investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--The SH*T Is Actually Hitting the Fan But Somehow It Doesn’t Feel Real

So here we are .
Right on the cusp of that SHTF event that we ’ ve been prepping for all these years .
Shoppers who are already becoming agitated and even violent .
We ’ re watching it all unfold in our hometowns and across our nation right now .
Yet , somehow , it still doesn ’ t feel real to me .
Is it just me who finds this hard to fathom ?
Am I the only one who still thinks doubtful thoughts ?
Like “ No way .
It ’ s going to be okay .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a little scare , just like Ebola and MERS and SARS.
” I ’ ve researched and written about this stuff for years .
I always knew it could happen .
I was whole-heartedly convinced of these possibilities and yet when this situation began to move irrevocably toward disaster , I find myself , somehow , shocked .
I can ’ t be the only one who has prepared for this yet still feels stuck in normalcy bias , thinking “ this isn ’ t going to get as bad as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events unfold around us pretty much like we in the survival community always predicted .
There ’ s still that doubtful voice in my head , making me wonder about spending even more money on another “ last ” shopping trip .
Heck , maybe this makes me a bad prepper .
A fake survivalist .
A fraud .
Or maybe it ’ s only natural to think that life will keep moving on pretty much like it always has .
Will Covid-19 really be the thing that brings us down ?
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d like to say no with firm conviction .
After all , there have been close calls before .
But the rational part of me won ’ t allow that firm conviction , despite the part that says , don ’ t be silly , everything will be just fine after a brief blip .
I believe it ’ s okay to feel this way as long as you don ’ t allow it to get in the way of your preparations or of your acceptance of the disaster when it actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe I ’ m oversharing here and a whole bunch of folks will unsubscribe .
I don ’ t know .
But if others are feeling the same way , I want you to know that you aren ’ t alone .
I think people have come down on one of two sides since the Covid-19 virus first came onto our radar back in late December or early January .
Some people have thought , “ This is the next plague ” while others have thought , “ So what ?
The flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re down to the wire , we ’ ll soon find out which line of thinking was the most accurate .
A lot of this goes down to a decision .
Are you going to believe your gut or are you going to believe the logical normalcy bias that tells you this isn ’ t how things go in the United States of America ?
My gut has been telling me since mid-January that this thing is a major event .
After all , would China have tanked its economy and locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , welding their doors closed in many cases , if this novel coronavirus was no big deal ?
Would Italy have locked down their entire country and begun turning away patients over the age of 65 to funnel resources to those more likely to survive if this was just another common , everyday flu ?
But the logical side of me says , “ This is the US .
We will be just fine.
” Because we ’ ve always been just fine in my lifetime .
We were bruised and shaken , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 .
We were fine when Ebola reached our shores back in 2014 .
We recovered after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy and all the other named storms that have hit .
We ’ re Americans .
We are resilient .
It ’ s who we are .
However , our resilience may not be enough to conquer a crisis that was badly mishandled from the get-go .
It may not be enough to overcome less than a million hospital beds in a country with more than 327 million people .
The enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about and we can ’ t even believe the numbers out there from China or our own government .
This afternoon when I heard there was a press conference in the Rose Garden at 3 pm , I had a bad feeling .
I wondered if my calculations were off when I figured that we could begin to see major quarantines in about a week .
I headed to the store with my 19-year-old daughter to get there ahead of the crowds that would certainly be imminent if such an announcement was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , extra pet food , some hardware , and extra frozen vegetables .
When I went to the grocery store , I saw that frozen veggies were on sale 10 for $ 10 .
I grabbed 10 bags of frozen spinach and saw a rotund angry-looking woman glaring at me .
I gave her a “ what ?
” look and she said , “ Aren ’ t you going to leave any for other people ?
” I said politely , “ I ’ m sorry .
Did you want some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 bags from my cart and offered them to her .
She said , “ No , I don ’ t want any spinach .
A $ $ hole.
” I replied calmly , “ Okay , well , have a nice day ” and left with my spinach .
I wasn ’ t about to get into an altercation at Kroger over a one-dollar bag of spinach the other woman didn ’ t even want .
It looks like that de-escalation course I took paid off because my first instinct was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I saw the tension on people ’ s faces as they pushed their carts quickly up and down the aisles , the tunnel vision obvious .
If someone stopped in an aisle – a common thing to do at the grocery store – the folks behind them would give a loud sigh of annoyance .
I even saw a couple of people bumping into others with their carts – whether it was carelessness or deliberately done , I couldn ’ t tell .
I left the store with my purchases , happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with what I had .
I know that I ’ m as well-stocked as I can get with the money that I have .
If it ’ s not enough , then we ’ ll move through plans B , C , and the rest of the alphabet .
I can ’ t be the only person who finds the official response to be much too little , far too late .
To be perfectly clear , I don ’ t really blame the President or the Vice President .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no matter what they do , the outcome is bad .
If they shut everything down completely , there would be panic the likes of which we ’ ve never seen .
And the economic fallout would be exponentially worse than it already is .
This also impairs their ability to be totally forthcoming .
While people in the preparedness community would prefer brutal facts over soothing fiction , most people really don ’ t want to know how bad things are or how bad they ’ ll become .
So the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until they can dance no more and we reach a point where the truth is obvious to even the most obvious clinger to normalcy .
On the other hand , the press conference at the White House left me feeling even more uneasy than I had felt before .
Parading a bunch of CEOs before us and showing that ridiculous flow chart that looked like something a 4th grader might hand in for a school project certainly did nothing to make me feel like things were “ under control.
” I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of CVS pharmacies thinks about the outbreak or his ability to keep stores running .
In fact , the main thing I gathered from that is that CVS , Walmart , and Target will be the distribution points that remain open during the crisis .
Mom and Pop stores may not have access to warehouses or supplies .
This way it will be easier for the government to ration things out and enforce rules like “ one bag of rice per household ” should it come to that .
I actually posted an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
I thought that President Trump looked and sounded unwell during the press conference .
Whether that is the effect of stress or he ’ s become ill , it ’ s impossible to say .
All in all , I was not reassured by anything in that press conference .
Rationally , I ’ m aware that with the increase in confirmed cases and the exponential spread of this virus , we ’ ve probably passed the point of no return .
The New York Times explains exponential growth with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases confirmed on certain dates .
And on the morning of March 14 , we ’ re up to 2175 cases .
As the “ drive-through ” testing facilities open up with free tests , we can expect that number to grow quite a lot .
This is exactly the situation that China , Italy , Iran , and all the other countries with massive outbreaks have found themselves in and the United States is probably next .
Is the SHTF really happening ?
We are still at a stage in a shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SHTF is hiding under .
Nobody knows if we can reel things in and gain control of the situation .
Nobody knows if we ’ re going to go the way of Italy , where an entire nation is locked down and singing from their balconies to raise morale in a desperate situation .
I wonder if people who have lived through horrible situations ever imagined in their wildest dreams how bad things would get .
I know that in Selco ’ s book , SHTF Survival Stories , he wrote about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen the way they did .
There was a period of adjustment and all the rules changed but a lot of folks didn ’ t accept the changes soon enough and they did not survive .
When I silence the part of my mind that says , this can ’ t be happening , I ’ m only left with the realistic part that says , “ Yes .
It is.
” While we don ’ t 100 % know how this pandemic will play out in our country , we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In her book , The Covid-19 Survival Manual , Cat Ellis talked about the inability of our hospitals to handle thousands of patients .
We have less than a million beds in a country of 327 million people .
And most of those beds are not in places equipped to handle highly contagious sick people .
And what about the people with other health issues ?
Our medical system won ’ t be able to handle exponential growth no matter how hard they try or how much they want to help .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and discount stores across the country look like a horde of locusts went through and decimated the inventory , I know this is a bad sign .
When a friend who manages a large grocery store says to me , “ Our truck was only half full today .
If buying and inventory continue like this , we will be out of food by Monday , ” I can only imagine the havoc that stores out of food will wreak .
It ’ s going to be like Black Friday times a thousand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years .
This entire thing is surreal , isn ’ t it ?
If I ’ ve written about and prepared for the SHTF for years and am having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that we ’ re in the early stages of it , what must it feel like for someone who is brand new to the concept ?
It ’ s one thing to watch it happen someplace far away from the screen of our laptops or televisions but entirely another to watch it unfold at home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have to act quickly and decisively .
One of the most important things I ’ ve learned from Selco is about accepting the new rules .
One of the most important things he taught me is to adapt quickly ( immediately ) to the “ new rules ” that apply when the SHTF .
And to do that , you need to know what it ’ s like so you won ’ t be shocked…frozen…paralyzed by the things taking place right in front of you .
When there is a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer apply .
The rules about waiting patiently for the government to save you ?
The rules about how people won ’ t walk up and steal from you in broad daylight because they ’ ll be arrested ?
The rules that you will get paid for your work and then you can go to the store and buy what you need ?
Those rules will be gone .
And when you start seeing these new rules appear you will know that the sh*t has hit the oscillating device and the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know this and yet I still think ( hope ) in one part of my mind that it won ’ t happen that way here .
That ’ s the most dangerous misconception in survival .
The other part of my mind knows that it could .
And that ’ s the part which propels me through getting prepared despite what the doubtful side whispers .
It ’ s not just you .
So if you ’ ve found yourself not quite believing what you ’ re seeing , not quite believing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America at any point now , you aren ’ t alone .
If you look at everything heading to hell on a greasy slide and think it doesn ’ t feel real , it ’ s not just you .
I ’ m feeling that way myself .
I ’ m sharing this because I bet a lot of people are feeling the same way .
Second-guessing themselves .
Doubting themselves .
Feeling like they aren ’ t good preppers .
You aren ’ t alone and I ’ ll bet a whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admit it feel this way too .
We don ’ t believe it because we don ’ t want to believe it .
We never actually wanted to be right when we stockpiled and learned skills and bought more supplies that we actually had room to house .
But the thing that puts us ahead in this situation is that we prepared anyway .
We learned anyway .
And when we see the more obvious signs of a societal breakdown we will be able to accept it a lot faster than those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes about current events , preparedness , frugality , voluntaryism , and the pursuit of liberty on her website , The Organic Prepper .
She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site , PreppersDailyNews.com .
Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company .
You can find her on Facebook , Pinterest , and Twitter .

by Daisy Luther
So here we are. Right on the cusp of that SHTF event that we’ve been prepping for all these years.
A global pandemic.
A breakdown in the supply chain.
Shoppers who are already becoming agitated and even violent.
We’re watching it all unfold in our hometowns and across our nation right now.
Yet, somehow, it still doesn’t feel real to me. Is it just me who finds this hard to fathom? Am I the only one who still thinks doubtful thoughts? Like “No way. It’s going to be okay. You’re overreacting. It’s a little scare, just like Ebola and MERS and SARS.”
I’ve researched and written about this stuff for years. I always knew it could happen. I was whole-heartedly convinced of these possibilities and yet when this situation began to move irrevocably toward disaster, I find myself, somehow, shocked.
I can’t be the only one who has prepared for this yet still feels stuck in normalcy bias, thinking “this isn’t going to get as bad as you think” even as I watch the events unfold around us pretty much like we in the survival community always predicted. There’s still that doubtful voice in my head, making me wonder about spending even more money on another “last” shopping trip.
Heck, maybe this makes me a bad prepper. A fake survivalist. A fraud.
Or maybe it’s only natural to think that life will keep moving on pretty much like it always has.
Will Covid-19 really be the thing that brings us down? Will the nation devolve into chaos? I’d like to say no with firm conviction. After all, there have been close calls before. But the rational part of me won’t allow that firm conviction, despite the part that says, don’t be silly, everything will be just fine after a brief blip.
I believe it’s okay to feel this way as long as you don’t allow it to get in the way of your preparations or of your acceptance of the disaster when it actually unfolds in all its shocking reality.
Maybe I’m oversharing here and a whole bunch of folks will unsubscribe. I don’t know. But if others are feeling the same way, I want you to know that you aren’t alone.
Instincts vs. Normalcy Bias
I think people have come down on one of two sides since the Covid-19 virus first came onto our radar back in late December or early January. Some people have thought, “This is the next plague” while others have thought, “So what? The flu is more deadly.” Now that we’re down to the wire, we’ll soon find out which line of thinking was the most accurate.
A lot of this goes down to a decision. Are you going to believe your gut or are you going to believe the logical normalcy bias that tells you this isn’t how things go in the United States of America?
My gut has been telling me since mid-January that this thing is a major event. After all, would China have tanked its economy and locked down a city of 20 million people, welding their doors closed in many cases, if this novel coronavirus was no big deal? Would Italy have locked down their entire country and begun turning away patients over the age of 65 to funnel resources to those more likely to survive if this was just another common, everyday flu?
But the logical side of me says, “This is the US. We will be just fine.” Because we’ve always been just fine in my lifetime. We were bruised and shaken, but bounced back with fierce resolve on 9/11. We were fine when Ebola reached our shores back in 2014. We recovered after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy and all the other named storms that have hit. We’re Americans. We are resilient. It’s who we are.
However, our resilience may not be enough to conquer a crisis that was badly mishandled from the get-go. It may not be enough to overcome less than a million hospital beds in a country with more than 327 million people. The enemy is a virus we know hardly anything about and we can’t even believe the numbers out there from China or our own government.
People are getting tense.
This afternoon when I heard there was a press conference in the Rose Garden at 3 pm, I had a bad feeling. I wondered if my calculations were off when I figured that we could begin to see major quarantines in about a week. I headed to the store with my 19-year-old daughter to get there ahead of the crowds that would certainly be imminent if such an announcement was made. We picked up extra cat litter, extra pet food, some hardware, and extra frozen vegetables.
When I went to the grocery store, I saw that frozen veggies were on sale 10 for $10. I grabbed 10 bags of frozen spinach and saw a rotund angry-looking woman glaring at me. I gave her a “what?” look and she said, “Aren’t you going to leave any for other people?”
I said politely, “I’m sorry. Did you want some of the spinach?” I picked up 3 bags from my cart and offered them to her.
She said, “No, I don’t want any spinach. A$$hole.”
I replied calmly, “Okay, well, have a nice day” and left with my spinach. I wasn’t about to get into an altercation at Kroger over a one-dollar bag of spinach the other woman didn’t even want. It looks like that de-escalation course I took paid off because my first instinct was not to be pleasant and disregard her insults.
I saw the tension on people’s faces as they pushed their carts quickly up and down the aisles, the tunnel vision obvious. If someone stopped in an aisle – a common thing to do at the grocery store – the folks behind them would give a loud sigh of annoyance. I even saw a couple of people bumping into others with their carts – whether it was carelessness or deliberately done, I couldn’t tell.
I left the store with my purchases, happy to get out of there and content with what I had. I know that I’m as well-stocked as I can get with the money that I have. If it’s not enough, then we’ll move through plans B, C, and the rest of the alphabet.
The official response
I can’t be the only person who finds the official response to be much too little, far too late.
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To be perfectly clear, I don’t really blame the President or the Vice President. They’re in a rather impossible situation in which no matter what they do, the outcome is bad. If they shut everything down completely, there would be panic the likes of which we’ve never seen. And the economic fallout would be exponentially worse than it already is.
This also impairs their ability to be totally forthcoming. While people in the preparedness community would prefer brutal facts over soothing fiction, most people really don’t want to know how bad things are or how bad they’ll become. So the government will continue to dance around the subject until they can dance no more and we reach a point where the truth is obvious to even the most obvious clinger to normalcy.
On the other hand, the press conference at the White House left me feeling even more uneasy than I had felt before.
Parading a bunch of CEOs before us and showing that ridiculous flow chart that looked like something a 4th grader might hand in for a school project certainly did nothing to make me feel like things were “under control.” I don’t care at all what the head of CVS pharmacies thinks about the outbreak or his ability to keep stores running.
In fact, the main thing I gathered from that is that CVS, Walmart, and Target will be the distribution points that remain open during the crisis. Mom and Pop stores may not have access to warehouses or supplies. This way it will be easier for the government to ration things out and enforce rules like “one bag of rice per household” should it come to that. I actually posted an article about this topic a few months back.
I thought that President Trump looked and sounded unwell during the press conference. Whether that is the effect of stress or he’s become ill, it’s impossible to say.
All in all, I was not reassured by anything in that press conference.
What is exponential growth?
Rationally, I’m aware that with the increase in confirmed cases and the exponential spread of this virus, we’ve probably passed the point of no return. The New York Times explains exponential growth with this chart. These are the number of cases confirmed on certain dates.
Jan. 21 — 1
Jan. 28 — 5
Feb. 4 — 11
Feb. 11 — 14
Feb. 18 — 25
Feb. 25 — 59
Mar. 3 — 125
Mar. 10 — 1,004
And on the morning of March 14, we’re up to 2175 cases. As the “drive-through” testing facilities open up with free tests, we can expect that number to grow quite a lot.
The magnitude of the outbreak creeps up on you; it doesn’t look like things are growing very much, and then suddenly they are. Today, the U.S. is up to at least 1,714 known cases and we’re only a couple of days on from when it was 1,004. It’s going to be 4,000 by Monday, and then it’s going to be 8,000 by next Wednesday, and then it’s…. Exponential growth is staggering when it takes over. Exponential growth is a classic pattern in which numbers stay small initially, but then you end up with very large numbers very quickly. If you start with a certain number, and then multiply that number by a growth factor every day, depending on what that growth rate is, you’ll see the cumulative number doubling over a certain time period. What really matters is how high that growth rate is. In the U.S. right now, according to Our World in Data, confirmed Covid-19 cases are increasing by about 30 to 40 percent per day and the total number is doubling about every two days. (source)
This is exactly the situation that China, Italy, Iran, and all the other countries with massive outbreaks have found themselves in and the United States is probably next.
Is the SHTF really happening?
We are still at a stage in a shell game and nobody knows which shell the SHTF is hiding under. Nobody knows if we can reel things in and gain control of the situation. Nobody knows if we’re going to go the way of Italy, where an entire nation is locked down and singing from their balconies to raise morale in a desperate situation.
I wonder if people who have lived through horrible situations ever imagined in their wildest dreams how bad things would get. I know that in Selco’s book, SHTF Survival Stories, he wrote about this. Nobody ever truly expected things to happen the way they did. There was a period of adjustment and all the rules changed but a lot of folks didn’t accept the changes soon enough and they did not survive.
When I silence the part of my mind that says, this can’t be happening, I’m only left with the realistic part that says, “Yes. It is.”
While we don’t 100% know how this pandemic will play out in our country, we have to be ready for things to go badly. In her book, The Covid-19 Survival Manual, Cat Ellis talked about the inability of our hospitals to handle thousands of patients. We have less than a million beds in a country of 327 million people. And most of those beds are not in places equipped to handle highly contagious sick people. And what about the people with other health issues? Our medical system won’t be able to handle exponential growth no matter how hard they try or how much they want to help.
When I look at how grocery stores and discount stores across the country look like a horde of locusts went through and decimated the inventory, I know this is a bad sign. When a friend who manages a large grocery store says to me, “Our truck was only half full today. If buying and inventory continue like this, we will be out of food by Monday,” I can only imagine the havoc that stores out of food will wreak.
It’s going to be like Black Friday times a thousand, something I’ve written about for years.
This entire thing is surreal, isn’t it?
If I’ve written about and prepared for the SHTF for years and am having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that we’re in the early stages of it, what must it feel like for someone who is brand new to the concept?
It’s one thing to watch it happen someplace far away from the screen of our laptops or televisions but entirely another to watch it unfold at home. However, we have to accept it and we have to act quickly and decisively. One of the most important things I’ve learned from Selco is about accepting the new rules.
One of the most important things he taught me is to adapt quickly (immediately) to the “new rules” that apply when the SHTF. And to do that, you need to know what it’s like so you won’t be shocked…frozen…paralyzed by the things taking place right in front of you. When there is a new set of rules, the old rules no longer apply. The rules about waiting patiently for the government to save you? The rules about how people won’t walk up and steal from you in broad daylight because they’ll be arrested? The rules that you will get paid for your work and then you can go to the store and buy what you need?
Those rules will be gone. And when you start seeing these new rules appear you will know that the sh*t has hit the oscillating device and the world as you knew it has changed.
I know this and yet I still think (hope) in one part of my mind that it won’t happen that way here. That’s the most dangerous misconception in survival.
The other part of my mind knows that it could. And that’s the part which propels me through getting prepared despite what the doubtful side whispers.
It’s not just you.
So if you’ve found yourself not quite believing what you’re seeing, not quite believing that all hell could break loose in America at any point now, you aren’t alone. If you look at everything heading to hell on a greasy slide and think it doesn’t feel real, it’s not just you. I’m feeling that way myself.
I’m sharing this because I bet a lot of people are feeling the same way. Second-guessing themselves. Doubting themselves. Feeling like they aren’t good preppers. You aren’t alone and I’ll bet a whole lot of folks who won’t admit it feel this way too.
We don’t believe it because we don’t want to believe it. We never actually wanted to be right when we stockpiled and learned skills and bought more supplies that we actually had room to house.
But the thing that puts us ahead in this situation is that we prepared anyway. We learned anyway. And when we see the more obvious signs of a societal breakdown we will be able to accept it a lot faster than those who never even considered it.
About Daisy
Daisy Luther writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--OFFICIAL: Fed orders Bailout2 before Crash2 takes full effect; Room Elephant Covid19 gives birth to

OFFICIAL: Fed orders Bailout2 before Crash2 takes full effect; Room Elephant Covid19 gives birth to a gerbil

Shock & Awe from the Fed , Pontius Pilate rules Washington & Bankfurt , sloppy Covid19 vapours from the politicians .
Summary : to Hell with the fiscal consequences , and SNAFU when it comes to protection of The People .
Fed money-printing pushes gold back down to $ 1522 .
Buy the dip , you can ’ t lose Fed actions will DOUBLE US National Debt liabilities by Spring 2021 The Tangerine Dream in the White House holds the chutzpah record in this collision of crises , in that he ’ s washing his hands of both of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this unenviable policy road remains a matter for conjecture , but whether one views recent events as “ s**t happens ” or diabolical conspiracy isn ’ t pertinent right now : reality is intervening fast .
Time to review the current state of play on this , Friday 13th .
[ Cue Outer Limits theme ] Yesterday , the New York Fed Reserve made an eye-watering offer of $ 1.7 trillion to those in the Repo sector suffering from lack of liquidity .
Just to be absolutely clear about this , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Planning slush fund in the entire history of Wall Street .
Not enough for the nervous ?
Nihil desperandum : starting next month , the existing monthly Repo assistance of $ 500 billion will be weekly for the foreseeable future .
This means $ 2 trillion a month will be available at hyper-cheap rates .
That means a total of $ 24 trillion will be at risk over a 12-month period – and while we must hope that most of it will be paid back , who do YOU trust to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way with 3M ( Modern Monetary Madness ) Doctor Death recommends the biggest credit giveaway as the best treatment of a financialised neoliberal system that has become unable to so much as break wind without 2 million megatonnes of credit at unviable rates of return .
There might be a clue in all that as to how to deal with Panicovid19 .
Somehow , I doubt it .
But of course , for the Bourse lunatics , it ’ s all jolly sound management .
Picking up on this ridiculous news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CET time .
US financial site Barron ’ s observed , ‘ The Dow Is Flying After Germany Does the Right Thing .
Now It ’ s the U.S. ’ s Turn ’ .
The illogic is mind-blowing .
Is this news or just PR ?
To take a specific example of this Born Again “ confidence ” , Apple shares leapt 6.8 % following a Wells Fargo upgrade of the stock .
Wells Fargo continues to be seen as a likely bank failure as the Bear Market correction unfolds .
No self @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nutshell : the cost of a Wall Street rally in 2020 is roughly equal to the cost of a global bank bailout in 2008 .
BUT NOTE : The Fed must be disappointed by the 3.5 % Dow rally that proved the futures wrong .
And several other markets have failed to react : Canada is down 12.5 % , Spain is down 14 % , Japan ’ s down 6 % , and the EUROSTOXX index was only up 1.5 % .
Handwashing is also the new black at the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first action as the ECB boss was to say , “ Nothing to do with me…it ’ s down to the politicians ” .
She does , for once , have a point : the reality is that there is nothing the ECB can do .
The slaughter in the eurozone markets yesterday was unparalleled , but rates in the Mickey Mouse area are already -0.5 % .
So far , in the face of bourse meltdown and Panicovid19 , the major EU politicians and Commissioners have slumped into silence .
Italy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ’ re on your own , Luigi ” .
The other thing to bear in mind with Our Christine , however , is that even if there was something to be done , she wouldn ’ t know what it was .
Perhaps her statement yesterday got confused with Panicovid19 : certainly , it did sound like a badly infected central bank declaring self-isolation .
Boris Johnson ’ s speech of earlier this week did at least say something about what was going to be done vis-a-vis Panicoviditis .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
He told us that some of our loved ones ( he means me ) were going to “ go before their time ” and that anyone who “ feels ill or tests positive should self-isolate for at least seven days ” .
The evidence we have suggests strongly that ( 1 ) Covid19 infects others before the carrier has any symptoms and ( 2 ) in some cases the incubation period can be 24 or more days .
BoJo then said that the Government would “ review ” the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thus also ignoring ( 3 ) the now agreed reality that the virus is 15 times more easy to catch than either SARS or MERS .
If you ’ re trying to contain such a highly infective agent , all crowds and confined spaces should be the first thing to go .
Rumour has it that the Dept of Health has increased its time-per-handwash recommendation from Happy Birthday to The 1812 Overture .
I couldn ’ t possibly comment .
My own view is that we should take precautions but let the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do ; it is almost certainly going to do that anyway , and the sooner we have a serum plus signs of burnout , the sooner we can get back to what passes for normal life these days .
The long and short of today ’ s opener is this : the EU , the Brits , the Yanks , the central banks , the politicians , the media and the public officials are ( as ever ) light on doey-doey , and lighter still on thinkey-thinkey .
At some point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argey-bargey .
Happily ( all things are relative ) Panicovid19 itself is beginning to yield more conclusive data series ; beyond the media frenzy , there is an underlying trend of key factors suggesting that guarded confidence might be reasonable : These numbers are from the Covid19daily site which , on initial investigation , doesn ’ t appear to have sinister links .
While confirmed cases are growing , infections are falling , recovery rates are rising , and deaths are flatlining .
Empirically , the real Covid19 facts are nowhere near enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meltdown , and a mind-boggling bailout reaction by the NY Fed .
The virus remains a Patsy : whether it was a convenient or planned Patsy , it is far too early to say .
Enjoy your weekend , safe in the knowledge that the 3 % isn ’ t clarifying whatTF Covid19 is really about , and has no solution to the debt crisis beyond the creation of more debt .
This is not a good look .

by John Ward
Shock & Awe from the Fed, Pontius Pilate rules Washington & Bankfurt, sloppy Covid19 vapours from the politicians. Summary: to Hell with the fiscal consequences, and SNAFU when it comes to protection of The People.
AMERICAN MARKET UPDATE at 4 pm EDT
Fed money-printing pushes gold back down to $1522. Buy the dip, you can’t lose
Dow bounces 3.5% after record NY Fed slush fund giveaway offer
Fed actions will DOUBLE US National Debt liabilities by Spring 2021
New Covid19 data series vindicates Slog assertion: it’s just a Patsy
The Tangerine Dream in the White House holds the chutzpah record in this collision of crises, in that he’s washing his hands of both of them. How he’s wound up on this unenviable policy road remains a matter for conjecture, but whether one views recent events as “s**t happens” or diabolical conspiracy isn’t pertinent right now: reality is intervening fast.
Time to review the current state of play on this, Friday 13th. [Cue Outer Limits theme]
Yesterday, the New York Fed Reserve made an eye-watering offer of $1.7 trillion to those in the Repo sector suffering from lack of liquidity. Just to be absolutely clear about this, that represents the biggest rebranded QE-style Sovyet Central Planning slush fund in the entire history of Wall Street.
Not enough for the nervous? Nihil desperandum: starting next month, the existing monthly Repo assistance of $500 billion will be weekly for the foreseeable future. This means $2 trillion a month will be available at hyper-cheap rates. That means a total of $24 trillion will be at risk over a 12-month period – and while we must hope that most of it will be paid back, who do YOU trust to do that in the current mayhem?
As is the way with 3M (Modern Monetary Madness) Doctor Death recommends the biggest credit giveaway as the best treatment of a financialised neoliberal system that has become unable to so much as break wind without 2 million megatonnes of credit at unviable rates of return. There might be a clue in all that as to how to deal with Panicovid19. Somehow, I doubt it.
But of course, for the Bourse lunatics, it’s all jolly sound management. Picking up on this ridiculous news, some European markets bounced back this morning CET time. US financial site Barron’s observed, ‘The Dow Is Flying After Germany Does the Right Thing. Now It’s the U.S.’s Turn’. The illogic is mind-blowing.
Is this news or just PR? To take a specific example of this Born Again “confidence”, Apple shares leapt 6.8% following a Wells Fargo upgrade of the stock. Wells Fargo continues to be seen as a likely bank failure as the Bear Market correction unfolds. No self interest here, folks….
Conclusion in a nutshell: the cost of a Wall Street rally in 2020 is roughly equal to the cost of a global bank bailout in 2008.
That’s one helluva rate of inflation.
BUT NOTE: The Fed must be disappointed by the 3.5% Dow rally that proved the futures wrong. And several other markets have failed to react: Canada is down 12.5%, Spain is down 14%, Japan’s down 6%, and the EUROSTOXX index was only up 1.5%.
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Handwashing is also the new black at the European Central Bank. Christine Lagarde’s first action as the ECB boss was to say, “Nothing to do with me…it’s down to the politicians”. She does, for once, have a point: the reality is that there is nothing the ECB can do. The slaughter in the eurozone markets yesterday was unparalleled, but rates in the Mickey Mouse area are already -0.5%. So far, in the face of bourse meltdown and Panicovid19, the major EU politicians and Commissioners have slumped into silence. Italy has more or less been told, “You’re on your own, Luigi”.
The other thing to bear in mind with Our Christine, however, is that even if there was something to be done, she wouldn’t know what it was. Perhaps her statement yesterday got confused with Panicovid19: certainly, it did sound like a badly infected central bank declaring self-isolation.
Boris Johnson’s speech of earlier this week did at least say something about what was going to be done vis-a-vis Panicoviditis. It’s just a pity it was the wrong thing. He told us that some of our loved ones (he means me) were going to “go before their time” and that anyone who “feels ill or tests positive should self-isolate for at least seven days”. The evidence we have suggests strongly that (1) Covid19 infects others before the carrier has any symptoms and (2) in some cases the incubation period can be 24 or more days.
BoJo then said that the Government would “review” the idea of closing soccer grounds, theatres and cinemas, thus also ignoring (3) the now agreed reality that the virus is 15 times more easy to catch than either SARS or MERS. If you’re trying to contain such a highly infective agent, all crowds and confined spaces should be the first thing to go.
Rumour has it that the Dept of Health has increased its time-per-handwash recommendation from Happy Birthday to The 1812 Overture. I couldn’t possibly comment.
My own view is that we should take precautions but let the virus do what it’s going to do; it is almost certainly going to do that anyway, and the sooner we have a serum plus signs of burnout, the sooner we can get back to what passes for normal life these days.
The long and short of today’s opener is this: the EU, the Brits, the Yanks, the central banks, the politicians, the media and the public officials are (as ever) light on doey-doey, and lighter still on thinkey-thinkey. At some point, this stereo crisis could easily turn into argey-bargey.
Happily (all things are relative) Panicovid19 itself is beginning to yield more conclusive data series; beyond the media frenzy, there is an underlying trend of key factors suggesting that guarded confidence might be reasonable:
These numbers are from the Covid19daily site which, on initial investigation, doesn’t appear to have sinister links.
While confirmed cases are growing, infections are falling, recovery rates are rising, and deaths are flatlining.
Empirically, the real Covid19 facts are nowhere near enough on their own to cause global bourse meltdown, and a mind-boggling bailout reaction by the NY Fed.
The virus remains a Patsy: whether it was a convenient or planned Patsy, it is far too early to say.
Enjoy your weekend, safe in the knowledge that the 3% isn’t clarifying whatTF Covid19 is really about, and has no solution to the debt crisis beyond the creation of more debt.
This is not a good look.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--Coronavirus: Out of Control? – What Can Be Done to Combat the Virus?

• What is SARS-CoV-2 ?
What is COVID-19 ?
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ) is the name given to the 2019 novel coronavirus .
COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus .
SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans .
• Where do coronaviruses come from ?
Coronaviruses are viruses that circulate among animals with some of them also known to infect humans .
Bats are considered as natural hosts of these viruses yet several other species of animals are also known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ( MERS-CoV ) is transmitted to humans from camels , and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1 ( SARS-CoV-1 ) is transmitted to humans from civet cats .
More information on coronaviruses can be found on the ECDC factsheet .
• Is this virus comparable to SARS or to the seasonal flu ?
The novel coronavirus detected in China is genetically closely related to the SARS-CoV-1 virus .
SARS emerged at the end of 2002 in China , and it caused more than 8 000 cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Around one in ten of the people who developed SARS died .
The current COVID-19 outbreak caused around 7 000 reported cases in China during the first month after initial reports ( January 2020 ) , with a further 80 000 cases reported globally during the second month ( February 2020 ) .
Of these first 87 000 cases , about 3 000 died .
Cases are now being detected in Europe and across the globe .
See the situation updates for the latest available information .
While the viruses that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmitted from person-to-person and may cause similar symptoms , the two viruses are very different and do not behave in the same way .
ECDC estimates that between 15 000 and 75 000 people die prematurely due to causes associated with seasonal influenza each year in the EU , the UK , Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein .
This is approximately 1 in every 1 000 people who are infected .
By comparison , the current estimated mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per 1 000 people .
Despite the relatively low mortality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die from the disease due to the large number of people who contract it each year .
The concern about COVID-19 is that , unlike influenza , there is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the disease .
It also appears to be as transmissible as influenza if not more so .
As it is a new virus , nobody has prior immunity which in theory means that the entire human population is potentially susceptible to COVID-19 infection .
• How severe is COVID-19 infection ?
Preliminary findings indicate that the mortality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people diagnosed .
This is significantly less than the 2003 SARS outbreak .
However , it is much higher than the mortality rate for seasonal influenza .
• What is the mode of transmission ?
How ( easily ) does it spread ?
While animals are the original source of the virus , it is now spreading from person to person ( human-to-human transmission ) .
There is not enough epidemiological information at this time to determine how easily and sustainably this virus spreads between people , but it is currently estimated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will infect between two and three more .
The virus seems to be transmitted mainly via respiratory droplets that people sneeze , cough , or exhale .
The virus can also survive for several hours on surfaces such as tables and door handles .
The incubation period for COVID-19 ( i.e .
the time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms ) is currently estimated at between two and 14 days .
At this stage , we know that the virus can be transmitted when people who are infected show flu-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence suggesting that transmission can occur from an infected person with no symptoms ; however , uncertainties remain about the effect of transmission by non symptomatic persons on the epidemic .
• What are the symptoms of COVID-19 infection The virus can cause mild , flu-like symptoms such as : • Are some people more at risk than others ?
Generally elderly people and those with underlying health conditions ( e.g .
hypertension , diabetes , cardiovascular disease , chronic respiratory disease and cancer ) are considered to be more at risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also at risk of infection ?
Disease in children appears to be relatively rare and mild .
A large study from China suggested that just over 2 % of cases were under 18 years of age .
Of these , fewer than 3 % developed severe or critical disease .
• What about pregnant women ?
There is limited scientific evidence on the severity of illness in pregnant women after COVID-19 infection .
That said , current evidence suggests that severity of illness among pregnant women after COVID-19 infection is similar to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no data that suggests infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy has a negative effect on the foetus .
At present , there is no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby occurring during pregnancy .
ECDC will continue to monitor the emerging scientific literature on this question , and suggests that all pregnant women follow the same precautions for the prevention of COVID-19 , including regular handwashing , avoiding individuals who are sick , and self-isolating in case of any symptoms , while consulting a healthcare provider by telephone for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the COVID-19 disease ?
There is no specific treatment for this disease , so healthcare providers treat the clinical symptoms ( e.g .
fever , difficulty breathing ) of patients .
Supportive care ( e.g .
fluid management , oxygen therapy etc . )
can be highly effective for patients with symptoms .
• When should I be tested for COVID-19 ?
Current advice for testing depends on the stage of the outbreak in the country or area where you live .
Countries across the EU/EEA might be in different scenarios , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing approaches will be adapted to the situation at national and local level .
National authorities may decide to only test subgroups of suspected cases based on the national capacity to test , the availability of necessary equipment for testing , the level of community transmission of COVID-19 , or any other criteria .
As a rational approach , national authorities may consider prioritising testing in the following groups : Powerful Antiviral Herbs that Boost the Immune System , Reduce Inflammation and Fight Infections The scary thing about contracting a virus is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also unpredictable , and viruses , including those that cause AIDS and viral hepatitis , evade these vaccine-induced immune responses and result in chronic infections .
What Are Antiviral Herbs ?
Antiviral herbs inhibit the development of viruses .
They can be used to treat infections without caution because they ’ re harmless and typically cause no or few side effects .
Many antiviral herbs boost the immune system , which allows the body to attack viral pathogens .
This can be even better than attacking specific pathogens , which antiviral drugs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over time and become less susceptible to treatment .
Not only do antiviral herbs fight viral infections , boost the immune system and work as flu natural remedies , but they have a number of other health benefits , such as cardiovascular , digestive and anti-inflammatory support .
When the season of colds and flu starts settling in there ’ s no way around them , as much as you try to protect yourself and stay healthy , it ’ s seems that they ’ re inevitable .
If you are one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colds , this drink is perfect for you .
Its main ingredient is the elderberry which is rich in powerful anti-viral and immune-boosting ingredients .
It will strengthen your immune system and protect you from viruses , quickly resolving that nasty cold that ’ s been bothering you for a while .
Take a look at this collection The Lost Book Of Remedies , taken word for word out of a circa 1845 manual .
What is The Lost Book of Remedies ?
The Lost Book of Remedies PDF contains a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made remedies from medicinal plants and herbs .
Chromic diseases and maladies can be overcome by taking the remedies outlined in this book .
The writer claims that his grandfather was taught herbalism and healing whilst in active service during world war two and that he has treated many soldiers with his home made cures .
Elderberry has a long , rich history of use for medicinal benefits by numerous cultures .
It fights infections including influenza , herpes , viral infections and bacterial infections .
A study published in the Journal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be used as a safe treatment for influenza A and B .
This is due to its efficacy on all strains of influenza virus that were tested , the clinical results , its low cost and the absence of side effects .
Most every part of the elderberry can be used — the flowers , bark , roots and leaves are often used for their amazing health benefits .
So discover elderberry benefits for your health today .
Echinacea has become one of the top-selling herbs of all time ; that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficial for immune support and overall health .
There is considerable evidence suggesting that phytochemicals in echinacea have the capacity to reduce virus infections and tumors .
This powerful herb contains a compound called echinacein that inhibits bacteria and viruses from penetrating healthy cells .
This greatly reduces the chances of contracting any type of infection while consuming echinacea .
Some more echinacea benefits include its ability to alleviate pain , reduce inflammation , improve skin problems , treat upper respiratory issues and improve mental health .
The flower petals of the calendula @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marigold , have been used for medicinal purposes since at least the 12th century .
This antiviral herb has high amounts of flavonoids , which are plant-based antioxidants that protect cells from being damaged by free radicals ; it also fights viruses , inflammation and bacteria .
The dried petals of the plant are used in tinctures , ointments and washes to treat infections , burns , wounds and heal cuts fast .
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center , ear drops containing calendula are sometimes used to treat ear infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found no side effects .
Experiments have shown that garlic — or specific chemical compounds found in garlic — is highly effective at killing countless microorganisms responsible for some of the most common and rarest infections , including tuberculosis , pneumonia , thrush and herpes .
Because of its antiviral properties , garlic can be used to treat eye infections and as a natural ear infection remedy .
Some more raw garlic benefits include its ability to reduce the risk of cancer , control hypertension , boost cardiovascular health and fight hair loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home , crush garlic cloves and add them to a carrier oil ( like olive oil ) .
Let the mixture sit for about five hours , and then strain the bits of garlic and keep the oil in a jar with a lid .
You can also swallow a raw clove of garlic ; you might need to cut it in half if it ’ s too large .
Bite down once to release the allicin ; then swallow with water like a pill .
Astragalus root , another powerful antiviral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese medicine for centuries , and its main use is to boost the body ’ s immune system .
Scientific studies have shown that astragalus has antiviral properties and stimulates the immune system , suggesting that it may help prevent the common cold or flu .
A 2004 study evaluated the effects of astragalus on herpes simplex virus type 1 and found that the herb has obvious inhibiting efficacy .
Another study published in the Chinese Medical Sciences Journal concluded that astragalus is able to inhibit the growth of coxsackie B virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-inflammatory properties , and it is used on the skin for wound care .
It ’ s also one the adaptogen herbs to lower cortisol .
The bark and root of cat ’ s claw have been used by South Americans for centuries to treat health problems including fevers , stomach ulcers , digestive conditions and dysentery .
Cat ’ s claw works as a natural arthritis remedy and treats ulcer symptoms as well .
Cat ’ s claw has antiviral properties , and it ’ s can helps get rid of herpes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on HIV as well .
This powerful herb is also anti-inflammatory , antibacterial and antifungal .
It ’ s used to treat digestive problems such as ulcers , irritable bowel syndrome , colitis and leaky gut syndrome .
The best way to consume cat ’ s claw regularly is by making an herbal tea with a tablespoon of the herb in eight ounces of water .
Ayurvedic medicine has praised ginger ’ s ability to boost the immune system before recorded history .
It believes that because ginger is so effective at warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the accumulation of toxins in your organs .
It ’ s also known to cleanse the lymphatic system , our body ’ s sewage system .
Ginger prevents the accumulation of toxins that make you susceptible to viral , fungal and bacterial infections .
Medicinal ginger health benefits also include working as a natural remedy for nausea , pain alleviation , anti-inflammatory properties and improving diabetes .
Licorice is emerging as a prominent player in the search for treatment and prevention for diseases like hepatitis C , HIV and influenza .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that confirms the antiviral activity of licorice root due to its triterpenoid content .
Another 2010 publication notes licorice ’ s antioxidant , free radical-scavenging and immunostimulating effects .
The olive leaf has antiviral properties , giving it the ability to treat the common cold and dangerous viruses , including candida symptoms , meningitis , pneumonia , chronic fatigue syndrome , hepatitis B , malaria , gonorrhea and tuberculosis ; it also treats dental , ear and urinary tract infections and is a natural treatment for shingles .
Research shows that olive leaf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease-causing microbes , including some viruses that cause influenza and other respiratory infections .
The powerful compounds found in olive leaves destroy invading organisms and don ’ t allow viruses to replicate and cause an infection .
In fact , the olive leaf is so beneficial to our health that treatment with olive leaf extracts reversed many HIV-1 infection-associated changes in a study done at the New York University School of Medicine .
Medicinal grade oregano is distilled to extract the essential oil and preserve its healing compounds ; in fact , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to produce just 1 pound of oregano oil !
Oregano oil benefits are proving to be superior to some antibiotics , without the harmful side effects .
That ’ s because oregano contains two powerful compounds , carvacrol and thymol , that have powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties .
It ’ s the carvacrol that reverses viral infections , as well as allergies , tumors , parasites and disease-causing inflammation .
Doubting the power of this antiviral herb ?
Well , there are over 800 scientific studies that reference carvacrol and its amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herbs Teas are a great way to get the antiviral benefits of herbs every day .
Steep one tablespoon of herbs in hot water for 5–10 minutes .
Ginger , for example , is great in an herbal tea after dinner .
It aids digestion and fights viruses .
Echinacea , for example , is a popular herbal tea that ’ s sold in most food stores , so the work is already done for you .
Herbal infusions are stronger than teas because they require a larger quantity of herbs .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cup of antiviral herbs in water for about 7 hours .
Keep the infusion in an air-tight jar , and drink it cold or heated .
Because the infusions are strong , don ’ t drink more than one cup a day .
An infused oil is when you heat the herb in a carrier oil for several hours .
You can use the oven to heat the mixture , or try leaving it in a hot and sunny place for 12 hours .
Use about 1/2 cup of antiviral herbs ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixture ) , and add it to 1 cup of coconut or jojoba oil .
If you heat the mixture in the oven , it should be in an oven-safe dish for 3 hours at 200 degrees .
If you decide not to use the oven , put the mixture in an air-tight jar and let it sit in a sunny place for about 12 hours .
Once the herbs are infused into the oil , drain the leaves and keep the oil in a jar .
You can use the oil topically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of these herbs are sold as essential oils ; make sure to purchase organic and pure essential oils from a reputable company .
To use essential oils benefits like their antiviral properties , diffuse 3–5 drops in your home , add 2–3 drops to warm bath water or mix 1–2 drops with a carrier oil and apply the mixture directly to the skin .
Massaging essential oils into your feet , abdomen and chest is useful when fighting a fever or flu symptoms .
If you are new to this natural remedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get you started .
A great way to get herbs into your everyday diet is by adding them to a smoothie .
My Cilantro Ginger Smoothie Recipe helps your body detoxify and soothes inflammation .
It also has antiviral and antibacterial properties .
Another great option is my Alkalizing Juice Recipe that has a knob of garlic ; this is a great way to fight viral infections and boost your cardiovascular health .
I recommend you try making herbal teas at home .
They ’ re easy and full of health benefits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place of turmeric — just follow my Turmeric Tea Recipe and add a teaspoon of the herb of your choice or 1–2 drops of an essential oil or oil infusion .
Don ’ t miss an opportunity to add these powerful antiviral herbs to your meals .
They can be thrown onto so many meals throughout the day , and it ’ s worth it !
Try my Veggie Omelet that calls for garlic and oregano — two antiviral herbs that fight infections .
An easy way to add these herbs into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy soups !
Choose from my 49 Healthy Soup Recipes ; you can add 2–5 drops of an essential oil , herbal infusion or oil infusion to any of these soups .
They boost the flavor and health benefits .
If you use infusions or essential oils , remember that the products are extremely potent and should not be taken for a long period of time .
If you use these natural remedies for their antiviral properties , do not consume them for more than two weeks .
Giving yourself a break between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are pregnant , be cautious of using essential oils and reach out to your health care provider before doing so .
Some of these antiviral herbs interact with medications , so read up on an herb before you begin consuming its extract or essential oil .
This drink is not just a powerful cold remedy ; its antiviral properties make it an excellent ally against cardiovascular issues , digestive problems and inflammations .
It ’ s guaranteed to make you stronger and more resistive to any medical condition .
Here ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pour the elderberry juice in a pot , add the lemon juice and bring the mixture to boil .
Let it simmer for 30 minutes and set it aside to cool down a bit .
Add a tablespoon of honey and drink it while it ’ s still warm for best results .

by Amy S.
What is SARS-CoV-2? What is COVID-19?
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the 2019 novel coronavirus. COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.
Where do coronaviruses come from?
Coronaviruses are viruses that circulate among animals with some of them also known to infect humans.
Bats are considered as natural hosts of these viruses yet several other species of animals are also known to be a source. For instance, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is transmitted to humans from camels, and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1) is transmitted to humans from civet cats. More information on coronaviruses can be found on the ECDC factsheet.
Is this virus comparable to SARS or to the seasonal flu?
The novel coronavirus detected in China is genetically closely related to the SARS-CoV-1 virus. SARS emerged at the end of 2002 in China, and it caused more than 8 000 cases in 33 countries over a period of eight months. Around one in ten of the people who developed SARS died.
The current COVID-19 outbreak caused around 7 000 reported cases in China during the first month after initial reports (January 2020), with a further 80 000 cases reported globally during the second month (February 2020). Of these first 87 000 cases, about 3 000 died. Cases are now being detected in Europe and across the globe. See the situation updates for the latest available information.
While the viruses that cause both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are transmitted from person-to-person and may cause similar symptoms, the two viruses are very different and do not behave in the same way. ECDC estimates that between 15 000 and 75 000 people die prematurely due to causes associated with seasonal influenza each year in the EU, the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This is approximately 1 in every 1 000 people who are infected. By comparison, the current estimated mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per 1 000 people.
Despite the relatively low mortality rate for seasonal influenza, many people die from the disease due to the large number of people who contract it each year. The concern about COVID-19 is that, unlike influenza, there is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the disease. It also appears to be as transmissible as influenza if not more so. As it is a new virus, nobody has prior immunity which in theory means that the entire human population is potentially susceptible to COVID-19 infection.
How severe is COVID-19 infection?
Preliminary findings indicate that the mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per thousand people diagnosed. This is significantly less than the 2003 SARS outbreak. However, it is much higher than the mortality rate for seasonal influenza. What is the mode of transmission? How (easily) does it spread?
While animals are the original source of the virus, it is now spreading from person to person (human-to-human transmission). There is not enough epidemiological information at this time to determine how easily and sustainably this virus spreads between people, but it is currently estimated that, on average, one infected person will infect between two and three more. The virus seems to be transmitted mainly via respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, or exhale. The virus can also survive for several hours on surfaces such as tables and door handles.
The incubation period for COVID-19 (i.e. the time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms) is currently estimated at between two and 14 days. At this stage, we know that the virus can be transmitted when people who are infected show flu-like symptoms such as coughing. There is evidence suggesting that transmission can occur from an infected person with no symptoms; however, uncertainties remain about the effect of transmission by non symptomatic persons on the epidemic.
Medical information
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 infection
The virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as:
fever
cough
difficulty breathing
muscle pain
tiredness
More serious cases develop severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and septic shock that can lead to death.
Are some people more at risk than others?
Generally elderly people and those with underlying health conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer) are considered to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms. Are children also at risk of infection?
Disease in children appears to be relatively rare and mild. A large study from China suggested that just over 2% of cases were under 18 years of age. Of these, fewer than 3% developed severe or critical disease. What about pregnant women?
There is limited scientific evidence on the severity of illness in pregnant women after COVID-19 infection. That said, current evidence suggests that severity of illness among pregnant women after COVID-19 infection is similar to that in non-pregnant adult COVID-19 cases, and there is no data that suggests infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy has a negative effect on the foetus. At present, there is no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby occurring during pregnancy. ECDC will continue to monitor the emerging scientific literature on this question, and suggests that all pregnant women follow the same precautions for the prevention of COVID-19, including regular handwashing, avoiding individuals who are sick, and self-isolating in case of any symptoms, while consulting a healthcare provider by telephone for advice. Is there a treatment for the COVID-19 disease?
There is no specific treatment for this disease, so healthcare providers treat the clinical symptoms (e.g. fever, difficulty breathing) of patients. Supportive care (e.g. fluid management, oxygen therapy etc.) can be highly effective for patients with symptoms. When should I be tested for COVID-19?
Current advice for testing depends on the stage of the outbreak in the country or area where you live. Countries across the EU/EEA might be in different scenarios, even within the same country, and testing approaches will be adapted to the situation at national and local level.
National authorities may decide to only test subgroups of suspected cases based on the national capacity to test, the availability of necessary equipment for testing, the level of community transmission of COVID-19, or any other criteria. As a rational approach, national authorities may consider prioritising testing in the following groups:
hospitalised patients with severe respiratory infections;
cases with acute respiratory infections in hospital or long-term care facilities;
patients with acute respiratory infections or influenza-like illness in certain outpatient clinics or hospitals in order to assess the extent of virus circulation in the population;
elderly people with underlying chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, cancer, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, liver disease, diabetes, and immunocompromising conditions
COVID-19 is causing fear around the world. Thousands have already died. Entire countries are under lockdown. The outbreak could trigger a global recession. What can be done to combat the virus?
Powerful Antiviral Herbs that Boost the Immune System, Reduce Inflammation and Fight Infections
The scary thing about contracting a virus is that antibiotics do not work. Vaccines are also unpredictable, and viruses, including those that cause AIDS and viral hepatitis, evade these vaccine-induced immune responses and result in chronic infections.
What Are Antiviral Herbs?
Antiviral herbs inhibit the development of viruses. They can be used to treat infections without caution because they’re harmless and typically cause no or few side effects. Many antiviral herbs boost the immune system, which allows the body to attack viral pathogens. This can be even better than attacking specific pathogens, which antiviral drugs are designed to do, because pathogens mutate over time and become less susceptible to treatment.
Not only do antiviral herbs fight viral infections, boost the immune system and work as flu natural remedies, but they have a number of other health benefits, such as cardiovascular, digestive and anti-inflammatory support.
When the season of colds and flu starts settling in there’s no way around them, as much as you try to protect yourself and stay healthy, it’s seems that they’re inevitable. If you are one of those who frequently suffer from the seasonal colds, this drink is perfect for you. Its main ingredient is the elderberry which is rich in powerful anti-viral and immune-boosting ingredients. It will strengthen your immune system and protect you from viruses, quickly resolving that nasty cold that’s been bothering you for a while.
Take a look at this collection The Lost Book Of Remedies, taken word for word out of a circa 1845 manual.
What is The Lost Book of Remedies? The Lost Book of Remedies PDF contains a series of medicinal and herbal recipes to make home made remedies from medicinal plants and herbs. Chromic diseases and maladies can be overcome by taking the remedies outlined in this book. The writer claims that his grandfather was taught herbalism and healing whilst in active service during world war two and that he has treated many soldiers with his home made cures.
Top 10 Antiviral Herbs
1. Elderberry
Elderberry has a long, rich history of use for medicinal benefits by numerous cultures. It fights infections including influenza, herpes, viral infections and bacterial infections. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that elderberry can be used as a safe treatment for influenza A and B. This is due to its efficacy on all strains of influenza virus that were tested, the clinical results, its low cost and the absence of side effects.
Most every part of the elderberry can be used — the flowers, bark, roots and leaves are often used for their amazing health benefits. So discover elderberry benefits for your health today.
2. Echinacea
Echinacea has become one of the top-selling herbs of all time; that’s because regular use of echinacea is beneficial for immune support and overall health. There is considerable evidence suggesting that phytochemicals in echinacea have the capacity to reduce virus infections and tumors. This powerful herb contains a compound called echinacein that inhibits bacteria and viruses from penetrating healthy cells. This greatly reduces the chances of contracting any type of infection while consuming echinacea.
Some more echinacea benefits include its ability to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, improve skin problems, treat upper respiratory issues and improve mental health.
3. Calendula
The flower petals of the calendula plant, which is sometimes called pot marigold, have been used for medicinal purposes since at least the 12th century. This antiviral herb has high amounts of flavonoids, which are plant-based antioxidants that protect cells from being damaged by free radicals; it also fights viruses, inflammation and bacteria. The dried petals of the plant are used in tinctures, ointments and washes to treat infections, burns, wounds and heal cuts fast.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ear drops containing calendula are sometimes used to treat ear infections in children, and scientific studies have found no side effects.
4. Garlic
Experiments have shown that garlic — or specific chemical compounds found in garlic — is highly effective at killing countless microorganisms responsible for some of the most common and rarest infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, thrush and herpes. Because of its antiviral properties, garlic can be used to treat eye infections and as a natural ear infection remedy.
Some more raw garlic benefits include its ability to reduce the risk of cancer, control hypertension, boost cardiovascular health and fight hair loss.
To make a garlic oil infusion at home, crush garlic cloves and add them to a carrier oil (like olive oil). Let the mixture sit for about five hours, and then strain the bits of garlic and keep the oil in a jar with a lid. You can also swallow a raw clove of garlic; you might need to cut it in half if it’s too large. Bite down once to release the allicin; then swallow with water like a pill.
5. Astragalus Root
Astragalus root, another powerful antiviral herb, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, and its main use is to boost the body’s immune system. Scientific studies have shown that astragalus has antiviral properties and stimulates the immune system, suggesting that it may help prevent the common cold or flu.
A 2004 study evaluated the effects of astragalus on herpes simplex virus type 1 and found that the herb has obvious inhibiting efficacy. Another study published in the Chinese Medical Sciences Journal concluded that astragalus is able to inhibit the growth of coxsackie B virus in mice. Astragalus also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is used on the skin for wound care. It’s also one the adaptogen herbs to lower cortisol.
6. Cat’s Claw
The bark and root of cat’s claw have been used by South Americans for centuries to treat health problems including fevers, stomach ulcers, digestive conditions and dysentery. Cat’s claw works as a natural arthritis remedy and treats ulcer symptoms as well.
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Cat’s claw has antiviral properties, and it’s can helps get rid of herpes. Early studies are researching its effects on HIV as well.
This powerful herb is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. It’s used to treat digestive problems such as ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and leaky gut syndrome. The best way to consume cat’s claw regularly is by making an herbal tea with a tablespoon of the herb in eight ounces of water.
7. Ginger
Ayurvedic medicine has praised ginger’s ability to boost the immune system before recorded history. It believes that because ginger is so effective at warming the body, it can help break down the accumulation of toxins in your organs. It’s also known to cleanse the lymphatic system, our body’s sewage system.
Ginger prevents the accumulation of toxins that make you susceptible to viral, fungal and bacterial infections. Medicinal ginger health benefits also include working as a natural remedy for nausea, pain alleviation, anti-inflammatory properties and improving diabetes.
8. Licorice Root
Licorice is emerging as a prominent player in the search for treatment and prevention for diseases like hepatitis C, HIV and influenza. The Chinese Journal of Virology published a review that confirms the antiviral activity of licorice root due to its triterpenoid content. Another 2010 publication notes licorice’s antioxidant, free radical-scavenging and immunostimulating effects.
Some more licorice root benefits include:
Sore throat remedy for fast relief
Cough natural remedy
Protection against leaky gut signs and symptoms
Heals adrenal fatigue
Pain relief
9. Olive Leaf
The olive leaf has antiviral properties, giving it the ability to treat the common cold and dangerous viruses, including candida symptoms, meningitis, pneumonia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis B, malaria, gonorrhea and tuberculosis; it also treats dental, ear and urinary tract infections and is a natural treatment for shingles.
Research shows that olive leaf extracts effectively fight against a number of disease-causing microbes, including some viruses that cause influenza and other respiratory infections. The powerful compounds found in olive leaves destroy invading organisms and don’t allow viruses to replicate and cause an infection. In fact, the olive leaf is so beneficial to our health that treatment with olive leaf extracts reversed many HIV-1 infection-associated changes in a study done at the New York University School of Medicine.
10. Oregano
Medicinal grade oregano is distilled to extract the essential oil and preserve its healing compounds; in fact, it takes over 1,000 pounds of wild oregano to produce just 1 pound of oregano oil!
Oregano oil benefits are proving to be superior to some antibiotics, without the harmful side effects. That’s because oregano contains two powerful compounds, carvacrol and thymol, that have powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s the carvacrol that reverses viral infections, as well as allergies, tumors, parasites and disease-causing inflammation. Doubting the power of this antiviral herb? Well, there are over 800 scientific studies that reference carvacrol and its amazing health benefits!
How to Use Antiviral Herbs
Herbal Tea
Teas are a great way to get the antiviral benefits of herbs every day. Steep one tablespoon of herbs in hot water for 5–10 minutes. Ginger, for example, is great in an herbal tea after dinner. It aids digestion and fights viruses. Echinacea, for example, is a popular herbal tea that’s sold in most food stores, so the work is already done for you.
Herbal Infusion
Herbal infusions are stronger than teas because they require a larger quantity of herbs. To make your own herbal infusion, steep a cup of antiviral herbs in water for about 7 hours. Keep the infusion in an air-tight jar, and drink it cold or heated. Because the infusions are strong, don’t drink more than one cup a day.
DIY Herbal-Infused Oil
An infused oil is when you heat the herb in a carrier oil for several hours. You can use the oven to heat the mixture, or try leaving it in a hot and sunny place for 12 hours. Use about 1/2 cup of antiviral herbs (you can use one herb or a mixture), and add it to 1 cup of coconut or jojoba oil.
If you heat the mixture in the oven, it should be in an oven-safe dish for 3 hours at 200 degrees. If you decide not to use the oven, put the mixture in an air-tight jar and let it sit in a sunny place for about 12 hours. Once the herbs are infused into the oil, drain the leaves and keep the oil in a jar. You can use the oil topically to alleviate pain and kill infections.
Essential Oils
Many of these herbs are sold as essential oils; make sure to purchase organic and pure essential oils from a reputable company. To use essential oils benefits like their antiviral properties, diffuse 3–5 drops in your home, add 2–3 drops to warm bath water or mix 1–2 drops with a carrier oil and apply the mixture directly to the skin. Massaging essential oils into your feet, abdomen and chest is useful when fighting a fever or flu symptoms. If you are new to this natural remedy, use my Essential Oils Guide to get you started.
Antiviral Herbs Recipes
A great way to get herbs into your everyday diet is by adding them to a smoothie. My Cilantro Ginger Smoothie Recipe helps your body detoxify and soothes inflammation. It also has antiviral and antibacterial properties. Another great option is my Alkalizing Juice Recipe that has a knob of garlic; this is a great way to fight viral infections and boost your cardiovascular health.
I recommend you try making herbal teas at home. They’re easy and full of health benefits. You can use ginger or licorice root in place of turmeric — just follow my Turmeric Tea Recipe and add a teaspoon of the herb of your choice or 1–2 drops of an essential oil or oil infusion.
Don’t miss an opportunity to add these powerful antiviral herbs to your meals. They can be thrown onto so many meals throughout the day, and it’s worth it! Try my Veggie Omelet that calls for garlic and oregano — two antiviral herbs that fight infections.
An easy way to add these herbs into your diet is to throw them in healthy soups! Choose from my 49 Healthy Soup Recipes; you can add 2–5 drops of an essential oil, herbal infusion or oil infusion to any of these soups. They boost the flavor and health benefits.
Possible Side Effects & Interactions of Antiviral Herbs
If you use infusions or essential oils, remember that the products are extremely potent and should not be taken for a long period of time. If you use these natural remedies for their antiviral properties, do not consume them for more than two weeks. Giving yourself a break between long doses is important. If you are pregnant, be cautious of using essential oils and reach out to your health care provider before doing so.
Some of these antiviral herbs interact with medications, so read up on an herb before you begin consuming its extract or essential oil.
This drink is not just a powerful cold remedy; its antiviral properties make it an excellent ally against cardiovascular issues, digestive problems and inflammations. It’s guaranteed to make you stronger and more resistive to any medical condition.
Here’s what you need to prepare this remedy:
• 450ml of liquid elderberry
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 4 tbsp. of lemon juice
Preparation:
Pour the elderberry juice in a pot, add the lemon juice and bring the mixture to boil. Let it simmer for 30 minutes and set it aside to cool down a bit. Add a tablespoon of honey and drink it while it’s still warm for best results.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--Discretionary/Staples Indicator Looking Similar To 2007 Highs!

The Corona Virus seems to have people running to the stores to buy large amounts of certain staples ( Toliet Paper , Paper Towels , Water ) .
The chart looks at the Discretionary/Staples ( XLY/XLP ) ratio over the past 20-years .
When investors started selling Discretionary stocks and buying staples in 2007 , the ratio turned much lower .
When the ratio broke support in 2007 , it and the broad markets experienced a good deal of selling pressure .
The ratio trend is currently higher , inside of this long-term rising channel .
The weakness of late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 2 ) .
If the ratio breaks below this dual support zone , it would suggest that staples stocks are of greater interest than discretionary stocks .
If this takes place , the ratio would be suggesting that weakness in the broad market could well continue .
Keep a close eye on this important support test at ( 2 ) , as the current pattern looks very similar to the pattern that took place at the 2007 highs !
The long-term trend for this ratio remains up at this time .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the ratio hang onto current support !

by Chris Kimble
The Corona Virus seems to have people running to the stores to buy large amounts of certain staples (Toliet Paper, Paper Towels, Water).
The chart looks at the Discretionary/Staples (XLY/XLP) ratio over the past 20-years. When investors started selling Discretionary stocks and buying staples in 2007, the ratio turned much lower. When the ratio broke support in 2007, it and the broad markets experienced a good deal of selling pressure.
The ratio trend is currently higher, inside of this long-term rising channel. The weakness of late has the ratio testing dual support at (2).
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
If the ratio breaks below this dual support zone, it would suggest that staples stocks are of greater interest than discretionary stocks. If this takes place, the ratio would be suggesting that weakness in the broad market could well continue.
Keep a close eye on this important support test at (2), as the current pattern looks very similar to the pattern that took place at the 2007 highs!
The long-term trend for this ratio remains up at this time. The long-term bullish case for stocks wants/needs to see the ratio hang onto current support!


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--To Win the CoronaWar, Defense Is The Only Offense

Why does it work this way ?
The bad news is already out : a new coronavirus declared war on Humanity last December .
It did a Pearl Harbor on Wuhan in January , blitzed through Iran in February , hit Milan in early March and is now invading the rest of Europe .
The virus spread worldwide , to the U.S. and everywhere else .
Singapore and South Korea went on red-alert and have slowed the virus .
But elsewhere , most people couldn ’ t break out of business-as-usual .
In another huge victory for the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubling as fast as every three days in many places .
The graph below plots data for 5 battlegrounds in the CoronaWar : Italy , South Korea , the San Francisco Bay Area , King County ( Seattle ) in Washington , and Westchester County outside New York City .
The vertical axis shows cumulative cases per million people in each area .
Because the virus spreads exponentially , the graph uses a log scale – this makes the trends show as straight lines .
The data for each region have been time-shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data come from the Johns Hopkins University COVID dataset , supplemented after 3/9 by county reports for the US hot spots .
All 5 regions show the same process : • Detection of early spread of the disease , with testing “ catching up ” to what ’ s going on .
• Exponential growth with a doubling time of about three days .
• Two possible outcomes : either defeat – massive fatalities due to “ ICU overload ” ; or victory – a “ bend the curve ” taming of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the graph is an empirical estimate of the “ ICU overload ” threshold .
It ’ s based on the level of cases in Lombardy ( Milan region of Italy ) when media reported overwhelmed hospitals .
It ’ s not exact – each region has its own characteristics .
But Lombardy has a good medical system .
Regardless , there ’ s always a limit , and with exponential growth the difference between systems is only a few days either way .
To stay out of “ ICU Overload , ” we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close-encounter social interactions that spread the disease .
Why does it work this way ?
The science of epidemiology is fascinating and can be complex , but for a population with no immunity , the math for the early stage of an epidemic is simple exponential growth .
If a typical infected person unwittingly spreads the disease to others , the disease multiplies .
And then the newly infected spread it further , and it multiplies again .
In the early stages this process is nearly invisible .
But left unchecked , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For each region , the tipping point between “ really bad flu season ” and “ thousands dead ” occurs if too many patients with COVID pneumonia overwhelm hospitals .
With enough ICUs , ventilators and oxygen support , coronavirus is much less deadly .
But if too many people need those resources , doctors must make life-or-death decisions .
The oldest and sickest get left to die , so that others have a chance to live .
“ Excess Mortality ” spikes up not just among COVID patients , but for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This disaster happened in Wuhan , in Iran , and is now happening in Lombardy ( Milan area ) in northern Italy .
We must not let it happen anywhere else !
There is good news : the world finally responding , and the faster we act , the less overall damage there will be .
Underlying all the shutdowns and closures is one principle : the only offense against this Coronavirus is a great defense .
There ’ s no cure , and there won ’ t be a vaccine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to save lives is to prevent infections in the first place , and most importantly to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed .
Remember the girl who recognized the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand and tried to warn people to get off the beach ?
How could she convince people the threat was real , when the sun was shining and all the extra beach was suddenly exposed as the water pulled back !
Public Health officials face the same challenge today : From a few tiny warning signs , they know disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands them .
Hard to persuade an unwitting population living in denial !
But the graph shows that now is the time to act fast to save lives .
Key hot spots are within 1-2 weeks of ICU overload unless we “ bend the curve.
” Globally , even a day ’ s delay will now cost thousands of lives .
Governments need to stop dragging their feed due to the adverse impacts of shutdowns , do the shutdowns anyway , and start mitigating those impacts .
The faster we move , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the less economic damage overall .
Perhaps this is why WHO finally declared the global pandemic this week .
Because Defense is the Only Offense , it ’ s time to Stay Home and Stay Healthy .
P.S .
For a more detailed version of this type of thinking , see the Open Letter by Purdue University Professor Ninghui Li .
By Wisdom Seeker .

Why does it work this way?
By Wisdom Seeker, a WOLF STREET Commenter with a physical sciences Ph.D., San Francisco Bay Area:
The bad news is already out: a new coronavirus declared war on Humanity last December. It did a Pearl Harbor on Wuhan in January, blitzed through Iran in February, hit Milan in early March and is now invading the rest of Europe.
The virus spread worldwide, to the U.S. and everywhere else. Singapore and South Korea went on red-alert and have slowed the virus. But elsewhere, most people couldn’t break out of business-as-usual. In another huge victory for the virus, it has spread globally, insidiously, doubling as fast as every three days in many places.
The graph below plots data for 5 battlegrounds in the CoronaWar: Italy, South Korea, the San Francisco Bay Area, King County (Seattle) in Washington, and Westchester County outside New York City. The vertical axis shows cumulative cases per million people in each area. Because the virus spreads exponentially, the graph uses a log scale – this makes the trends show as straight lines. The data for each region have been time-shifted to show the common trend:
The data come from the Johns Hopkins University COVID dataset, supplemented after 3/9 by county reports for the US hot spots.
All 5 regions show the same process:
Detection of early spread of the disease, with testing “catching up” to what’s going on. Exponential growth with a doubling time of about three days. Two possible outcomes: either defeat – massive fatalities due to “ICU overload”; or victory – a “bend the curve” taming of the outbreak.
The horizontal dashed line on the graph is an empirical estimate of the “ICU overload” threshold. It’s based on the level of cases in Lombardy (Milan region of Italy) when media reported overwhelmed hospitals. It’s not exact – each region has its own characteristics. But Lombardy has a good medical system.
Regardless, there’s always a limit, and with exponential growth the difference between systems is only a few days either way. To stay out of “ICU Overload,” we have to act now to stop the close-encounter social interactions that spread the disease.
Why does it work this way?
The science of epidemiology is fascinating and can be complex, but for a population with no immunity, the math for the early stage of an epidemic is simple exponential growth. If a typical infected person unwittingly spreads the disease to others, the disease multiplies. And then the newly infected spread it further, and it multiplies again.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In the early stages this process is nearly invisible. But left unchecked, it grows fast and soon becomes catastrophic.
For each region, the tipping point between “really bad flu season” and “thousands dead” occurs if too many patients with COVID pneumonia overwhelm hospitals.
With enough ICUs, ventilators and oxygen support, coronavirus is much less deadly. But if too many people need those resources, doctors must make life-or-death decisions. The oldest and sickest get left to die, so that others have a chance to live. “Excess Mortality” spikes up not just among COVID patients, but for all ailments that cannot get full care.
This disaster happened in Wuhan, in Iran, and is now happening in Lombardy (Milan area) in northern Italy. We must not let it happen anywhere else! There is good news: the world finally responding, and the faster we act, the less overall damage there will be.
Underlying all the shutdowns and closures is one principle: the only offense against this Coronavirus is a great defense. There’s no cure, and there won’t be a vaccine for a while yet. So the only way to save lives is to prevent infections in the first place, and most importantly to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Remember the girl who recognized the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand and tried to warn people to get off the beach? How could she convince people the threat was real, when the sun was shining and all the extra beach was suddenly exposed as the water pulled back! Public Health officials face the same challenge today: From a few tiny warning signs, they know disaster is approaching, but no one else understands them. Hard to persuade an unwitting population living in denial!
But the graph shows that now is the time to act fast to save lives. Key hot spots are within 1-2 weeks of ICU overload unless we “bend the curve.” Globally, even a day’s delay will now cost thousands of lives. Governments need to stop dragging their feed due to the adverse impacts of shutdowns, do the shutdowns anyway, and start mitigating those impacts. The faster we move, the shorter the shutdowns need to be, and the less economic damage overall. Perhaps this is why WHO finally declared the global pandemic this week.
Because Defense is the Only Offense, it’s time to Stay Home and Stay Healthy. P.S. For a more detailed version of this type of thinking, see the Open Letter by Purdue University Professor Ninghui Li. By Wisdom Seeker.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--You Don’t Need Expensive Hand Sanitizers, Common Chemicals Work

You mix bleach with water about 1 to 4 ratio and put that in a spray bottle .
Keep it @ @ @ @ @ surfaces often .
You can put it in a small soap dispenser to put in @ @ @ @ @ small squeeze bottle of it in your pocket to use after you touch anything shopping @ @ @ @ @ a guest post and it doesn ’ t represent the views of IWB .

Bleach, alcohol, and Hydrogen peroxide kill bacteria and virus’s.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK214356/
You mix bleach with water about 1 to 4 ratio and put that in a spray bottle. Keep it handy and spritz hands and surfaces often. You can put it in a small soap dispenser to put in your car. Carry a small squeeze bottle of it in your pocket to use after you touch anything shopping.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
h/t Natura Naturans
Disclaimer: This is a guest post and it doesn’t represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-15--Media creating ‘a panic that is far worse’ than coronavirus outbreak

Celebrity physician Dr. Drew Pinsky said the “ media should be ashamed of themselves ” for creating “ panic ” around the coronavirus outbreak .
Pinsky said journalists created “ a panic that is far worse than the viral outbreak ” during his interview on the Washington Examiner ’ s podcast Examining Politics , which was hosted by Larry O ’ Connor .
“ I don ’ t claim to know what ’ s motivating the media , but my God , their reporting is absolutely reprehensible , ” Pinsky said .
The celebrity doctor urged people to listen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , on ways to prevent the spread of the virus .
“ Do what he tells you and go about your business .
That ’ s the story .
Do not be alarmed by the word ‘ pandemic , ’ ” he said .
He did add that the virus should be approached differently by older people and smokers .
“ If you are over the age of 70 , maybe the age of 75 , particularly if you have any chronic medical conditions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you should be behaving differently than the rest of us , ” Pinsky said .
“ The rest of us ?
Go about your business , ” he said .
“ Wash your hands , get your flu shot .
That should be the story .
Because you are way more likely , orders of magnitude , more likely to die of the flu than the coronavirus.
” Pinsky previously said the media was stoking the flames of coronavirus “ panic ” in the United States , and the industry should “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with CBS .
“ What I have a problem with is the panic and the fact that businesses are getting destroyed , that people ’ s lives are being upended , not by the virus , but by the panic , ” Pinsky said last week .
“ The panic must stop .
And the press , they really somehow need to be held accountable because they are hurting people.
” So far , there have been 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the U.S .
The death toll is up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more cases , and things will get worse than they are right now , ” Fauci told lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday .
“ How much worse they get will depend on our ability to do two things , to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside , and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country .
Bottom line , it ’ s going to get worse .
”

www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/…s-outbreak
Celebrity physician Dr. Drew Pinsky said the “media should be ashamed of themselves” for creating “panic” around the coronavirus outbreak.
Pinsky said journalists created “a panic that is far worse than the viral outbreak” during his interview on the Washington Examiner’s podcast Examining Politics, which was hosted by Larry O’Connor.
“I don’t claim to know what’s motivating the media, but my God, their reporting is absolutely reprehensible,” Pinsky said.
The celebrity doctor urged people to listen and heed Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Do what he tells you and go about your business. That’s the story. Do not be alarmed by the word ‘pandemic,’” he said.
He did add that the virus should be approached differently by older people and smokers.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“If you are over the age of 70, maybe the age of 75, particularly if you have any chronic medical conditions and if you are a smoker over 50, you should be behaving differently than the rest of us,” Pinsky said.
“The rest of us? Go about your business,” he said. “Wash your hands, get your flu shot. That should be the story. Because you are way more likely, orders of magnitude, more likely to die of the flu than the coronavirus.”
Pinsky previously said the media was stoking the flames of coronavirus “panic” in the United States, and the industry should “be held accountable,” during an interview with CBS.
“What I have a problem with is the panic and the fact that businesses are getting destroyed, that people’s lives are being upended, not by the virus, but by the panic,” Pinsky said last week. “The panic must stop. And the press, they really somehow need to be held accountable because they are hurting people.”
So far, there have been 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the U.S. The death toll is up to 31.
“We will see more cases, and things will get worse than they are right now,” Fauci told lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. “How much worse they get will depend on our ability to do two things, to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside, and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country. Bottom line, it’s going to get worse.”