
If you usually don ’ t notice when you touch your face , you can ask someone else to point it out .
Self-monitoring is more effective when people create a physical record .
You can create a log where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , log entries might say : • Scratched nose with finger , felt itch , while at my desk Self-monitoring is more effective if people share their outcomes publicly , so consider sharing your results with friends or post it on social media .
Now that you are aware of the behavior you want to change , you can replace it with a competing response that opposes the muscle movements needed to touch your face .
When you feel the urge to touch your face , you can clench your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press your palms onto the tops of your thighs or stretch your arms straight down at your sides .
This competing response should be inconspicuous and use a position that can be held for at least a minute .
Use the competing response for as long as the urge to touch your face persists .
Some sources recommend object manipulation , in which you occupy your hands with something else .
You can rub your fingertips , fiddle with a pen or squeeze a stress ball .
The activity shouldn ’ t involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For tough-to-break habits , object manipulation isn ’ t as effective as competing responses , perhaps because people tend to play with objects when bored , but touch their faces and hair when anxious .
Learn more about breaking the itch-scratch cycle .
Changing your environment can reduce your urges to touch your face and your need to use alternative responses .
Use your log to figure out what situations or emotions are associated with your face-touching .
For example : • If your glasses keep slipping off your nose , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent slippage .
• If you bite your nails , you can use a file to keep your nails short , or wear gloves or fingertip bandages , so that nail-biting is impossible .
• If allergies make your eyes or skin itch or make your nose run , you can limit your exposure to allergens or take antihistamines .
• If you get food stuck between your teeth , you can brush your teeth after each meal .
• If your hair gets in your eyes and mouth , you can use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep it back .
You can read more detailed information about habit reversal training .
Face it , you may not be able to stop Most people can not entirely eliminate unwanted habits , but they can reduce them .
Consistent with the principles of harm reduction , just reducing face-touching lessens the opportunities for viruses to enter your system .
Sometimes you need to touch your face : flossing your teeth , putting in contact lenses , wiping food off your lips , putting on makeup or shaving your jaw .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ To adjust your glasses without first washing your hands , use a tissue and throw it out immediately after use .
Avoid finger food and using unwashed hands to put food into your mouth .
Wash your hands first , or use utensils or the wrapper to handle the food .
Other ways you can reduce the spread of infectious diseases include practicing social spacing , washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or hand sanitizer and disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly .
When your hands touch contaminated surfaces , though , the suggestions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face before you wash them again .
[ Our newsletter explains what ’ s going on with the coronavirus pandemic .
Subscribe now . ]
Stephen D. Benning has previously received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health .
He is a board member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy .
Brian Labus has previously received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health .
Kimberly A. Barchard does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--How to maintain physical and mental health during coronavirus

Millions are asking for clear , comprehensive information and guidelines regarding the novel coronavirus .
Unfortunately , the U.S. public hasn ’ t received factual information or future direction from the federal government .
Instead , the government has underreported cases and local transmission rates due to a lack of testing kits .
But during a crisis , leadership can come from unexpected places .
As he suspended all NBA games , commissioner Adam Silver delivered a powerful message to the public that the outbreak must be taken seriously .
With that single announcement , Silver enforced more effective public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this pandemic .
Shortly thereafter , all other major sports leagues followed his lead ; the NBA ’ s decisive action helped the dominoes fall .
Last January , NFL running back Marshawn Lynch delivered solid advice for his younger colleagues in a post-game interview : take care of your bodies , your mentals , and your chicken ( that is , your money ) .
Fortuitously , this is also applicable for everyone during COVID-19 .
As an assistant professor of biology at The Pennsylvania State University , I study infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know the only way to stop this outbreak and prevent severe cases is to reduce transmission .
Without all of us changing our behavior , those who are more likely to experience severe outcomes will have negative health outcomes .
While the elderly and people with respiratory conditions are at highest risk , severe cases have also been reported in young , otherwise healthy people .
Without behavioral interventions , so many patients will require hospitalization , they will exceed the capacity of the U.S. health care system .
This will cause preventable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most vulnerable members of our communities and keep the health care system functioning .
You are no longer making decisions for only yourself , you have to constantly consider how your personal behavior is going to impact everyone around you and everyone around them .
You need space , but you also need connection So far , no pharmaceutical interventions , such as vaccines and antiviral drugs , exist .
At the moment , we must rely on basic public health measures : wash your hands frequently , don ’ t touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and limit your exposure to others .
It may sound simplistic , but those things are enormously helpful .
Non-pharmaceutical interventions are extremely effective against infectious diseases ; all Ebola epidemics prior to 2014 are just one example .
Right now , this means avoiding direct physical contact with others .
Avoid crowds , currently groups over 10 , reduce or eliminate non-essential travel , and expand the space between you and others to practice social distancing .
Give yourself about 6 feet of space .
But if you ’ re feeling sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become sedentary or trapped indoors .
Go for a walk , dance around your house , or tune into on-demand fitness or YouTube instructors .
If you think you ’ re getting sick ( or if you ’ re already sick ) you need to stay home and keep away from others .
Self-quarantine is a good idea anytime you think you have an infectious disease .
Social distancing is actually physical distancing ; it does not mean social isolation .
During this outbreak , your mental health is critical and vulnerable right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also linked to physical health .
It ’ s all connected .
Make deliberate efforts to be in touch with family , friends , or colleagues/classmates who are now telecommuting .
Any kind of direct communication will be supportive : email , texts , video chats , even voice calls , if that ’ s your thing .
It ’ s likely someone you know will end up in quarantine or isolation for 14 days , and it will be psychologically challenging .
Help them , but don ’ t take on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a different friend or relative check in with them .
Also note that social media can have negative impacts on mental health .
Don ’ t assume Instagram puppies will keep your quarantined friends fully supported .
Missing travel or events you ’ ve been excited about will bring disappointment .
It ’ s OK to feel sad about losses that seem trivial right now .
The endless stream of news , with rapidly changing information and misinformation , can be overwhelming .
The lack of a large-scale management plan from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moment to acknowledge those feelings of insecurity .
Now more than ever , don ’ t face your anxiety alone .
We ’ re in this together Finally , the meaty part of all this : Don ’ t blow your paycheck stockpiling months of food and supplies .
Don ’ t panic and buy every possible over-the-counter drug .
Buy what you need and leave the rest for others .
It is a good idea to check your prescription medications and make sure you ’ ve got a month ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foods you have .
You may own enough unexpired cans and products to get you through several days .
Aim to have two to four weeks of non-perishables around so you don ’ t have to shop frequently and base your decisions on what you can safely spend and store .
Since this outbreak began , the federal government has fumbled response and preparedness .
Conversely , local government officials set precedents to eliminate costs for testing and treatment .
New York , Washington and California led the way , announcing free testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Katie Porter pressed the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to finally deliver a long-overdue “ guarantee ” of free coronavirus testing for every American .
We don ’ t know how this will roll out operationally , given the shortage of test kits , but the importance of free testing can not be overstated .
People don ’ t get tested if they ’ re worried about costs .
And that ’ s a huge problem : Unreported or mild cases lead to transmission that is nearly impossible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reward responsible self-quarantining behavior .
Paid sick leave would vastly improve compliance with self-quarantine measures .
A system where sick days translate to lost wages promotes virus transmission .
This outbreak will continue to change our lives .
We will not go back to the way things were in two weeks .
We are looking ahead to a new normal .
To protect the most vulnerable members of our communities , the less vulnerable must make responsible and unselfish choices .
The necessary interventions to manage this outbreak have been unprecedented and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wisely instructed us to protect our bodies , our mentals , and our chicken .
Now it ’ s our responsibility to extend that to protecting each other .
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Nita Bharti does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Older people are at more risk from COVID-19 because of how the immune system ages

The rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic is taking a particularly harsh toll on older people .
Data from the initial outbreak in China and then Italy show that infected people under the age of 60 are at low – but not no – risk of dying from COVID-19 .
Curiously , young children do not appear to be at increased risk of serious COVID-19 complications , in contrast to what happens with other viruses , like the seasonal flu .
However , the statistics get grimmer as the patients get older .
Whereas people in their 60s have a 0.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70s have a 1.3 % chance of dying , and people over 80 have a 3.6 % chance of dying .
While this may not sound like a high chance of death , during the current outbreak in Italy , 83 % of those who succumbed to COVID-19 infection were over the age of 60 .
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 , which causes COVID-19 , is therefore a very serious pathogen for people over 60 .
As it continues to spread , this older age group will continue to be at risk for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it that puts older people at increased risk from viruses like this ?
It ’ s primarily thought to be due to changes in the human immune system as we age .
Your body ’ s tools to fight off virus infections As you go about your life , your body is constantly bombarded by pathogens – the bacteria , fungi and viruses that can make you sick .
A human body is a great place for these organisms to grow and thrive , providing a nice warm environment with plenty of nutrients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system comes in .
It ’ s your body ’ s defense system against these kinds of invaders .
Before you ’ re even born , your body starts producing specialized B-cells and T-cells – types of white blood cells that can recognize pathogens and help block their growth .
During an infection , your B-cells can proliferate and produce antibodies that grab onto pathogens and block their ability to spread within your body .
T-cells work by recognizing infected cells and killing them .
Together they make up what scientists call your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your physician has checked your white blood cell levels .
That ’ s a measurement of whether you have more B-cells and T-cells in your blood than usual , presumably because they ’ re fighting infection .
When you ’ re very young , you don ’ t have a lot of these B- or T-cells .
It can be a challenge for your body to control infection because it ’ s simply not used to the job .
As you mature , your adaptive immune system learns to recognize pathogens and handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight off infection quickly and effectively .
While white blood cells are powerful people protectors , they ’ re not enough on their own .
Luckily , your immune system has another layer , what ’ s called your “ innate ” immune response .
Every cell has its own little immune system that allows it to directly respond to pathogens quicker than it takes to mobilize the adaptive response .
The innate immune response is tuned to pounce on types of molecules that are commonly found on bacteria and viruses but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detects these invader molecules , it triggers production of an antiviral interferon protein .
Interferon triggers the infected cell to die , limiting infection .
Another type of innate immune cell , called a monocyte , acts as a sort of cellular bouncer , getting rid of any infected cells it finds and signaling the adaptive immune response to shift into gear .
The innate and adaptive immune systems can act together as a fine-tuned machine to detect and clear out pathogens .
When a pathogen invades , the difference between illness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pathogen can spread within you and how fast your immune response can react without causing too much collateral damage .
As people age , their innate and adaptive immune responses change , shifting this balance .
Monocytes from older individuals produce less interferon in response to viral infection .
They have a harder time killing infected cells and signaling the adaptive immune response to get going .
Low-grade chronic inflammation in individuals that commonly occurs during aging can also dull the ability of the innate and adaptive immune responses to react to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming used to an annoying sound over time .
As you age , the reduced “ attention span ” of your innate and adaptive immune responses make it harder for the body to respond to viral infection , giving the virus the upper hand .
Viruses can take advantage of your immune system ’ s slow start and quickly overwhelm you , resulting in serious disease and death .
Given the difficulty older individuals have in controlling viral infection , the best option is for these individuals to avoid becoming infected by viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the idea of social distancing becomes important , especially for COVID-19 .
COVID-19 is caused by a respiratory virus that ’ s largely spread by coughs , which can spread tiny virus-containing droplets .
Larger droplets fall to the ground quickly ; very small droplets dry up .
Mid-range droplets are of most concern because they can float in the air for a few feet before drying .
These droplets can be inhaled into the lungs .
Keeping at least 6 feet away from other people helps significantly reduce your chance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there ’ s still the possibility for virus to contaminate surfaces that infected people have touched or coughed on .
Therefore , the best way to protect vulnerable older and immunocompromised people is to stay away from them until there is no longer a risk .
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Brian Geiss receives funding from the National Institutes of Health .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Teachers Detail Pitfalls Of Remote Teaching During Coronavirus Crisis

Educators forced to switch to remote teaching because of the coronavirus crisis say such distance learning can be effective , but they face a number of hurdles that could hinder students ’ s schooling .
Thirty-eight states have shut down schools due to the pandemic as of Wednesday evening , and many of the affected schools are resorting to remote teaching , also known as distance learning .
Remote teaching requires significant preparation that wasn ’ t afforded in the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak , teachers told the Daily Caller News Foundation , and students ’ constraints , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lack of meals and unstable home lives can hamper education .
A public school high school teacher in a low-income south Boston neighborhood in Roxbury , Massachusetts , Finnegan Schick , told the DCNF that transitioning to remote teaching “ at the drop of a dime ” is “ pure madness.
” “ It requires an immense amount of work , which is why teachers often spend years in professional development perfecting their remote lessons and virtual instruction , ” said Schick , who teaches English as a second language ( ESL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not asking teachers to teach via digital classrooms , though individual teachers are free to do so if they wish .
This is largely “ because we lack the money and equipment to give each student a laptop to study from home , ” Schick said .
His school staff put together “ take home ” packets for two weeks of closure on March 13 , which were then posted on the school website .
“ Long story short : Yes , remote teaching can work , but even under optimal conditions it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t been an option during this crisis , ” he said .
St. Rita ’ s Catholic School teacher Katie Buhai , who teaches second grade in a low income neighborhood in New Orleans , warned that it may be difficult to remotely teach young children who can not yet read .
“ I think it ’ ll be very challenging for second graders because , up until third grade , you ’ re teaching kids how to read , ” Buhai , whose school has moved to distance learning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit third grade , that ’ s when they ’ re supposed to be able to read to learn .
But right now , they can ’ t read.
” “ So all of the different things that I ’ ll be giving them to be taught alone at home or those workbooks or online things , they can ’ t do that by themselves because they can ’ t read yet , ” she continued .
Working parents may not be able to assist these young children during this time , Buhai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our schedule to make it easier for them where they can do their learning at any time of day , so whenever their parents might be home or whenever an older sibling might be able to help.
” Christine Cochran , who teaches the first grade at Brookside Elementary in Milford , Massachusetts , said her principal and superintendent asked her to keep in touch with parents and students over email , through a school website and by contacting the students on a one-to-one basis .
“ So we ’ ve been sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she told the DCNF .
“ We have two programs that we use in school that they ’ re able to use at home.
” “ One is a math program and one is a reading program , ” Cochran continued .
“ So I can watch what they do from home , and we are asked to kind of monitor what they ’ re doing at home , both 30 minutes of each subject a day.
” Christine can also check her students ’ progress on these programs and privately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passwords and usernames in case they have forgotten them or need encouragement , she said .
But some students don ’ t have access to the technology or the internet required to participate in online learning , including some at her school , Cochran noted .
She added that certain teachers are taking initiative to provide options for those students .
“ I was in school today and some of the teachers were grabbing extra Chromebooks and Kindles and we ’ re going to reach out to those families so that they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school , ” she said , noting that though she is unsure if parents will pick up the devices , at least the teachers have them in their possession .
Another obstacle students face as schools close due to the coronavirus pandemic is uncertainty about when they may get their next meal .
Many students who customarily receive free meals at school now face an undecided stretch of time where they will need breakfast and lunch .
Schools across the country are taking the initiative to offer meals to students — and sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cochran ’ s district set up a program Monday for breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. “ where you just drive up , grab your lunch , breakfast , and go.
” Cochran said the program has been “ really , really well responded to.
” “ They ’ ve also asked teachers and citizens of our town to drop off non-perishable and other types of foods so that they can also make boxes for other families and perhaps elderly sick people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grocery store , ” she said .
Buhai said her school also provides free lunch and breakfast to every single student every day during the normal school year .
“ We ’ re going to continue to do that during this time , ” she said .
Every weekday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. , students can come and get fruit and cereal for breakfast and a compartment tray of packaged food for lunch , Buhai said .
The teacher noted that St. Rita ’ s is also extending the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in need of food during this period and that any child under the age of 18 will be able to come and get meals for the foreseeable future .
“ It ’ s going to be packaged , though , so nobody will be able to get out of the car to get it , ” Buhai said .
“ And the child will have to be there in the car in order to get the food.
” Though the parents of her students work during the day , Buhai believes the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children are fed .
“ I think it would be a very big hardship on our families to go without food , ” she said .
“ I ’ m hoping that parents can rely on each other .
There ’ s a big community in our school where I think they might be able to carpool or , you know , help each other out.
” Students in low income areas also face the hardship of turbulent and sometimes dangerous home lives .
Schick told the DCNF that he can say “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and school leaders across the city of Boston are “ very concerned about students whose home lives are unsafe or otherwise already difficult.
” “ The coronavirus closures has not only taken away the few places where these students could feel safe and receive a free meal , but it has also put financial and psychological pressure on families who were already under significant duress , ” he said .
Buhai said she has personally been to the hospital with students who have been abused or neglected .
“ I ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the DCNF .
“ It does frighten me that students are going to be having to deal with these situations at home and not be able to come back to a safe place at school or have a teacher to tell things to or to notice when something might mean something is wrong with them , ” Buhai continued .
The New Orleans-based teacher said she called all of her students ’ parents Monday , talked to them , and promised to be a resource for the remainder of this time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ children needed help with assignments or materials they could call her at any time during regular school hours .
“ So from 8 to 3:30 , I ’ m going to be available to them , ” she said .
“ I ’ m posting things on ClassDojo , which is a free application for all teachers that my parents are already connected to .
And I got to talk to several of my students on the phone and just assure them that they ’ re okay , and that I was thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was very sweet to hear them on the other line.
” Despite some of the downsides to remote teaching and closures , there may yet be some good coming out of this for students , Montgomery County Maryland public school teacher Michael Calvert told the DCNF .
Modern day technology and simply being at home still allow children to experiences lots of opportunities for learning , Calvert said .
In fact , he says , taking time off from school may be good for children .
“ I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I think this is a great opportunity almost for revolution in the way kids work and learn , ” he said .
Since 2003 , Calvert has taught sixth grade science at Herbert Hoover Middle School , which Calvert says is one of the top schools in the state located in an affluent area of Maryland .
“ I just don ’ t feel like top-down systems are always best for students and they should have some input in what they ’ re doing.
” Calvert suggested that during school closures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside , improve physical and mental health , experiment with at home science experiments like building balloon rockets , making roller coasters , kitchen chemistry like cooking , and more .
But what these students do with their time depends on how they are supervised and held accountable for what they do in terms of learning , Calvert added .
“ I think there might be a bonus from this , ” he said .
“ We ’ ll see .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-18--Trump Administration Suspends Refugee Program During Coronavirus Outbreak

The Trump administration is placing a temporary pause on admissions of refugees into the United States , a response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic .
The U.S .
Refugee Admissions Programs , which manages the number of refugees admitted into the country , confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that it is pausing the program as the government continues to duel with COVID-19 .
The move follows decisions by the International Organization for Migration ( IOM ) and the UN Refugee Agency to suspend resettlement efforts .
“ The U.S .
Refugee Admissions Program coordinates refugee arrivals with its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNHCR , ” a State Department spokesperson told the DCNF on Wednesday .
“ The temporary suspension of resettlement travel programs globally will impact the arrival of refugees in the United States and other countries with refugee resettlement programs , ” the spokesperson continued .
The moratorium on refugee admissions will officially begin on Thursday , and is expected to last until April 6 .
“ We will work with our implementing partners to plan for a resumption of refugee arrivals on or after April 7 , ” the State Department noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 travel restrictions as other travelers to the United States .
The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens.
” The Trump administration has taken numerous steps in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus within the country .
On Wednesday , President Donald Trump announced that all non-essential traffic between the U.S. and Canada would be suspended , and he confirmed that all illegal aliens and asylum seekers at the southern border would be turned away .
The Trump administration , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had already been reducing the number of refugees allowed in the U.S .
The president lowered the 2020 refugee admissions ceiling to 18,000 for the 2020 fiscal year , the lowest level seen since the program was established .
So far , slightly over 6,000 refugees have been admitted into the U.S. this fiscal year .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Useful Idiots: Mainstream Media Rhetoric on ‘Wuhan Virus’ Echoes Chinese Propaganda

Media rhetoric surrounding what to call coronavirus echoed the Chinese government ’ s aggressive propaganda campaign designed to absolve the communist regime of wrongdoing .
Both China and members of the establishment media have focused on President Donald Trump ’ s habit of referring to the virus as a “ Chinese virus ” or the “ Wuhan virus , ” which both the communist regime and media members have said is racist .
The media outcry belies the fact that establishment outlets have also referred to coronavirus , formally named COVID-19 , as “ the Chinese virus ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times , for example , has used both terms in reference to the virus , but is now painting Trump using the same language as problematic .
Even Chinese state media initially referred to the virus as the “ Wuhan coronavirus.
” But that hasn ’ t stopped both establishment media sources and the Chinese regime from now declaring the terms to be out-of-bounds .
MSNBC anchor John Heilemann said on air Wednesday that Trump ’ s use of the term “ Chinese virus ” is “ nakedly racist and obviously racist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Filipovic argued Wednesday that using the term “ Chinese virus ” was “ xenophobic racism , ” and compared it to scapegoating European Jews for the Black Death .
The rush to label the terms as “ racist ” comes as the Chinese government has amped up propaganda worldwide in an attempt to eschew taking responsibility for the global pandemic .
The oppressive regime has denounced “ racist ” attempts to link the virus — which originated in China — to China , while at the same time falsely accusing America of bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s propaganda apparatus is also spinning a false narrative in which China bought the world time by acting swiftly against the virus .
“ Many media outlets have criticized the White House for squandering the precious time China has bought the world to fight against the virus , ” claimed a Tuesday article in Xinhua News , a state-run Chinese outlet .
In reality , China robbed the world of time to fight the virus by engaging in a cover up .
One study estimated that China could have prevented up to 95 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hadn ’ t concealed and then downplayed the virus ’ s existence .
Xinhua ’ s article claimed the term “ Chinese virus ” was an attempt by the U.S. to “ scapegoat ” China — a message that NBC News correspondent Richard Engel echoed on air the following day .
“ If you look at what happened during the Middle Ages , there was lots and lots of scapegoating against an ethnic group or a religious group whenever there were pandemics that affected society and frightened a lot of people , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is happening now with people calling it the ‘ Wuhan flu ’ or the ‘ Wuhan virus ’ or the ‘ China virus , ’ ” Engel said on NBC sister network MSNBC .
“ This is a virus that came from the territory of China but came from bats , ” Engel continued .
“ This is a bat virus , not a China virus.
” American politicians “ even went so far by employing racist language to label the pathogen behind the disease the ‘ Chinese virus ’ ; or ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains undetermined and viruses have no nationalities , ” Xinhua asserted on Tuesday .
Two days later , on Thursday , the propaganda outlet claimed vindication by pointing to Democratic politicians like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and New York Rep. Lois Frankel , who condemned Trump ’ s use of the phrase “ Chinese virus.
” NBC News , The New York Times and Filipovic didn ’ t return requests for comment .
Some journalists have rejected the establishment media ’ s rush to denounce terms like “ Chinese virus ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who raise the racism canard are themselves inadvertently collapsing the distinctions between an authoritarian regime and those who live under it .
Too many also seem comfortable drawing moral equivalencies between the Chinese regime and Donald Trump , ” noted The Atlantic writer Shadi Hamid .
“ This attitude is hard to take seriously .
Trump didn ’ t block the media from reporting on the coronavirus ; he did not disappear his critics .
The nature of a regime matters .
And this is why I , for one , am glad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flawed , in this time of unprecedented crisis , ” Hamid added .
“ It ’ s actually very important we continue to refer to COVID19 as the Wuhan Virus , ” HillTV host Saagar Enjeti said .
“ The Chinese government is working overtime to blame the CIA and anyone else for their failings , ” he contiunued .
“ The name should indicate exactly where it came from so they can ’ t gaslight future generations.
” Useful Idiots : Mainstream Media Rhetoric on ‘ Wuhan Virus ’ Echoes Chinese Propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and more .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--State Department Raises Travel Alert, Urges Americans To Avoid International Travel

The State Department issued a level-four travel advisory Thursday , urging Americans against all international travel and advising U.S. citizens living abroad to immediately return to the United States .
In its most dramatic move amid the COVID-19 outbreak , the State Department issued a blanket level four — the highest level possible — warning against international travel .
The decision came as the disease , as of Thursday , has sickened nearly 228,000 people and has killed more than 9,600 people worldwide .
As airline companies across the globe cancel flights , many Americans who have yet to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19 , ” the department announced Thursday .
“ In countries where commercial departure options remain available , U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States , unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
” “ U.S .
citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel , ” the advisory continued .
“ Many countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , closing borders , and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice.
” The State Department warned that those who choose to travel internationally could be stranded outside the U.S. for an “ indefinite ” period of time .
The United States already moved to dramatically limit the flow of movement into the country .
President Donald Trump announced the U.S.-Canada border would be closed to all non-essential traffic , and he pledged to ratchet up enforcement efforts at the southern border .
The State Department has temporarily suspended the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department announced it was suspending visa services across the globe .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--CBP Officers at O’Hare Seize Prohibited Medical Test Kits

U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officers assigned to O ’ Hare International Airport , International Mail Facility ( IMF ) intercepted packages containing prohibited medical drug kits arriving from the United Kingdom .
On March 17 , 2020 , CBP officers intercepted shipments containing “ Test Kits ” for various viruses and diseases to include COVID-19 .
Not all the COVID-19 test kits were in each parcel , and there was generally just one COVID-19 test kit within groups of other alleged test kits for meningitis , IVF , MRSA , onion , apple , salmonella and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) for analysis .
The Federal Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act ( FDCA ) prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce , or the causing thereof , of any food , drug , device , tobacco product , or cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded .
“ CBP personnel have done a phenomenal job with intercepting these items , ” said Lesley Lukens , Chief Supervisory Officer , International Mail Facility .
“ Each seizure provides additional insight into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assist CBP with intercepting additional parcels containing similar items that are harmful to our personal health and national security.
” Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and other virus and diseases is conducted in verified state and local public health laboratories across the United States .
The American public should be aware of counterfeit home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings .
“ Counterfeit products have serious consequences to everyone , ” said Hans Leiterman , Assistant Area Port Director , Chicago .
“ CBP seizures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health and safety of U.S. citizens , and the reputation of marketplaces involved in these transactions.
” Since March 1 , 2020 , CBP personnel at the Chicago IMF have processed 793 seizures within the arriving inbound international mail varying between intercepting narcotics ( 402 seizures ) , Intellectual Property Right/counterfeit goods ( 59 seizures ) , firearm suppressors ( 159 seizures ) , fraudulent identification documents ( 138 seizures totaling 9,122 fraudulent IDs ) , lottery mail ( 2 bulk seizures containing 603 scam letters ) and counterfeit US currency ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


freedomdaily--2020-03-19--Here’s How Long Clinical Trials For Possible Coronavirus Cure Will Take, According To Experts

Clinical trials to test a malaria drug for use on coronavirus patients could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete , infectious disease experts said Thursday .
Scientists who study infectious diseases are cautiously optimistic about using chloroquine or its derivative , hydroxychloroquine , to treat or even cure coronavirus patients after lab studies and a clinical trial in France showed that the malaria medication was effective against the virus .
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that the agency “ has been working closely with other government agencies and academic centers ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed in the 1940s .
Several clinical trials for chloroquine are being conducted across the globe , including a 1,500-patient study that the University of Minnesota commenced this week .
“ I ’ m excited about that because clinical trials are already beginning , ” Dr. William Schaffner , a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , said on MSNBC on Thursday about the prospects of using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to fight coronavirus .
Schaffner said that clinical trials could “ take a few months , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be distributed “ very , very rapidly.
” He added : “ Anecdotes are provocative but we really need solid data.
” Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor School of Medicine , said in an interview on CNN that clinical trials could take “ maybe a few weeks ” or “ a couple of months.
” Hotez told The Daily Caller News Foundation on Wednesday that he was “ enthusiastic ” about early research on using the two drugs , but that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of potential , though we ’ re not going on a lot of data yet , ” he said .
Government health agencies and medical researchers around the world are scrambling to develop new drugs or re-tool existing medicines to stave off coronavirus until a vaccine can be developed .
Experts in the field say that a vaccine is unlikely to be developed for at least 12 months , with some estimates that it could take up to two years .
Hotez said on CNN that the using pre-existing drugs is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not guaranteed to work .
Hotez has also advocated using antibodies taken from serum of recovered coronavirus patients either to treat people at high-risk of adverse outcomes from coronavirus .
At a press conference on Thursday , President Donald Trump announced that he authorized the FDA to relax regulations that will speed up clinical trials for several anti-viral remedies to treat coronavirus .
He also said that the drugs would be made available “ almost immediately.
” Stephen Hahn , the commissioner of the FDA , tempered Trump ’ s remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference that scientists still have to conduct clinical trials to see if chloroquine , hydroxychloroquine , and several other anti-viral medications are actually effective against coronavirus .
Since chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are already approved to treat malaria and arthritis , they could be used to treat other conditions , including coronavirus , in an “ off label ” basis .


freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Coronavirus, los niños y las escuelas: experta en salud pública contesta 4 preguntas

Sí , los niños pueden adquirir el virus SARS-CoV-2 , que está causando COVID-19 , el virus que ha infectado @ @ @ @ @ y que ha causado mas de 4,000 muertes .
Sin embargo , por algunas razones @ @ @ @ @ salubristas no entendemos , muchos niños no parecen enfermar de manera severa .
De hecho @ @ @ @ @ manifestar síntoma alguno .
Desde una perspectiva social , los hogares de bajo ingreso y @ @ @ @ @ único son particularmente afectados .
Los empleadores pueden no brindar pago a trabajadores enfermos , @ @ @ @ @ tengan que escoger entre dejar a sus hijos en una situación no tan ideal sin @ @ @ @ @ sus necesidades básicas .


freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Trump Administration Declares Travel Ban On Northern, Southern Borders

The Trump administration on Friday announced a ban on all non-essential travel on the northern and southern borders , the latest response to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf , standing beside President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , declared that both the Mexican and Canadian borders would be shut down to all non-essential travel .
The ban will officially begin Saturday and last for a month at least .
“ As we continue to evaluate commonsense measures that reduce risk and prevent further spread , it only makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that neighbors to the north and south are undertaking , ” Wolf said Friday .
“ We ’ ve reached an agreement with both Canada and Mexico to limit non-essential travel across our land borders.
” The acting secretary , however , made clear that trade and other needed services will continue to be processed through the border .
“ Let me be clear that none of these agreements apply to lawful trade or commerce .
Essential commercial activities will not be impacted , ” Wolf said , adding that a “ secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain will still move across both borders .
As of Friday morning , more than 12,300 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the U.S , across every state .
There are at least 195 reported cases of U.S. patients dying from coronavirus-related illnesses .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Taiwan Says It Warned WHO About Coronavirus In December, But Its Warnings Were Ignored

Taiwan is blaming the World Health Organization ’ s relationship with China for its failure to act on early warnings of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus .
Taiwanese health officials alerted the WHO of the infectivity of coronavirus in late December , but the organization failed to report the claims to other countries , according to a Financial Times report .
Weeks after receiving Taiwan ’ s warning , on Jan. 14 , the WHO repeated China ’ s claim that coronavirus was not contagious among humans .
Taiwan reported its concerns to a WHO framework called the International Health Regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IHR framework is intended to be an exchange of epidemic data between 196 countries .
“ While the IHR ’ s internal website provides a platform for all countries to share information on the epidemic and their response , none of the information shared by our country ’ s [ Centers for Disease Control ] is being put up there , ” Taiwanese Vice President Chen Chien-Jen told the Financial Times .
“ The WHO could not obtain first-hand information to study and judge whether there was human-to-human transmission of COVID-10 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a delay , and an opportunity to raise the alert level both in China and the wider world was lost , ” Chen added .
The WHO declined to comment on Taiwan ’ s accusation , telling the Financial Times it holds “ frank and open discussions on sometimes sensitive issues ” with countries and in order to maintain trust it needs to “ respect the confidentiality of such communications.
” Taiwan has had a model response to the coronavirus crisis .
Despite being situated just 140 miles off the Chinese coast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus and two deaths , according to John Hopkins University .
However , Taiwan has become largely locked out of international institutions as communist China ’ s influence around the world has grown .
Taiwan was excluded from an emergency committee convened by the WHO on Jan. 21 to determine whether the coronavirus outbreak would grow into an international crisis due to Chinese pressure to keep Taiwan from participating in international organizations , according to a report by Foreign Policy .
China and Taiwan , known officially the Republic of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of their respective territories .
And under China ’ s communist government , under its “ One China Principle , ” officially claims Taiwan as part of its territory .
The long-running dispute between the two nations began at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 , when Chinese Nationalist leader Chaing Kai-Shek fled to Taiwan , opening the door for Chinese communists to wrest control of the mainland .


freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Fauci Says Antibody Treatment Is One Of Coronavirus Team’s ‘Top Priorities’

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday that one of the White House coronavirus task force ’ s “ top priorities ” is developing a procedure to provide antibodies from recovered coronavirus patients to help people who fall ill from the virus or even to protect them from getting it .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute on Allergies and Infectious Diseases , was asked about the use of antibodies during a CNN virtual town hall .
“ Is it possible to develop some sort of treatment using the antibodies that they developed with the disease ?
” a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of fact , that ’ s exactly what we ’ re doing , ” said Fauci .
He said that the task force was “ gearing up ” to conduct a study on the use of convalescent serum .
The process draws antibodies from the serum of recovered coronavirus patients and reinfuses it into other patients , either to treat those with the ailment or as a protective measure .
“ That ’ s one of our top priorities , ” Fauci said .
Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School of Medicine , has recently been urging the use of convalescent serum to help in the coronavirus fight .
The technique dates back to at least the 1890s and was used during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic .
Hotez told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an interview last week that convalescent serum could be provided either to patients who have strong symptoms from coronavirus or to protect people at high-risk from infection or medical workers from catching the bug .
The use of antibodies is one of several options that researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine is developed .
Hotez , Fauci and other experts in the field do not expect a vaccine to come along for at least another year .
Scientists are also conducting clinical trials to see if several anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to cure coronavirus .
Two drugs that have inspired cautious optimism are chloroquine and its derivative , hydroxychloroquine .
The drugs , which were developed to fight malaria , have shown promising results in lab trials , and in one clinical trial conducted in France .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Judge Rejects Demand To Release Illegal Aliens In ICE Detention

A federal judge swatted away an attempt by the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) to release a group of illegal aliens in a Washington state detention center amid the coronavirus outbreak .
U.S. District Judge James L. Robart — who serves in the District Court for the Western District of Washington — on Thursday shot down a temporary restraining order request by nine detainees in the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center .
The detainees argued that older migrants and those with medical conditions made them more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
The plaintiffs , represented by the ACLU and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from custody , citing the coronavirus pandemic .
Robart , however , found that the plaintiffs didn ’ t prove that the government was attempting to punish them by keeping them in detainment .
A viral infection , he said , may be a possibility , but not a “ likely ” result of remaining in the detention center .
“ There is no evidence that anyone at [ the Tacoma Northwestern Detention Center ] has COVID-19 , and plaintiffs do not address the measures defendants are taking to prevent such a spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his denial .
The judge found that , even if the plaintiffs had demonstrated risks , the release wasn ’ t necessarily the answer .
Robart instead said plaintiffs could request that the detention center ’ s conditions be improved .
“ Finally , even if Plaintiffs could show a Fifth Amendment violation , Plaintiffs provide no authority under which such a violation would justify immediate release , as opposed to injunctive relief that would leave Plaintiffs detained while ameliorating any alleged violative conditions within the facility , ” Robart said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fail to meet their burden of clearly showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims , ” he continued .
The decision is a major blow to the ACLU , the ACLU of Washington , and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project , three groups that filed their suit on Wednesday .
A spokesperson for the plaintiffs vowed to continue fighting their case .
“ Public health officials are in agreement — it is not a matter of if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in immigrant detention centers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an ACLU lawyer , said in a statement released Thursday .
“ ICE should heed their warning .
By refusing to immediately release our clients , ICE is jeopardizing their lives and the lives of its staff and their families.
” The lawsuit battle comes after ICE announced it would scale back its operations amid the coronavirus outbreak , placing more focus on aliens that pose more of a “ public safety threat.
” As of Friday morning , no aliens in ICE detention have tested positive for the coronavirus , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not prepared should an outbreak in their facilities occur .


freedomdaily--2020-03-20--COVID-19 treatment might already exist in old drugs – we’re using pieces of the coronavirus itself t

COVID-19 treatment might already exist in old drugs – we’re using pieces of the coronavirus itself to find them

Why don ’ t we have drugs to treat COVID-19 and how long will it take to develop them ?
SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 – is completely new and attacks cells in a novel way .
Every virus is different and so are the drugs used to treat them .
That ’ s why there wasn ’ t a drug ready to tackle the new coronavirus that only emerged a few months ago .
As a systems biologist who studies how cells are affected by viruses during infections , I ’ m especially interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerability and developing a drug to treat a disease typically takes years .
But the new coronavirus isn ’ t giving the world that kind of time .
With most of the world on lockdown and the looming threat of millions of deaths , researchers need to find an effective drug much faster .
This situation has presented my colleagues and I with the challenge and opportunity of a lifetime : to help solve this huge public health and economic crisis posed by the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 .
Facing this crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quantitative Biosciences Institute ( QBI ) at the University of California , San Francisco , to discover how the virus attacks cells .
But instead of trying to create a new drug based on this information , we are first looking to see if there are any drugs available today that can disrupt these pathways and fight the coronavirus .
The team of 22 labs , that we named the QCRG , is working at breakneck speed – literally around the clock and in shifts – seven days a week .
I imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in wartime efforts like the Enigma code-breaking group during World War II , and our team is similarly hoping to disarm our enemy by understanding its inner workings .
Compared with human cells , viruses are small and can ’ t reproduce on their own .
The coronavirus has about 30 proteins , whereas a human cell has more than 20,000 .
To get around this limited set of tools , the virus cleverly turns the human body against itself .
The pathways into a human cell are normally locked to outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own proteins like keys to open these “ locks ” and enter a person ’ s cells .
Once inside , the virus binds to proteins the cell normally uses for its own functions , essentially hijacking the cell and turning it into a coronavirus factory .
As the resources and mechanics of infected cells get retooled to produce thousands and thousands of viruses , the cells start dying .
Lung cells are particularly vulnerable to this because they express high amounts of the “ lock ” protein SARS-CoV-2 uses for entry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lung cells dying causes the respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 .
There are two ways to fight back .
First , drugs could attack the virus ’ s own proteins , preventing them from doing jobs like entering the cell or copying their genetic material once they are inside .
This is how remdesivir – a drug currently in clinical trials for COVID-19 – works .
A problem with this approach is that viruses mutate and change over time .
In the future , the coronavirus could evolve in ways that render @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms race between drugs and viruses is why you need a new flu shot every year .
Alternatively , a drug can work by blocking a viral protein from interacting with a human protein it needs .
This approach – essentially protecting the host machinery – has a big advantage over disabling the virus itself , because the human cell doesn ’ t change as fast .
Once you find a good drug , it should keep working .
This is the approach that our team is taking .
And it may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first thing our group needed to do was identify every part of the cellular factory that the coronavirus relies on to reproduce .
We needed to find out what proteins the virus was hijacking .
To do this , a team in my lab went on a molecular fishing expedition inside human cells .
Instead of a worm on a hook , they used viral proteins with tiny chemical tags attached to them – termed a “ bait.
” We put these baits into lab-grown human cells and then pulled them out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck was a human protein that the virus hijacks during infection .
By March 2 , we had a partial list of the human proteins that the coronavirus needs to thrive .
These were the first clues we could use .
A team member sent a message to our group , “ First iteration , just 3 baits … next 5 baits coming.
” The fight was on .
Once we had this list of molecular targets the virus needs to survive , members of the team raced to identify known compounds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus from using them to replicate .
If a compound can prevent the virus from copying itself in a person ’ s body , the infection stops .
But you can ’ t simply interfere with cellular processes at will without potentially causing harm to the body .
Our team needed to be sure the compounds we identified would be safe and nontoxic for people .
The traditional way to do this would involve years of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials costing millions of dollars .
But there is a fast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the 20,000 FDA-approved drugs that have already been safety-tested .
Maybe there is a drug in this large list that can fight the coronavirus .
Our chemists used a massive database to match the approved drugs and proteins they interact with to the proteins on our list .
They found 10 candidate drugs last week .
For example , one of the hits was a cancer drug called JQ1 .
While we can not predict how this drug might affect the virus , it has a good chance of doing something .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that something helps patients .
Facing the threat of global border shutdowns , we immediately shipped boxes of these 10 drugs to two of the few labs in the world working with live coronavirus samples : at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and Mount Sinai in New York .
By March 13 , the drugs were being tested in cells to see if they prevent the virus from reproducing .
Our team will soon learn from our collaborators at Mt .
Sinai and the Pasteur Institute whether any of these first 10 drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team has continued fishing with viral baits , finding hundreds of additional human proteins that the coronavirus co-opts .
We will be publishing the results in the online repository BioRxiv soon .
The good news is that so far , our team has found 50 existing drugs that bind the human proteins we ’ ve identified .
This large number makes me hopeful that we ’ ll be able to find a drug to treat COVID-19 .
If we find an approved drug that even slows down the virus ’ s progression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting it to patients quickly and save lives .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-20--Should I exercise during the coronavirus pandemic? Experts explain the just right exercise curve

So here we are , perfecting our social distancing skills while schools , sports and other forms of social engagement are on indefinite hold , by a dangerous virus named after a ( regal ) crown .
The coronavirus is named because the center envelope is surrounded by small protein spikes called peplomers .
These little protein spikes wreak havoc when they attach to lung tissue and hijack otherwise healthy tissue into building a potentially lethal coronavirus army of invaders .
Because the virus settles primarily with the respiratory tract – the nose , mouth and lungs – it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or exchange respiratory droplets with others .
Despite its importance , social distancing has been a social disappointment for many weekend warriors , team sport athletes , fitness fanatics and sports fans who find camaraderie , biochemical joy from dopamine rushes or stress reduction through regular exercise and sport .
We are both sports scientists who study athlete health and safety .
We ’ re also proud exercise addicts who find the prospect of not exercising almost as disturbing as the prospect of the disease itself .
Here ’ s how exercise affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu and some practical tips on how much people should ( and should not ) exercise .
Look for the ‘ just right ’ amount Both too much and too little are bad while somewhere in the middle is just right .
Scientists commonly refer to this statistical phenomenon as a “ J-shaped ” curve .
Research has shown exercise can influence the body ’ s immune system .
Exercise immunity refers to both the systemic ( whole body cellular response ) and mucosal ( mucous lining of the respiratory tract ) response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this J-shaped curve .
A large study showed that mild to moderate exercise – performed about three times a week – reduced the risk of dying during the Hong Kong flu outbreak in 1998 .
The Hong Kong study was performed on 24,656 Chinese adults who died during this outbreak .
This study showed that people who did no exercise at all or too much exercise – over five days of exercise per week – were at greatest risk of dying compared with people who exercised moderately .
Additionally , studies performed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to three months prior to an infection reduced illness severity and viral load in obese and non-obese mice .
Thus , limited animal and human data cautiously suggest that exercise up to three days per week , two to three months prior , better prepares the immune system to fight a viral infection .
What if we have not exercised regularly ?
Will restarting an exercise routine be good or bad ?
Limited data , also obtained from mice , suggests that moderate exercise for 20 to 30 minutes a day after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of surviving .
In fact , 82 % of the mice who exercised 20-30 minutes a day during the incubation period , or the time between getting infected with flu and showing symptoms , survived .
In contrast , only 43 % of the sedentary mice and 30 % of the mice who performed strenuous exercise – or 2.5 hours of exercise a day – survived .
Therefore , at least in laboratory mice , mild to moderate exercise may also be protective after we get infected with the flu virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no exercise – or even too much exercise – is bad .
For those who are “ committed exercisers , ” how much exercise is probably too much during a flu pandemic ?
It is clear that both too much exercise and exercising while sick increases the risk of medical complications and dying .
We conducted studies on both collegiate football players and cross-country runners , which showed a decrease in secretory immunoglobulin A , or “ sIgA ” when athletes competed and trained hard .
SIgA is an antibody protein used by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including viruses .
SIgA is also closely associated with upper respiratory tract infections ( URTI ) .
When sIgA levels go down , URTI ’ s usually go up .
We saw this relationship in football players , whereas the players showed the most URTI symptoms when their sIgA levels were lowest .
This indirectly suggests that over-exercise without adequate recovery may make our body more vulnerable to attack , especially by respiratory viruses .
So , when it comes to immunity , our studies show that more exercise is not necessarily better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ?
Here are some guidelines based on just the right amount – for most people .
• Do perform mild to moderate exercise ( 20-45 minutes ) , up to three times per week .
• Strive to maintain ( not gain ) strength or fitness during the quarantine period .
• Do avoid physical contact during exercise , such as playing team sports , that is likely to expose you to mucosal fluids or hand-to-face contact .
• Wash and disinfect equipment after use .
• If you use a gym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and exercise away from others to avoid droplets .
• Remain engaged with teammates through social media , rather than social gatherings or contact .
• Eat and sleep well to boost your immune system .
• Remain optimistic that this too shall pass .
How much exercise may be too risky ?
Here are some things not to do : • Do not exercise past exhaustion , which increases the risk of infection .
An example would include marathon running , which increases the risk of illness from 2.2 % to 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not exercise if you have any flu-like symptoms .
• Do not exercise more than five days a week .
• Do not exercise in crowded , enclosed spaces .
• Do not share drinks or eating utensils .
Do not overdrink fluids , especially when sick , to try and “ flush out ” the toxins or prevent dehydration .
It is not true that you can “ flush out ” toxins .
The J-shaped ( “ just right ” ) curve suggests that exercise , like most things , is best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be creative – our game is not over , just temporarily suspended .
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The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-20--The cervix is sensitive, and surgeons need to acknowledge the part it plays in some women’s pleasure

“ Sexual Response in the Human Female , ” popularly known as the “ Kinsey Report , ” generated an international sensation in 1953 , revolutionizing the way society thinks of sex .
One particular statement in the book regarding the cervix , however , has been misinterpreted leading to a misconception that persists today .
On page 584 , Kinsey states , “ All of the clinical and experimental data show that the surface of the cervix is the most completely insensitive part of the female genital anatomy.
” Along with our colleague , physician Irwin Goldstein , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We believe Kinsey ’ s statement has led healthcare providers to conclude , erroneously , that the cervix is devoid of sensory nerves and can be cut or removed without consequence .
A closer look at the data The Kinsey investigators reported when the cervix was “ gently stroked ” with a “ glass , metal or cotton-tipped probe , ” only 5 % of 878 women reported they could feel it .
This data was the basis of Kinsey ’ s claim of cervical insensitivity .
However , when the investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with “ distinct pressure ” using “ an object larger than a probe , ” 84 % of the 878 women reported they could feel it .
Kinsey ’ s conclusion did not take into account his own significant finding .
There is extensive clear data from diverse sources that women can certainly feel stimulation of the cervix .
Women commonly report they can feel the Pap smear procedure in which tissues are scraped from the cervix surface .
Many women undergoing cervical dilation for insertion of an intrauterine device ( IUD ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study , when women stimulated their cervix , the same part of their brain responded as when they stimulated their clitoris or vagina .
They also reported they could feel each region distinctly .
The contribution of the cervix to orgasm is described in popular media and some women report cervical-stimulated orgasms as having qualities different from clitoral or vaginal-stimulated orgasms .
Researchers also know the cervix is sensate based on the effects surgery can have on it .
While well-intentioned medical procedures are designed to treat significant gynecological problems , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nerve supply of the cervix .
According to one study , when the cervix is saved in a “ sub-total ” hysterectomy , women are significantly more likely to continue experiencing orgasms than when the cervix is removed in a “ total ” hysterectomy .
Another review of recent hysterectomy procedures , though , found no significant difference in the effects on sexual response between the two types of surgery .
However , while the majority of the women reported an improvement in their sexual response , due to the resolution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in almost every one of the 22 reports reviewed , multiple women stated that their genital sensations were diminished .
The discrepancies in the literature might well be due to different women ’ s preferred source of stimulation .
Some women undergoing an often-used loop electrosurgical excision procedure ( LEEP ) for the excision of lesions on the cervix report sexual side effects .
Some women describe a consequent distressing loss of orgasm and erotic feeling in body regions including the clitoris and vagina .
The procedure , in which a cone-shaped volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cauterizing wire loop , may be causing destruction of nerve pathways that normally convey genital sensation to the brain .
In another common surgical procedure for treatment of stress urinary incontinence , surgeons insert a mesh “ mid-urethral sling ” between the vagina and the urethra to produce a slight bend in the urethra , thereby adding resistance to the flow of urine .
The sling may damage nerves that carry sensation from the vagina and cervix .
Indeed , some women report reduced orgasm satisfaction after surgery .
Doctors should be aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hypogastric and vagus – convey sensation from the cervix to the brain .
If any of these nerves are compromised , it can profoundly affect sexual pleasure .
If surgical treatment is necessary , doctors should attempt to avoid the location of critical nerve pathways to minimize sensory damage .
Patients and their health care providers are often reluctant to discuss sensitive issues , such as possible side effects relating to sexual pleasure .
At the very least , doctors should inform their patients of the possible detrimental consequences of their proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-03-21--Bloomberg Bails On Pledge To Employ Campaign Staffers Throughout Election

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a move Friday that will almost certainly cause many of the people who worked on the billionaire ’ s presidential bid their jobs amid a shrinking economy .
Bloomberg donated the $ 18 million to the Democratic Party after previously promising to create an independent expenditure campaign ahead of the election that would have kept staff employed throughout November .
Many of his former employees must now find other forms of employment .
“ He ’ s chopping his employees in a pandemic , ” one staffer in Florida , who asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nondisclosure agreement with the Bloomberg campaign , told BuzzFeed .
“ My life is now uprooted and I ’ m effectively homeless.
” Other staffers shared stories .
“ It ’ s fucking scary , ” another staffer , who also spoke anonymously to BuzzFeed , said of the thought getting dropped from their insurance during a worldwide pandemic .
He said the campaign staffers were “ completely blindsided.
” Some staffers can reapply for different jobs in on Democratic campaigns , albeit under different pay grades .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s short-lived White House bid .
Bloomberg paid his campaign state press secretaries $ 10,000 a month , while his team ’ s state political directors were making $ 12,000 a month , The New York Post reported in January as the former Republican-turned Democrat ramped up his campaign .
Every staffer received a MacBook Pro and an iPhone 11 , the report notes , citing anonymous sources .
Stu Loeser , a Bloomberg spokesman , defended the lavish salaries and luxuries .
“ We ’ ve put together an amazingly strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to beating Donald Trump , and we are happy to pay staff well to do that , ” Loeser told the New York Post in January .
Bloomberg explained his reasoning behind the move .
“ While we considered creating our own independent entity to support the nominee and hold the President accountable , this race is too important to have many competing groups with good intentions but that are not coordinated and united in strategy and execution , ” the campaign wrote in a memo Friday to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man during his short presidential run , dumping more than $ 234 million into TV , radio and digital ads in the Super Tuesday states .
He suspended his campaign March 4 after a poor showing and tossed his unbridled support behind Biden , who throttled his Democratic opponents .
Biden fleshed out big wins in Minnesota , Alabama , Oklahoma and Tennessee , while Bloomberg managed to scrape together a win in American Samoa .
Bloomberg spent roughly $ 500 million on ads leading up to Super Tuesday , plastering advertisements on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The major digital push was all for naught , as it turns out .
The DNC took Bloomberg ’ s cash infusion in stride .
“ Our country is in crisis , and a change in presidential leadership is more important now than ever to protect our families , our communities and our economy , ” Perez said in a statement .
“ With this transfer from the Bloomberg campaign , Mayor Bloomberg and his team are making good on their commitment to beating Donald Trump.
” Federal rules allow individuals to donate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Bloomberg is taking advantage of a provision in campaign finance law allowing federal candidates to provide an unlimited amount of cash to party committees .
The Federal Election Commission lacks a quorum so the agency will not be able to provide guidance on the legality .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign has not provided a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-03-22--New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Says New York To Begin Trials For Malaria Drug Touted By Trump

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that his state is set to begin clinical trials this week for a malaria drug that President Donald Trump has touted as a possible treatment for coronavirus .
“ The president is optimistic about these drugs , and we are all optimistic that it could work , ” Cuomo said at a daily press conference in Albany .
Cuomo said that state health officials have procured 750,000 doses of the malaria drug chloroquine ; 70,000 doses of its derivative , hydroxychloroquine ; and 10,000 doses of the antibiotic Zithromax to use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials have expressed cautious optimism after lab trials and a clinical trial conducted in France showed that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been effective at fighting the virus .
Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean of the school for tropical medicine at Baylor School of Medicine , told the Daily Caller News Foundation that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have “ a lot of potential , ” but that “ we ’ re not going on a lot of data yet.
” Trump on Thursday directed the Food and Drug Administration to speed wave “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various anti-viral therapies for use against coronavirus .
On Friday , he called the chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine potential “ game-changer ( s ) .
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , a leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force , tamped down Trump ’ s remarks at the same press conference , saying that studies so far have been “ anecdotal ” and not definitive .
“ It was not done in a controlled clinical trial .
So you really can ’ t make any definitive statement about it.
” Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that the drugs will work .
“ I want to thank the FDA for moving very expeditiously to get us this supply .
The president ordered the FDA to move , and the FDA moved , ” Cuomo said , adding that health experts have told him that “ there is a good basis to believe that they could work.
” The coronavirus pandemic has hit New York harder than any other state .
Cuomo said Sunday that the state has 15,168 cases , or more than half of all cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cases are in New York City .
Several other clinical trials are underway for the drugs .
The University of Minnesota started a 1,500-patient trial last week .


freedomdaily--2020-03-22--‘COMPLETE AND UTTER BULL****’: Abortion Supporters Furious After Ohio Shuts Down ‘Nonessential’ Abor

‘COMPLETE AND UTTER BULL****’: Abortion Supporters Furious After Ohio Shuts Down ‘Nonessential’ Abortion Providers

Abortion supporters lashed out after Ohio ordered abortion providers to shut down in light of the coronavirus .
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sent Friday letters to the Women ’ s Med Center in Dayton , Ohio and Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio ’ s Cincinnati Surgery Center ordering the abortion clinics to stop providing any services that require personal protective equipment , Ohio Attorney General spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle told CBS News Saturday .
The order applies to all nonsurgical procedures that use Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) , McCorkle told the Daily Caller News Foundation , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urology group Saturday .
PPE can include respirators , eye protection , hearing protection , protective clothing , gas masks , gloves , overalls , boots , and googles , according to the CDC .
“ You and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions .
Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient , ” the letter said .
Yost ’ s letter added that if the facility did not “ immediately stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compliance with the [ health director ’ s ] order , ” the Department of Health would take appropriate measures .
Yost agrees with Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton that “ we can ’ t allow the politics of things to get in the way of what we need to do in a state of emergency , ” McCorkle told the DCNF .
Abortion supporters responded to this news with anger .
“ The state of Ohio has ordered abortion clinics in their state to shut down because they are non @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winstead .
“ This is creating ANOTHER HEALTHCARE CRISIS .
Needing an abortion is time sensitive and VERY ESSENTIAL to a person who needs one.
” Renee Bracey Sherman , an abortion writer who calls herself the “ Queen of All Abortions , ” tweeted that the order “ IS BULLSHIT .
COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT.
” “ Make no mistake : this isn ’ t about public health , ” tweeted writer Lauren Rankin .
“ This is a despicable use of a global pandemic to end legal abortion in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is an unprecedented time & people ’ s health & safety must be protected ; but the gov ’ t shouldn ’ t use this crisis as an excuse to target clinics & try to take away the ability of Ohioans to access abortion , which is time-sensitive , essential health care , ” the ACLU of Ohio tweeted .
The Huffington Post captioned the publication ’ s coverage of the news with the tweet , “ The attorney general is using concerns about limited supplies of protective medical gear to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right wing zealots in Ohio are cravenly trying to use # COVIDー19 to shut abortion clinics across the state , ” National Abortion Rights Action League President Ilyse Hogue said in a tweet .
“ Even in a national crisis , they don ’ t stop their relentless assaults on women and pregnant people .
Abortion services are essential .
Clinics must stay open .
”


freedomdaily--2020-03-22--“Key Milestone”: FDA Approves Coronavirus Test That Can Provide Results In 45 Minutes

The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) approved the use of a coronavirus test that can detect the virus within 45 minutes , the company that makes the tests announced on Saturday .
The FDA approved the test , created by Cepheid , a California-based medical device company , through Emergency Use Authorization , a process the helps circumvent the lengthy approval process for drugs , medical supplies and diagnostic measures .
Cepheid said that its “ point-of-care ” test is compatible with 23,000 automated systems it has in hospitals around the world .
Five thousand of those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ We have developed a test that provides reference lab-quality results in multiple settings where actionable treatment information is needed quickly , ” Dr. David Persing , Chief Medical and Technology Officer at Cepheid , said in the statement .
“ Our automated systems do not require users to have specialty training to perform testing — they are capable of running 24/7 , with many systems already doing so today.
” Cepheid said the test will begin shipping out next week .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , called the approval a “ key milestone ” in the coronavirus fight .
Cepheid did not expect the FDA to approve a speedy test until April at the earliest , the New York Times reported on March 3 .
The approval comes as health officials in states hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic are urging that tests be conducted only on health care workers and people in the hospital .
The Washington Post reported that officials in California and New York have said that widespread testing will deplete inventories of medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already in sparse supply .
The number of coronavirus cases has increased significantly over the past week as test kits have been developed and more widely distributed to hospitals and state labs .
As of Saturday , nearly 20,000 Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .


freedomdaily--2020-03-22--Biden Comes Out Of Hibernation, Plans Regular Briefings From His Home Rebutting Trump’s Alleged Lies

Topics in this post : Joe Biden the 2020 Election Former Vice President Joe Biden is retrofitting his Delaware home to set up virtual briefings that will allow the presidential candidate to pushback against what he says are President Donald Trump ’ s lies about coronavirus .
Biden ’ s house is being outfitted with technology allowing him to conduct tele-press conferences and interviews while he practices social distancing amid a pandemic , Biden told Politico in a Friday report .
This comes after Biden took a hiatus from the trail following his Super Tuesday victories .
He spent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and governors , Biden said in the interview .
“ I would like to get in the position and we ’ re trying to work out so that the headquarters … to be able to accommodate my directly answering questions in front of a press that ’ s assigned to me , ” Biden said of the homemade operation .
He added : “ We ’ ve hired a professional team to do that now .
And excuse the expression that ’ s a little above my pay grade to know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings are necessary to factcheck what he believes are Trump ’ s lies and distortions regarding the coronavirus .
Biden ’ s sustained silence in the middle of a heated election year drew significant chatter online .
“ Joe Biden ’ s omnipresence , steely calm and inspiring leadership has shown the US what A Real President does in times of crises , ” journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted Friday .
“ Oh wait — has anyone seen Joe ?
” Trump invoked the Defense Protection Act on March 18 , giving the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce medical equipment to combat the coronavirus .
Death toll in the U.S. reached 100 Tuesday and experts warn the virus has not yet peaked .
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