investmentwatchblog--2020-03-17--“Do Not Call 9-1-1 Just Because You Ran Out Of Toilet Paper”

Did you ever imagine that you would see the day when police are being called out to protect trucks that are unloading shipments of toilet paper ?
Well , in California this is actually happening .
At the Costco in Santa Maria , California police were seen guarding a truck as it unloaded a shipment of toilet paper on Saturday .
Thanks to the tremendous fear that the coronavirus pandemic is creating , toilet paper has become one of the hottest commodities in America all of a sudden .
Many retailers have already started to limit the amount of toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shortages are becoming increasingly common .
So what should you do if you run out of toilet paper and can ’ t get anymore ?
Well , apparently some people in Oregon have been calling 9-1-1 to voice their concerns .
The Newport Oregon Police Department posted the following message on their Facebook page two days ago… It ’ s hard to believe that we even have to post this .
Do not call 9-1-1 just because you ran out of toilet paper .
You will survive without our assistance .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you in your time of need if you can not find a roll of your favorite soft , ultra plush two-ply citrus scented tissue .
Seamen used old rope and anchor lines soaked in salt water .
Ancient Romans used a sea sponge on a stick , also soaked in salt water .
We are a coastal town .
We have an abundance of salt water available .
Sea shells were also used .
Mayans used corn cobs .
Colonial Americans also used the core of the cob .
Farmers not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Farmers Almanac .
Many Americans took advantage of the numerous pages torn from free catalogs such as Sears and Roebuck .
The Sears Christmas catalog , four times thicker than the normal catalog , could get a family of three wiped clean from December through Valentine ’ s Day ; or Saint Patrick ’ s Day if they were frugal .
Then , of course , there are always alternatives to toilet paper .
Grocery receipts , newspaper , cloth rags , lace , cotton balls , and that empty toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
Plus , there are a variety of leaves you can safely use .
Mother Earth News magazine will even tell you how to make your own wipes using fifteen different leaves .
When all else fails , you have magazine pages .
Start saving those catalogs you get in the mail that you usually toss into the recycle bin .
Be resourceful .
Be patient .
There is a TP shortage .
This too shall pass .
Just don ’ t call 9-1-1 .
We can not bring you toilet paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this “ crisis ” with a sense of humor , but the reality of the matter is that this is starting to become a full-blown national problem .
At this point , even Amazon is having a very difficult time finding enough toilet paper… Ultimately , toilet paper is not essential for survival , and we could do just fine without out .
But what will happen if this pandemic stretches on for many more months and national food supplies start getting really tight ?
Let us hope that we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because it would spark nationwide panic on a scale that is absolutely unprecedented .
Sadly , most Americans could not last very long on what they currently have stored up in their homes .
If we have to go through an extended national lockdown like we have already seen in China or Italy , a lot of the exact same people that mocked us for “ preparing ” are going to find themselves in a very precarious position .
And in some areas , a lockdown has already occurred .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern California have now been ordered to “ shelter in place ” … Most Bay Area residents will be just fine for a few days .
But what happens if this “ shelter in place ” order lasts for several months ?
Over on the east coast , New York City has not been locked down yet , but the latest measures are a big step in that direction… The state of New York now has the most confirmed cases in the entire nation , and if this outbreak continues to spread wildly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a total lockdown is instituted .
At this point , the United States is on the exact same trajectory as Italy .
If this continues , the same things that are happening there will start happening here .
In the northern portion of the country , the death toll is becoming truly frightening .
In fact , we just learned that six Catholic priests have died from the virus in the city of Bergamo alone… Anyone that has to deal with the public is going to be at great risk during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to underestimate the deadliness of this virus .
Just a few weeks ago there were zero cases in Bergamo , but now the city ’ s crematory has so many dead bodies it is unable to keep up… Doesn ’ t that sound eerily similar to what happened in Wuhan ?
If we don ’ t get this outbreak under control somehow , the same thing will eventually happen in the United States too .
But most Americans still seem to believe that this virus is not a serious threat to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new survey discovered that only 19 percent of Americans expect to catch COVID-19… Meanwhile , Goldman Sachs is projecting that half the U.S. population will eventually become infected .
A lot of people that are not taking this seriously will eventually get sick and die .
And this is especially true for those that are openly mocking this pandemic .
Right now , “ the coronavirus challenge ” is getting a lot of attention on social media for all the wrong reasons .
As a part of this challenge , people are literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stupid do you have to be to do something like that ?
Unfortunately , this is yet another perfect example of how far our society has degenerated .
We have literally become an “ idiocracy ” , and we are sitting ducks for a deadly virus that is not going to show us any mercy whatsoever .

by Michael Snyder
Did you ever imagine that you would see the day when police are being called out to protect trucks that are unloading shipments of toilet paper? Well, in California this is actually happening. At the Costco in Santa Maria, California police were seen guarding a truck as it unloaded a shipment of toilet paper on Saturday. Thanks to the tremendous fear that the coronavirus pandemic is creating, toilet paper has become one of the hottest commodities in America all of a sudden. Many retailers have already started to limit the amount of toilet paper that each customer can purchase, and shortages are becoming increasingly common.
So what should you do if you run out of toilet paper and can’t get anymore?
Well, apparently some people in Oregon have been calling 9-1-1 to voice their concerns. The Newport Oregon Police Department posted the following message on their Facebook page two days ago…
It’s hard to believe that we even have to post this. Do not call 9-1-1 just because you ran out of toilet paper. You will survive without our assistance. In fact, history offers many other options for you in your time of need if you cannot find a roll of your favorite soft, ultra plush two-ply citrus scented tissue. Seamen used old rope and anchor lines soaked in salt water. Ancient Romans used a sea sponge on a stick, also soaked in salt water. We are a coastal town. We have an abundance of salt water available. Sea shells were also used. Mayans used corn cobs. Colonial Americans also used the core of the cob. Farmers not only used corn cobs, but used pages from the Farmers Almanac. Many Americans took advantage of the numerous pages torn from free catalogs such as Sears and Roebuck. The Sears Christmas catalog, four times thicker than the normal catalog, could get a family of three wiped clean from December through Valentine’s Day; or Saint Patrick’s Day if they were frugal. Then, of course, there are always alternatives to toilet paper. Grocery receipts, newspaper, cloth rags, lace, cotton balls, and that empty toilet paper roll sitting on the holder right now. Plus, there are a variety of leaves you can safely use. Mother Earth News magazine will even tell you how to make your own wipes using fifteen different leaves. When all else fails, you have magazine pages. Start saving those catalogs you get in the mail that you usually toss into the recycle bin. Be resourceful. Be patient. There is a TP shortage. This too shall pass. Just don’t call 9-1-1. We cannot bring you toilet paper.
I am glad that they approached this “crisis” with a sense of humor, but the reality of the matter is that this is starting to become a full-blown national problem.
At this point, even Amazon is having a very difficult time finding enough toilet paper…
Those toilet paper and water shortages at your local markets and big-box retailers have affected Amazon, as well. The company said over the weekend that it, too, is out of stock on many items, “especially in household staples categories,” and is working “around the clock” and bringing on “additional capacity” to deliver orders.
Ultimately, toilet paper is not essential for survival, and we could do just fine without out.
But what will happen if this pandemic stretches on for many more months and national food supplies start getting really tight?
Let us hope that we don’t get to that point any time soon, because it would spark nationwide panic on a scale that is absolutely unprecedented.
Sadly, most Americans could not last very long on what they currently have stored up in their homes. If we have to go through an extended national lockdown like we have already seen in China or Italy, a lot of the exact same people that mocked us for “preparing” are going to find themselves in a very precarious position.
And in some areas, a lockdown has already occurred. In fact, more than 6 million residents of northern California have now been ordered to “shelter in place”…
Six Bay Area counties announced a “shelter in place” order for all residents on Monday — the strictest measure of its kind yet in the continental United States — directing everyone to stay inside their homes and away from others as much as possible for the next three weeks as public health officials desperately try to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus across the region. The directive begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and involves San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties — a combined population of more than 6.7 million.
Most Bay Area residents will be just fine for a few days.
But what happens if this “shelter in place” order lasts for several months?
Over on the east coast, New York City has not been locked down yet, but the latest measures are a big step in that direction…
The city that never sleeps has been forced to shut down its bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms, including those in New York City’s iconic Times Square, in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Photos of one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Big Apple show a relatively quiet scene with only a handful of people walking under Times Square’s bright lights on Monday.
The state of New York now has the most confirmed cases in the entire nation, and if this outbreak continues to spread wildly it is just a matter of time before a total lockdown is instituted.
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At this point, the United States is on the exact same trajectory as Italy. If this continues, the same things that are happening there will start happening here.
In the northern portion of the country, the death toll is becoming truly frightening. In fact, we just learned that six Catholic priests have died from the virus in the city of Bergamo alone…
At the heart of the European coronavirus crisis in northern Italy’s city of Bergamo, six Catholic priests have died during the past week from the disease and, as of Sunday, over 20 priests were hospitalized. The Bishop of Bergamo, Francesco Beschi, confirmed this numbers speaking with the Italian TV news network Rainews24.
Anyone that has to deal with the public is going to be at great risk during this pandemic, and so it is vital not to underestimate the deadliness of this virus.
Just a few weeks ago there were zero cases in Bergamo, but now the city’s crematory has so many dead bodies it is unable to keep up…
An Italian mayor says that his city’s crematory is now “unable to dispose of all the work it has to do,” as there have been so many bodies of those who have died due to the coronavirus. Giorgio Gori — the mayor of Bergamo, Italy — says that it is no longer only the hospitals that are in a state of emergency but also the crematorium responsible for managing the bodies, according to a report by Il Giornale.
Doesn’t that sound eerily similar to what happened in Wuhan?
If we don’t get this outbreak under control somehow, the same thing will eventually happen in the United States too.
But most Americans still seem to believe that this virus is not a serious threat to them personally. In fact, a brand new survey discovered that only 19 percent of Americans expect to catch COVID-19…
The survey of 502 people at least 18 years old shows that fear and panic doesn’t seem to be completely overtaking most households, but plenty of Americans are worried. In all, 19% of respondents think they’ll be diagnosed with coronavirus at some point. Interestingly, nearly one in ten (9%) people went as far to admit they believe they have coronavirus right now.
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs is projecting that half the U.S. population will eventually become infected.
A lot of people that are not taking this seriously will eventually get sick and die.
And this is especially true for those that are openly mocking this pandemic. Right now, “the coronavirus challenge” is getting a lot of attention on social media for all the wrong reasons.
As a part of this challenge, people are literally licking toilet seats and doorknobs…
No matter what’s at stake, please don’t try this challenge, folks. There’s a brand new challenge introduced on TikTok where people are licking everyday items that are often for public use. Yes, these include toilet seats and doorknobs.
How unbelievably stupid do you have to be to do something like that?
Unfortunately, this is yet another perfect example of how far our society has degenerated.
We have literally become an “idiocracy”, and we are sitting ducks for a deadly virus that is not going to show us any mercy whatsoever.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-17--For The 3rd Time This Month, We Just Witnessed The Largest Single Day Point Crash In Stock Market Hi

For The 3rd Time This Month, We Just Witnessed The Largest Single Day Point Crash In Stock Market History

We are literally witnessing history in the making .
For the third time in the last six trading sessions , we have witnessed the largest single day point crash in stock market history .
Let that sink in for a moment .
On March 9th , the Dow set a new record by falling 2,013 points .
Then on March 12th , the Dow set a new record again by falling 2,352 points .
Of course what happened on Monday was the biggest whopper of them all .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2,997 points , and words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” don ’ t seem to be strong enough to convey that horror that took place .
To put all of this into perspective , the largest single day point crash during the last financial crisis was just 777 points .
That means that the crash that we witnessed on Monday was nearly four times as large as the worst single day point crash in 2008 .
Of course all of this volatility is being driven by fear of the coronavirus .
Even though less than 100 Americans have died so far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what will happen if thousands or even millions of us start dying ?
On a percentage basis , the nightmare that we watched unfold on Monday was the worst day for stocks since “ Black Monday ” in 1987… Overall , the Dow is now down more than 31 percent from the all-time high set earlier this year .
If you can believe it , all of the tremendous stock market gains that we have witnessed over the last three years have been completely wiped out in just 18 trading days .
Banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase were each down more than 14 percent , Morgan Stanley was down more than 15 percent , and Citigroup was down more than 19 percent .
Remember , those are not figures for the entire year .
Those are figures for one day .
Of course the utter carnage was not just limited to stocks .
The following is how Zero Hedge summarized some of the other losses that we witnessed… • SOUTH AFRICA ’ S FTSE/JSE INDEX FALLS AS MUCH AS 12.2 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MUCH AS 5.2 % AMID WEAKENING RISK APPETITE • BRENT CRUDE OIL PLUNGES BELOW $ 30 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2016 The good news is that there is often a hefty rebound after a historic decline of this magnitude .
It appears that stock prices will likely shoot back up a good bit on Tuesday , and that will temporarily soothe a lot of frazzled nerves .
But this coronavirus pandemic is not going away any time soon .
Over the past couple of days , restaurants and bars have been shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shuttered for the foreseeable future , and it has been announced that the entire city of San Francisco will be locked down .
As virtually all forms of activity come to a standstill all over America , our economic numbers are going to absolutely collapse .
In fact , on Monday we got a sneak preview of what is coming… As we plunge into a truly horrifying economic downturn , businesses all over the country are already crying out for bailouts .
We are now being told that many airlines could be bankrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar aid package for the industry has already been requested… Meanwhile , thousands upon thousands of ordinary U.S. citizens are already losing their jobs .
For example , just check out what is currently transpiring in New York… This will soon be happening all over the nation .
So how many jobs could ultimately be lost if this pandemic stretches on for quite a while ?
According to Moody ’ s Analytics , millions of jobs are potentially at risk… Needless to say , there is going to be enormous pressure for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and U.S .
Senator Mitt Romney has “ joined a growing chorus of liberal and conservative economists ” in calling for $ 1,000 to be given to every adult in America… Why not make it $ 10,000 ?
We could all use some extra cash .
Of course once this sort of thing starts happening , it won ’ t be too long before a loaf of bread costs ten dollars and a gallon of milk costs 20 dollars .
Flooding the system with money at a time when economic activity is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painful inflation .
Unfortunately , at a moment like this short-term considerations are all that policy makers are really concerned about , and the American people will be demanding “ relief ” .
So we should fully expect lots of free money to be thrown around .
In fact , Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced on Monday that her city will provide “ $ 5 million in grocery vouchers to help families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic ” .
But I must once again stress the fact that less than 100 Americans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If things are getting this crazy already , what is our society going to look like a few months down the road ?
According to the New York Times , nearly 7 million Americans could die in a “ worst-case scenario ” … We are just in the very early chapters of this “ perfect storm ” , and what we have experienced so far is nothing compared to what is coming .
If we can ’ t even handle the leading edge of this storm , what are we going to do @ @ @ @ @ @

by Michael Snyder
We are literally witnessing history in the making. For the third time in the last six trading sessions, we have witnessed the largest single day point crash in stock market history. Let that sink in for a moment. On March 9th, the Dow set a new record by falling 2,013 points. Then on March 12th, the Dow set a new record again by falling 2,352 points. Of course what happened on Monday was the biggest whopper of them all. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2,997 points, and words like “carnage” and “devastation” don’t seem to be strong enough to convey that horror that took place. To put all of this into perspective, the largest single day point crash during the last financial crisis was just 777 points. That means that the crash that we witnessed on Monday was nearly four times as large as the worst single day point crash in 2008.
Of course all of this volatility is being driven by fear of the coronavirus. Even though less than 100 Americans have died so far, investors are completely freaking out.
So what will happen if thousands or even millions of us start dying?
On a percentage basis, the nightmare that we watched unfold on Monday was the worst day for stocks since “Black Monday” in 1987…
Stocks fell sharply Monday — with the Dow suffering its worst day since the “Black Monday” market crash in 1987 and its third-worst day ever — even after the Federal Reserve embarked on a massive monetary stimulus campaign to curb slower economic growth amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2,997.10 points lower, or 12.9%, at 20,188.52. The 30-stock Dow was briefly down more than 3,000 points in the final minutes of trading. The S&P 500 dropped 12% to 2,386.13 — hitting its lowest level since December 2018 — while the Nasdaq Composite closed 12.3% lower at 6,904.59 in its worst day ever.
Overall, the Dow is now down more than 31 percent from the all-time high set earlier this year.
If you can believe it, all of the tremendous stock market gains that we have witnessed over the last three years have been completely wiped out in just 18 trading days.
Ouch.
Banking stocks were hit particularly hard once again on Monday. Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase were each down more than 14 percent, Morgan Stanley was down more than 15 percent, and Citigroup was down more than 19 percent.
Remember, those are not figures for the entire year.
Those are figures for one day.
Of course the utter carnage was not just limited to stocks. The following is how Zero Hedge summarized some of the other losses that we witnessed…
STOXX EUROPE 600 ENDS DOWN 4.9%, LOWEST CLOSE SINCE MID-2013
SOUTH AFRICA’S FTSE/JSE INDEX FALLS AS MUCH AS 12.2%, MOST EVER
MUNI BONDS EXTEND WORST ROUT SINCE 1987
COPPER SLUMPS AS MUCH AS 5.2% AMID WEAKENING RISK APPETITE
BRENT CRUDE OIL PLUNGES BELOW $30 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2016
SILVER PLUNGES TO 2011 LOWS
U.S. WHOLESALE GASOLINE PRICES PLUNGE 21%
HYG WORST DROP SINCE 2008
LQD WORST DROP SINCE 2008
The good news is that there is often a hefty rebound after a historic decline of this magnitude. It appears that stock prices will likely shoot back up a good bit on Tuesday, and that will temporarily soothe a lot of frazzled nerves.
But this coronavirus pandemic is not going away any time soon. Over the past couple of days, restaurants and bars have been shut down across the nation, schools have been shuttered for the foreseeable future, and it has been announced that the entire city of San Francisco will be locked down.
As virtually all forms of activity come to a standstill all over America, our economic numbers are going to absolutely collapse.
In fact, on Monday we got a sneak preview of what is coming…
The New York Fed’s Empire State business conditions index plunged a record 34.4 points to -21.5 in March, the regional Fed bank said Monday. Economists had expected a reading of 4.8, according to a survey by Econoday. This is the lowest level since the financial crisis in 2009.
As we plunge into a truly horrifying economic downturn, businesses all over the country are already crying out for bailouts.
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We are now being told that many airlines could be bankrupt by May, and a 50 billion dollar aid package for the industry has already been requested…
US airlines slammed by the coronavirus are requesting an aid package from the federal government that could amount to about $50 billion, according to industry group Airlines for America. The requested aid would be in the form of loans, grants and tax relief. The airlines are looking for up to $25 billion in grants for passenger air carriers and $4 billion in grants to cargo carriers, and the same amounts in loans or loan guarantees, Airlines for America outlined in a briefing document.
Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of ordinary U.S. citizens are already losing their jobs. For example, just check out what is currently transpiring in New York…
New York’s unemployment website was overwhelmed Monday as the coronavirus pandemic put tens of thousands of people across the state out of work. A drastic move by Gov. Cuomo to close all of the state’s restaurants, bars, movie theaters, gyms and casinos by 8 p.m. Monday to contain the outbreak had suddenly jobless workers flooding the Department of Labor with applications for unemployment benefits.
This will soon be happening all over the nation.
So how many jobs could ultimately be lost if this pandemic stretches on for quite a while?
According to Moody’s Analytics, millions of jobs are potentially at risk…
Nearly 80 million jobs in the US economy are at high or moderate risk today, according to analysis in the last week from Moody’s Analytics. That’s more than half of the 153 million jobs in the economy overall. That doesn’t mean that all those jobs will be lost. But it’s probable that as many as 10 million of those workers could see some impact to their paychecks — either layoffs, furloughs, fewer hours or wage cuts, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.
Needless to say, there is going to be enormous pressure for the federal government to “do something”, and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney has “joined a growing chorus of liberal and conservative economists” in calling for $1,000 to be given to every adult in America…
On Monday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) joined a growing chorus of liberal and conservative economists are lining up behind a proposal published in the Wall Street Journal by Harvard professor Jason Furman, who chaired the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) under President Obama, that calls for direct government payments of $1,000 to every American adult.
Why not make it $10,000?
We could all use some extra cash.
Of course once this sort of thing starts happening, it won’t be too long before a loaf of bread costs ten dollars and a gallon of milk costs 20 dollars.
Flooding the system with money at a time when economic activity is contracting very sharply will inevitably cause very painful inflation.
Unfortunately, at a moment like this short-term considerations are all that policy makers are really concerned about, and the American people will be demanding “relief”.
So we should fully expect lots of free money to be thrown around. In fact, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced on Monday that her city will provide “$5 million in grocery vouchers to help families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
But I must once again stress the fact that less than 100 Americans have died during this pandemic so far.
If things are getting this crazy already, what is our society going to look like a few months down the road?
According to the New York Times, nearly 7 million Americans could die in a “worst-case scenario”…
So far, the illness – known as COVID-19 – has sickened more than 4,200 people and killed 74. But as a graphic from The New York Times shows, things could be much bleaker should overall infection rates and fatality rates rise. In the worst-case scenario 6.99 million Americans would die from coronavirus – 2.74 million of them being those aged 80 and above.
We are just in the very early chapters of this “perfect storm”, and what we have experienced so far is nothing compared to what is coming.
If we can’t even handle the leading edge of this storm, what are we going to do when it really starts raging?


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-17--Infection Trajectory: See Which Countries are Flattening Their COVID-19 Curve

At the outset of 2020 , the world looked on as China grappled with an outbreak that seemed be spiraling out of control .
Two months later , the situation is markedly different .
After aggressive testing and quarantine efforts , China ’ s outbreak of Novel Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) appears to be leveling off .
Now , numerous countries around the world are in the beginning stages of managing their own outbreaks .
March 15th , 2020 , marked a significant statistical milestone for this , as confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside of China surpassed the Chinese total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World in Data , charts the trajectory of the growing number of countries with more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
As the number of new infections reported around the world continues to grow , which countries are winning the battle against COVID-19 , and which are still struggling to slow the rate of infection ?
As of publishing time , 39 countries have passed the threshold of 100 confirmed cases , with many more countries on the cusp .
By comparing infection trajectories from the 100 case mark , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how quickly the virus is spreading within various countries .
A rapid “ doubling rate ” can spell big trouble , as even countries with advanced healthcare systems can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases .
This was the case in the Lombardy region of Italy , where hospitals were overloaded and an increasing number of medical staff are under quarantine after testing positive for the virus .
Nearly 10 % of COVID-19 patients in Lombardy required intensive care , which stretched resources to their breaking point .
Other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ flattening the curve ” of the pandemic .
In other words , preventing and delaying the spread of the virus so that large portions of the population aren ’ t sick at the same time .
While all the countries on this tracker are united behind a common goal – stamping out COVID-19 as soon as possible – each country has its own approach and unique challenges when it comes to keeping their population safe .
Of course , countries that are just beginning to experience exponential growth in case numbers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere , and adopting ideas that are proving successful at slowing the rate of infection .
Many jurisdictions are implementing some or all of these measures to help flatten the curve : • Placing hard limits on the size of crowds at events The following chart explains why this last measure is critical to limiting the spread of the virus .
In scenario B above , which assumes just 20,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. , there ’ s nearly a 50 % chance an infected person will be attending a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is precisely the reason why temporary limits on crowd size are popping up in many jurisdictions around the world .
Direct losses due to canceled tech conferences alone , such as SXSW and the Electronic Entertainment Expo , have already surpassed the $ 1 billion mark , but despite the short-term economic pain of cancellations and decreased entertainment spending , the costs of business-as-usual could be incalculable .

by visualcapitalist
At the outset of 2020, the world looked on as China grappled with an outbreak that seemed be spiraling out of control.
Two months later, the situation is markedly different. After aggressive testing and quarantine efforts, China’s outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) appears to be leveling off.
Now, numerous countries around the world are in the beginning stages of managing their own outbreaks. March 15th, 2020, marked a significant statistical milestone for this, as confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside of China surpassed the Chinese total.
The tracker above, by Our World in Data, charts the trajectory of the growing number of countries with more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19. As the number of new infections reported around the world continues to grow, which countries are winning the battle against COVID-19, and which are still struggling to slow the rate of infection?
What’s Your National Infection Trajectory?
As of publishing time, 39 countries have passed the threshold of 100 confirmed cases, with many more countries on the cusp. By comparing infection trajectories from the 100 case mark, we’re able to see a clearer picture of how quickly the virus is spreading within various countries.
A rapid “doubling rate” can spell big trouble, as even countries with advanced healthcare systems can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases. This was the case in the Lombardy region of Italy, where hospitals were overloaded and an increasing number of medical staff are under quarantine after testing positive for the virus. Nearly 10% of COVID-19 patients in Lombardy required intensive care, which stretched resources to their breaking point.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Other countries are looking to avoid this situation by “flattening the curve” of the pandemic. In other words, preventing and delaying the spread of the virus so that large portions of the population aren’t sick at the same time.
Original concept by Drew Harris
Everything’s Canceled
While all the countries on this tracker are united behind a common goal – stamping out COVID-19 as soon as possible – each country has its own approach and unique challenges when it comes to keeping their population safe. Of course, countries that are just beginning to experience exponential growth in case numbers have the benefit of learning from mistakes made elsewhere, and adopting ideas that are proving successful at slowing the rate of infection.
Many jurisdictions are implementing some or all of these measures to help flatten the curve:
Quarantining
Encouraging social distancing
Encouraging working from home
Closing schools and other institutions
Placing hard limits on the size of crowds at events
The following chart explains why this last measure is critical to limiting the spread of the virus.
In scenario B above, which assumes just 20,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., there’s nearly a 50% chance an infected person will be attending a 10,000 person conference or sporting event. This is precisely the reason why temporary limits on crowd size are popping up in many jurisdictions around the world.
Direct losses due to canceled tech conferences alone, such as SXSW and the Electronic Entertainment Expo, have already surpassed the $1 billion mark, but despite the short-term economic pain of cancellations and decreased entertainment spending, the costs of business-as-usual could be incalculable.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--You can’t trust the WHO to tell the truth about Covid-19 or to do the right thing as it’s controlled

You can’t trust the WHO to tell the truth about Covid-19 or to do the right thing as it’s controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. This explains a whole hell of a lot.

U.S. Funds World Health Organization That Boot-Licks China , With Deadly Results China ’ s near-total takeover of the World Health Organization comes at a sharp human cost , as the world is tragically now realizing .
By Tim Andrews | MARCH 17 , 2020 ( The Federalist ) – The coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) has spread throughout the world , having infected more than 100,000 people and causing the deaths of more than 4,000 .
Officials in charge of the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) have rightly received plenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak , with nearly half a million people calling on WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to resign .
The reason for the WHO ’ s failure to properly act to contain the outbreak , and its repeated issuing of inaccurate and bad advice , is not merely the result of incompetence .
Rather , the malfeasance is the direct result of the CCP deliberately buying out WHO ’ s leadership , with tragic consequences .
Experts have pinned the virus as starting possibly as early as October , months before the CCP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the deadly disease .
Rather than addressing the issue , China arrested journalists and doctors who tried to sound the alarm .
In addition , the “ People ’ s Republic ” blocked information on social media and removed all news stories that attempted to report accurate infection numbers .
The end result of this was preventable suffering , as countries were unable to take the urgent action needed to respond .
Yet through all the CCP ’ s obfuscation and ensigning preventable deaths , the WHO consistently praised the CCP for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” saying its actions were “ making us safer.
” To the incredulity of health professionals around the world when finally alerted to the seriousness of the threat in January , the WHO refused to declare it a public health emergency .
It took until February 10 for the WHO to even send an advance party to China .
At the same time WHO representatives gushed in praise of the regime ’ s response , noting the “ Chinese people feel protected.
” The WHO continues to lavishly praise China as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , taking months to classify it finally as a pandemic because that “ might spook the world further.
” U.S. Funding Organization That Obeys Red China Scientists and patients are rightly demanding answers as to why the WHO coddles dictators instead of holding them accountable and acknowledging the seriousness of the threat .
The United States is the largest contributor to the WHO ’ s budget , in 2017 sending the agency half a billion dollars .
Unfortunately , few are willing to accept the cynical truth that the WHO has let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leadership get in the way of sound public policy .
As with so many things , an understanding can be found by following the money… And here ’ s a similar article from the Washington Examiner .
World Health Organization protects China instead of coronavirus victims by Ross Marchand | March 11 , 2020 01:34 AM ( Washington Examiner ) – …The WHO could have tried to hold China accountable for their bungled response , but instead , the organization ’ s director-general , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , decided to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered sycophantic praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping ’ s “ political commitment ” and “ political leadership ” in dealing with coronavirus cases .
As the WHO coddled China , Xi waited two weeks to greenlight an international advance team put together by the WHO to investigate the outbreak .
U.S. journalists were understandably critical of China ’ s lackluster response , fielding tough questions for Dr. Tedros .
But the WHO ’ s director-general carried on praising the “ People ’ s Republic , ” extolling “ the extraordinary measures it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the severe social and economic impact that is having on China.
” Hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars are flowing to WHO , a paper tiger that unblinkingly praises China ’ s failed response to the coronavirus .
And that ’ s just the tip of the iceberg for an organization that spends $ 200 million per year for travel and luxurious hotels — more than the combined budget for tuberculosis , AIDS , and malaria combined .
The WHO was roundly criticized for its inept handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak , waiting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s spread a “ public health emergency.
” The WHO ’ s Global Alert and Response Network sent a team of experts to coordinate the response to the Ebola outbreak but withdrew them quickly , even as viral transmission continued… The WHO and lying China gets the blame for the slow early response to covid-19 and the downplaying of concerns .
The Trump admin and CDC were following the WHO ’ s lead .
This left egg on Trump ’ s face when the scary truth was revealed and there was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response .
Trump was trolled by WHO , China and quisling Dems .
Disclaimer : This is a guest post and it doesn ’ t represent the views of IWB .

U.S. Funds World Health Organization That Boot-Licks China, With Deadly Results
China’s near-total takeover of the World Health Organization comes at a sharp human cost, as the world is tragically now realizing.
By Tim Andrews | MARCH 17, 2020
(The Federalist) – The coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread throughout the world, having infected more than 100,000 people and causing the deaths of more than 4,000. Officials in charge of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have rightly received plenty of criticism about how they’ve managed the outbreak, with nearly half a million people calling on WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to resign.
The reason for the WHO’s failure to properly act to contain the outbreak, and its repeated issuing of inaccurate and bad advice, is not merely the result of incompetence. Rather, the malfeasance is the direct result of the CCP deliberately buying out WHO’s leadership, with tragic consequences.
Experts have pinned the virus as starting possibly as early as October, months before the CCP alerted the world about the risks posed by the deadly disease. Rather than addressing the issue, China arrested journalists and doctors who tried to sound the alarm. In addition, the “People’s Republic” blocked information on social media and removed all news stories that attempted to report accurate infection numbers. The end result of this was preventable suffering, as countries were unable to take the urgent action needed to respond.
Yet through all the CCP’s obfuscation and ensigning preventable deaths, the WHO consistently praised the CCP for its “transparency” and “leadership,” saying its actions were “making us safer.” To the incredulity of health professionals around the world when finally alerted to the seriousness of the threat in January, the WHO refused to declare it a public health emergency. It took until February 10 for the WHO to even send an advance party to China.
At the same time WHO representatives gushed in praise of the regime’s response, noting the “Chinese people feel protected.” The WHO continues to lavishly praise China as they continued to downplay the threat of the coronavirus, taking months to classify it finally as a pandemic because that “might spook the world further.”
U.S. Funding Organization That Obeys Red China
Scientists and patients are rightly demanding answers as to why the WHO coddles dictators instead of holding them accountable and acknowledging the seriousness of the threat. The United States is the largest contributor to the WHO’s budget, in 2017 sending the agency half a billion dollars.
Unfortunately, few are willing to accept the cynical truth that the WHO has let funding priorities and the personal ambitions of its leadership get in the way of sound public policy. As with so many things, an understanding can be found by following the money…
READ MORE:
thefederalist.com/2020/03/17/u-s-funds-world-health-organization-that-boot-licks-china-with-deadly-results/
And here’s a similar article from the Washington Examiner.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
_____
World Health Organization protects China instead of coronavirus victims
by Ross Marchand | March 11, 2020 01:34 AM
(Washington Examiner) – …The WHO could have tried to hold China accountable for their bungled response, but instead, the organization’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, decided to play footsie with the despotic regime. Tedros offered sycophantic praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “political commitment” and “political leadership” in dealing with coronavirus cases.
As the WHO coddled China, Xi waited two weeks to greenlight an international advance team put together by the WHO to investigate the outbreak. U.S. journalists were understandably critical of China’s lackluster response, fielding tough questions for Dr. Tedros. But the WHO’s director-general carried on praising the “People’s Republic,” extolling “the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak despite the severe social and economic impact that is having on China.”
Hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars are flowing to WHO, a paper tiger that unblinkingly praises China’s failed response to the coronavirus. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for an organization that spends $200 million per year for travel and luxurious hotels — more than the combined budget for tuberculosis, AIDS, and malaria combined.
The WHO was roundly criticized for its inept handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, waiting more than five months to declare the illness’s spread a “public health emergency.” The WHO’s Global Alert and Response Network sent a team of experts to coordinate the response to the Ebola outbreak but withdrew them quickly, even as viral transmission continued…
READ MORE:
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/world-health-organization-protects-china-instead-of-coronavirus-victims
The WHO and lying China gets the blame for the slow early response to covid-19 and the downplaying of concerns. The Trump admin and CDC were following the WHO’s lead. This left egg on Trump’s face when the scary truth was revealed and there was an abrupt shift in urgency and intensity of response. Trump was trolled by WHO, China and quisling Dems.
h/t Fist
Disclaimer: This is a guest post and it doesn’t represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--US Government, Tech Industry Discussing Ways To Use Smartphone Location Data To Combat Coronavirus

The US government is in active talks with Facebook , Google and a wide array of tech companies about how @ @ @ @ @ from Americans ’ phones to combat the novel coronavirus , including tracking whether people are @ @ @ @ @ distances to stem the outbreak .
Public-health experts are interested in the possibility that private-sector @ @ @ @ @ in anonymous form , which they could then use to map the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ people familiar with the effort .
Analysing trends in smartphone owners ’ whereabouts could prove @ @ @ @ @ for health authorities looking to track coronavirus , which has infected more than 180,000 people @ @ @ @ @ s also an approach that could leave some Americans uncomfortable , depending on how it @ @ @ @ @ the sensitivity when it comes to details about their daily whereabouts .

The US government is in active talks with Facebook, Google and a wide array of tech companies about how they can use data gleaned from Americans’ phones to combat the novel coronavirus, including tracking whether people are keeping one another at safe distances to stem the outbreak.
Public-health experts are interested in the possibility that private-sector companies could compile the data in anonymous form, which they could then use to map the spread of the infection, according to three people familiar with the effort.
Analysing trends in smartphone owners’ whereabouts could prove to be a powerful tool for health authorities looking to track coronavirus, which has infected more than 180,000 people globally.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But it’s also an approach that could leave some Americans uncomfortable, depending on how it’s implemented, given the sensitivity when it comes to details about their daily whereabouts.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120361582/coronavirus-us-tech-industry-may-track-location-of-selfisolating-people


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--Paul Craig Roberts: Economic Effect Of Coronavirus Could Be Revolutionary

Coronavirus and globalism will teach us vital lessons .
The question is whether we can learn vital lessons that do not serve the ruling interest groups and ideologies .
Coronavirus will teach us that a country without free national health care is severely handicapped .
Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck .
They can not afford health care premiums , deductions , and copays .
Millions have no insurance .
This means millions of people infected with coronavirus who can not get medical help .
The morbidity from this is intolerable in any society .
Shutdowns associated with efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deny income to millions of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck .
What do they do for food , shelter , transportation ?
You don ’ t have to think very long along these lines to see a very frightening scenario .
Globalism has taken down the ladders of upward mobility by exporting American middle class jobs to Asia .
A population once able to save now lives on debt , the service of which is interrupted by recession/depression and by debt service absorbing all net disposable income .
Globalism has also reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it dependent on externally produced goods , the supply of which can be cut off by disruptions in other societies , by policy disagreements leading to sanctions , and by an inability to export enough to pay for imports , which is what the offshored production of US firms is .
The United States has an unprotected population and an economy in trouble .
For years corporate executives have run the companies for the benefit of their bonuses , which are largely dependent on rises in their company ’ s share price .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ invested in buying back the companies ’ shares and not in new investment in the businesses .
Corporate indebtedness is extreme and will threaten many corporations and many jobs in a downturn .
Boeing is a case in point .
Economist Michael Hudson has for many decades studied the use of debt-forgiveness to restart economies killed by debt burdens .
Debt forgiveness for corporations has a different implication than debt forgiveness for individuals .
For corporations , forgiving debts lets those who financialized and indebted the economy and the population off the hook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophe they produced and to prevent widespread public outcry and distrust , nationalization is implied for insolvent companies and banks .
Nationalization would be limited to insolvent companies and financial institutions and doesn ’ t mean that there would be no private companies or businesses .
Additional nationalization could be used to prevent strategic companies from substituting their interests for national interests , which they do when they move American jobs and factories offshore .
Pharmaceuticals could be nationalized along with health care .
Energy which often sacrifices the environment to its profits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful society has to have more driving it than private profit .
For most Americans nationalization is a dirty word , but it has many benefits .
For example , a national health care system reduces costs tremendously by taking profits out of the system .
Additionally , nationalized pharmaceutical companies could be made more focused on research and cures than on profit avenues .
Everyone knows how Big Pharma influences medical schools and medical practice in line with Big Pharma ’ s approach .
A more open-minded approach to medicine would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word , one that is being used against Bernie Sanders .
I have not turned into a socialist overnight .
I am simply thinking outloud .
How can the economy recover when the population and corporations are smothered by debt ?
Debt forgiveness is the only way out of this debt suffocation .
Can debts be forgiven without nationalization ?
Not without a huge giveaway to financial mangers and Wall Street .
It is the members of the “ one percent ” who have received 95 % of the increase in us income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to reward them for smothering the economy with debt by bailing them out without nationalizing them ?
The combination of an economy covered in debt and an unprotected population is clearly revolutionary .
Do we have leadership capable of breaking out of interest group politics and ruling ideologies in order to save our society and put it on a more sustainable basis ?
Or will the economic hardships be blamed on the virus , the catalyst that ignited the debt timebomb ?

by Paul Craig Roberts via PaulCraigRoberts.org
Coronavirus and globalism will teach us vital lessons. The question is whether we can learn vital lessons that do not serve the ruling interest groups and ideologies.
Coronavirus will teach us that a country without free national health care is severely handicapped. Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. They cannot afford health care premiums, deductions, and copays. Millions have no insurance. This means millions of people infected with coronavirus who cannot get medical help. The morbidity from this is intolerable in any society.
Shutdowns associated with efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus will deny income to millions of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck. What do they do for food, shelter, transportation? You don’t have to think very long along these lines to see a very frightening scenario.
Globalism has taken down the ladders of upward mobility by exporting American middle class jobs to Asia. A population once able to save now lives on debt, the service of which is interrupted by recession/depression and by debt service absorbing all net disposable income.
Globalism has also reduced the survivability of our society by making it dependent on externally produced goods, the supply of which can be cut off by disruptions in other societies, by policy disagreements leading to sanctions, and by an inability to export enough to pay for imports, which is what the offshored production of US firms is.
The United States has an unprotected population and an economy in trouble. For years corporate executives have run the companies for the benefit of their bonuses, which are largely dependent on rises in their company’s share price. Consequently, profits and borrowings have been invested in buying back the companies’ shares and not in new investment in the businesses. Corporate indebtedness is extreme and will threaten many corporations and many jobs in a downturn. Boeing is a case in point.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Economist Michael Hudson has for many decades studied the use of debt-forgiveness to restart economies killed by debt burdens. Debt forgiveness for corporations has a different implication than debt forgiveness for individuals. For corporations, forgiving debts lets those who financialized and indebted the economy and the population off the hook. To avoid rewarding them for the catastrophe they produced and to prevent widespread public outcry and distrust, nationalization is implied for insolvent companies and banks.
Nationalization would be limited to insolvent companies and financial institutions and doesn’t mean that there would be no private companies or businesses. Additional nationalization could be used to prevent strategic companies from substituting their interests for national interests, which they do when they move American jobs and factories offshore. Pharmaceuticals could be nationalized along with health care. Energy which often sacrifices the environment to its profits could be considered for nationalization. A successful society has to have more driving it than private profit.
For most Americans nationalization is a dirty word, but it has many benefits. For example, a national health care system reduces costs tremendously by taking profits out of the system. Additionally, nationalized pharmaceutical companies could be made more focused on research and cures than on profit avenues. Everyone knows how Big Pharma influences medical schools and medical practice in line with Big Pharma’s approach. A more open-minded approach to medicine would be beneficial.
Socialist is another American dirty word, one that is being used against Bernie Sanders. I have not turned into a socialist overnight. I am simply thinking outloud. How can the economy recover when the population and corporations are smothered by debt? Debt forgiveness is the only way out of this debt suffocation. Can debts be forgiven without nationalization? Not without a huge giveaway to financial mangers and Wall Street. It is the members of the “one percent” who have received 95% of the increase in us income and wealth since 2008. Do we want to reward them for smothering the economy with debt by bailing them out without nationalizing them?
The combination of an economy covered in debt and an unprotected population is clearly revolutionary. Do we have leadership capable of breaking out of interest group politics and ruling ideologies in order to save our society and put it on a more sustainable basis?
Or will the economic hardships be blamed on the virus, the catalyst that ignited the debt timebomb?


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--This is from a ICU nurse In Texas…

This is from a ICU nurse In Texas…

Good evening .
If you are tagged in this you are family , or very close to my family .
I hope that you will take my words to heart and listen .
I have been in healthcare all my life , and now , over 30 years in I am now an ICU nurse practitioner dealing with critical illness and life support issues .
Those of you who have come to me for advice in the past know that I am a straight shooter and i have never bullshitted you on matters of health .
With that in mind….here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In America .
NOW .
Circulating in communities , both detected and undetected .
There is no stopping it .
COVID19 is a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV2 , a new ( novel is the scientific word ) strain of coronavirus that has emerged in humans since December 2019 .
It is related to the SARS virus that circulated in 2002-3 .
We got lucky then .
Our luck is not so good this time .
It is not the flu .
It doesn ’ t feel like the flu .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure we have undertaken in affected countries .
It will make the rounds and many of us will catch it .
Most of us wont have a problem with it however… a significant number of us will get fairly sick and may need hospitalization… of those about half of those hospitalized will likely end up in the ICU and possibly on breathing machines… and of those sickest , there will be deaths .
COVID19 at its best is showing a 0.8 % mortality rate , which is 3x worse than the flu .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and detected both the well AND unwell who are positive for the SARS-CoV2 virus , which causes the COVID19 illness .
There are 350 million folks in america , roughly .
People are throwing around this number of “ less than one percent ” .
Well let me tell you : Do the math .
A very small percentage of a very large number is STILL a large number .
Symptoms of the Flu involve your body feeling like everything hurts , and you got run over by a mack truck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upper respiratory symptoms .
COVID19 is different .
You may or may not have a runny nose and fever .
A sore throat becomes a major common finding.. then it gets in the lungs .
A dry , nonproductive cough is common , followed or accompanied by shortness of breath .
The shortness of breath is what is triggering hospital visits , and the folks presenting to the hospitals show low oxygen levels ( oxygen saturations ) and chest imaging typically shows a bilateral diffuse pneumonia ( Double pneumonia for the laypeople ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive- Oxygen , and positive pressure ventilation… either with a cpap/bipap machine or with a mechanical ventilator attached to a breathing tube .
There is no cure .
Your body has to fight it off and it has to run its course .
There is no Tamiflu equivalent that works for this .
There are some smart medical folks out there spitballing some ideas , but nothing is proven to work .
So like every other viral illness you have gotten , you have to ride it out and hope your body is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making out fairly Ok.. even if they test positive they havent been dying of it in China , in Italy… however healthy young adults , even athletic types , in their 30 ’ s-50 ’ s are coming in very sick and some are dying .
From there , the older one is , the higher the hospitalization rates and the mortality rates .
Information out of China shows that it was killing men more than women , but one thing to note is that in China , older men are invariably tobacco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show the obese are having a worse time with it .
In general , blood pressure and diabetes are associated with higher rates of severe illness and death .
In particular , people takeing ACE Inhibitors or ARB ’ s for their blood pressure ( the drugs ending in “ pril ” like lisinopril , or “ sartan ” like valsartan ) seem to be having a worse time .
This makes sense since both of these classes of medicine affect cells in the lungs , which SARS CoV2 is thought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , and the reason why I am writing this , and tagging you… is that this will “ explode ” here like it has in Italy , Iran and how it did in China .
We only have so many hospital beds .
We only have so many ICU beds .
We only have so many ventilators.. and we only have so many trained staff who can care for the patients .
If this blows up massively beyond the ability of the health care system to treat and rescue patients , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In italy they have an excellent national healthcare system with about 5000 ICU beds , and per capita have more doctors and hospital beds than we do here in the US .
Of course , the US is bigger and has more total beds , and ventilators… but again.. less per capita .
In italy , in Lombardy ( the state/province ) and in Milan… they have simply run out of ventilators .
Doctors are faced with having too many people who cant breathe anymore , and not enough breathing machines to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deciding on the spot who might live and who will die .
They aren ’ t doing CPR or anything else futile for the COVID patients .
They dont have the staff or capacity to do so .
There ’ s a lot more horrible stuff I could tell you about whats happening , but the short version is this – if we exceed the capacity to manage this , people who should have lived will die .
Which brings us to here , now , in the US .
COVID is here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was never anything we could have done to stop it because of the way we live and conduct business .
BUT what we have to do is SLOW IT DOWN .
IF we SLOW IT DOWN , so that the number of unwell and critically ill dont explode , and overwhelm the system , then everyone has a fighting chance .
Give time for flu season to end and get flu patients out of the hospital .
Give time for the first wave of Covid patients to get well enough to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SLOW IT DOWN… practice frequent handwashing .
Dont touch your face , nose or eyes without washing your hands first .
Frequently disinfect common surfaces .
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING .
COVID LOVES A CROWD .
If you are gon na spread this disease around lets spread it to only one or two people not 100 people at a time .
Stay away from large groups .
Lets lay off the rodeos , the ball games , the big parties , the night clubs .
Do small groups.. or stay home .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clean your hands before touching your face .
On a bus in china , one person gave it to 8 other people , including one who got on 30 mins after the index case left the bus .
If you are sick , stay home .
Dont visit other vulnerable folks .
If it gets in your household , accept that its there and try not to give it to your aunts , uncles and grandparents .
Stay home , dont go to school .
For the elders reading this .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your life depends on it .
Because it very well does .
Your age group is the one having the worst time with this .
And if it gets bad , all I can say is that in Italy this week , if you were crashing and over 60 , they didn ’ t even consider offering a vent to them .
So please , elders , Stay home , skip church , avoid visiting large numbers of people .
Skip the lodge meeting .
And if you are adamant that your wings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure your will is updated , and you ’ ve given a copy to your kids .
Now.. none of this says “ panic ” or “ buy bottled water and toilet paper ” .
I ’ m asking for everyone to take a deep breath and be smart .
Quit caring about your 401k .
In a year or two it will be back .
The airlines and cruise lines will get bailed out .
The economy is going to tank no matter what , so quit worrying about it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ want a tanked economy with a low body count or a high body count .
We are all in this together .
Wash your hands .
Cover your mouth .
Practice social distancing .
Stay away from large crowds .
Be smart .
Stay home if sick .
Dont hoard or steal medical supplies .
We need them desperately at the hospital .
Disclaimer : This is a guest post and it doesn ’ t represent the views of IWB .

by AC
Good evening. If you are tagged in this you are family, or very close to my family. I hope that you will take my words to heart and listen.
I have been in healthcare all my life, and now, over 30 years in I am now an ICU nurse practitioner dealing with critical illness and life support issues. Those of you who have come to me for advice in the past know that I am a straight shooter and i have never bullshitted you on matters of health. With that in mind….here we go.
COVID19 is here. In America. NOW. Circulating in communities, both detected and undetected. There is no stopping it. COVID19 is a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV2, a new (novel is the scientific word) strain of coronavirus that has emerged in humans since December 2019. It is related to the SARS virus that circulated in 2002-3. We got lucky then. Our luck is not so good this time.
It is not the flu. It doesn’t feel like the flu. And it is deadlier than the flu by every measure we have undertaken in affected countries. It will make the rounds and many of us will catch it. Most of us wont have a problem with it however… a significant number of us will get fairly sick and may need hospitalization… of those about half of those hospitalized will likely end up in the ICU and possibly on breathing machines… and of those sickest, there will be deaths. COVID19 at its best is showing a 0.8% mortality rate, which is 3x worse than the flu. That is in countries that have extensive testing and detected both the well AND unwell who are positive for the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes the COVID19 illness.
There are 350 million folks in america, roughly. People are throwing around this number of “less than one percent”. Well let me tell you: Do the math. A very small percentage of a very large number is STILL a large number.
Symptoms of the Flu involve your body feeling like everything hurts, and you got run over by a mack truck and you just feel awful.. in addition to upper respiratory symptoms.
COVID19 is different. You may or may not have a runny nose and fever. A sore throat becomes a major common finding.. then it gets in the lungs. A dry, nonproductive cough is common, followed or accompanied by shortness of breath. The shortness of breath is what is triggering hospital visits, and the folks presenting to the hospitals show low oxygen levels (oxygen saturations) and chest imaging typically shows a bilateral diffuse pneumonia (Double pneumonia for the laypeople).
The only proven effective therapies are supportive- Oxygen, and positive pressure ventilation… either with a cpap/bipap machine or with a mechanical ventilator attached to a breathing tube. There is no cure. Your body has to fight it off and it has to run its course. There is no Tamiflu equivalent that works for this. There are some smart medical folks out there spitballing some ideas, but nothing is proven to work. So like every other viral illness you have gotten, you have to ride it out and hope your body is strong enough.
Babies and children are making out fairly Ok.. even if they test positive they havent been dying of it in China, in Italy… however healthy young adults, even athletic types, in their 30’s-50’s are coming in very sick and some are dying. From there, the older one is, the higher the hospitalization rates and the mortality rates.
Information out of China shows that it was killing men more than women, but one thing to note is that in China, older men are invariably tobacco smokers. Information out of Italy appears to show the obese are having a worse time with it. In general, blood pressure and diabetes are associated with higher rates of severe illness and death. In particular, people takeing ACE Inhibitors or ARB’s for their blood pressure (the drugs ending in “pril” like lisinopril, or “sartan” like valsartan) seem to be having a worse time. This makes sense since both of these classes of medicine affect cells in the lungs, which SARS CoV2 is thought to also affect.
The biggest danger right now, and the reason why I am writing this, and tagging you… is that this will “explode” here like it has in Italy, Iran and how it did in China.
We only have so many hospital beds. We only have so many ICU beds. We only have so many ventilators.. and we only have so many trained staff who can care for the patients. If this blows up massively beyond the ability of the health care system to treat and rescue patients, people who COULD have lived will simply die.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In italy they have an excellent national healthcare system with about 5000 ICU beds, and per capita have more doctors and hospital beds than we do here in the US. Of course, the US is bigger and has more total beds, and ventilators… but again.. less per capita. In italy, in Lombardy (the state/province) and in Milan… they have simply run out of ventilators. Doctors are faced with having too many people who cant breathe anymore, and not enough breathing machines to put them on. They are literally deciding on the spot who might live and who will die. They aren’t doing CPR or anything else futile for the COVID patients. They dont have the staff or capacity to do so.
There’s a lot more horrible stuff I could tell you about whats happening, but the short version is this – if we exceed the capacity to manage this, people who should have lived will die.
Which brings us to here, now, in the US. COVID is here. It WILL sweep the nation. There was never anything we could have done to stop it because of the way we live and conduct business. BUT what we have to do is SLOW IT DOWN.
IF we SLOW IT DOWN, so that the number of unwell and critically ill dont explode, and overwhelm the system, then everyone has a fighting chance. Give time for flu season to end and get flu patients out of the hospital. Give time for the first wave of Covid patients to get well enough to get out of the hospital.
So.. to SLOW IT DOWN… practice frequent handwashing. Dont touch your face, nose or eyes without washing your hands first. Frequently disinfect common surfaces.
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. COVID LOVES A CROWD. If you are gonna spread this disease around lets spread it to only one or two people not 100 people at a time. Stay away from large groups. Lets lay off the rodeos, the ball games, the big parties, the night clubs. Do small groups.. or stay home. If you go out, and touch common surfaces, clean your hands before touching your face. On a bus in china, one person gave it to 8 other people, including one who got on 30 mins after the index case left the bus.
If you are sick, stay home. Dont visit other vulnerable folks. If it gets in your household, accept that its there and try not to give it to your aunts, uncles and grandparents. Stay home, dont go to school.
For the elders reading this. I need you to stay home as if your life depends on it. Because it very well does. Your age group is the one having the worst time with this. And if it gets bad, all I can say is that in Italy this week, if you were crashing and over 60, they didn’t even consider offering a vent to them. So please, elders, Stay home, skip church, avoid visiting large numbers of people. Skip the lodge meeting . And if you are adamant that your wings will not be clipped, then please make sure your will is updated, and you’ve given a copy to your kids.
Now.. none of this says “panic” or “buy bottled water and toilet paper”. I’m asking for everyone to take a deep breath and be smart.
Quit caring about your 401k. In a year or two it will be back. The airlines and cruise lines will get bailed out. The economy is going to tank no matter what, so quit worrying about it. Right now the decision is do we want a tanked economy with a low body count or a high body count.
We are all in this together. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Practice social distancing. Stay away from large crowds. Be smart. Stay home if sick. Dont hoard or steal medical supplies. We need them desperately at the hospital.
Disclaimer: This is a guest post and it doesn’t represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--NYPD Doom: 17 SENT HOME

NYPD Doom: 17 SENT HOME

One officer in the NYPD ’ s 1st Precinct has tested positive for COVID-19 , and 17 officers from the @ @ @ @ @ because of possible exposure , Fox News has learned .
In all , 31 officers @ @ @ @ @ the precinct , including the 17 coronavirus-related cases , representing a substantial 17 percent of @ @ @ @ @ .
An NYPD bulletin sent to officers says officers who have had close contact — @ @ @ @ @ more than a few minutes — with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 “ @ @ @ @ @ NYPD recommends officers call the medical division and call out sick only if they start @ @ @ @ @ coughing or a fever .
One officer lamented that leadership did not alert everyone in @ @ @ @ @ their colleagues had tested positive , potentially exposing other officers who work at the downtown @ @ @

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
One officer in the NYPD’s 1st Precinct has tested positive for COVID-19, and 17 officers from the precinct have been sent home because of possible exposure, Fox News has learned.
In all, 31 officers have called out sick at the precinct, including the 17 coronavirus-related cases, representing a substantial 17 percent of the precinct’s staff.
An NYPD bulletin sent to officers says officers who have had close contact — less than 6 feet for more than a few minutes — with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 “can keep working.” The NYPD recommends officers call the medical division and call out sick only if they start to develop symptoms such as coughing or a fever.
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One officer lamented that leadership did not alert everyone in the precinct that one of their colleagues had tested positive, potentially exposing other officers who work at the downtown Manhattan location.
www.foxnews.com/us/nypd-officer-tests-positive-coronavirus-17-officers-sent-home.amp?__twitter_impression=true


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--Peter Schiff: Savings Are Tapped, All That’s Left Is The Printing Press

Fed finally did what I ’ ve been saying they would for years : cut rates to zero with the biggest point cut in history .
Powell afraid to call it QE .
There are no atheists in foxholes ; there are no free-market capitalists in a recession .
If we fought WWII with bailouts , like the way we ’ re fighting coronavirus , we ’ d be speaking German now .
Waiting in line for food and toilet paper does not mean business is booming .
Neither is having full hospitals .
More records broken today as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest single day point drop in history !
Percentage-wise , it was the second biggest drop percentage in history , next to the stock market crash of 1987 .
For all the years of the Great Depression and WWII , the economy never saw a drop like this .
The stock market has never lost this much value this quickly .
The whole rest of the world is now tapping into their savings , but we have nothing left to rely on other than a printing press .
Gold takes a hit as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down only 2 % on the year compared to the Dow down 32 % .
Gold is liquid , easy to sell , yet its barely down , even though so many people are desperate enough to sell it .
Trump “ pleasantly surprised ” Powell followed his orders after having his job threatened .
Oh , and banks no longer need reserves .

by Peter Schiff of Peter Schiff Podcast
Fed finally did what I’ve been saying they would for years: cut rates to zero with the biggest point cut in history. Powell afraid to call it QE.
There are no atheists in foxholes; there are no free-market capitalists in a recession. If we fought WWII with bailouts, like the way we’re fighting coronavirus, we’d be speaking German now.
Waiting in line for food and toilet paper does not mean business is booming. Neither is having full hospitals.
More records broken today as the Dow lost almost 3,000 points – the biggest single day point drop in history! Percentage-wise, it was the second biggest drop percentage in history, next to the stock market crash of 1987. For all the years of the Great Depression and WWII, the economy never saw a drop like this.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The stock market has never lost this much value this quickly. The whole rest of the world is now tapping into their savings, but we have nothing left to rely on other than a printing press.
Gold takes a hit as investors cover their losses, but still down only 2% on the year compared to the Dow down 32%. Gold is liquid, easy to sell, yet its barely down, even though so many people are desperate enough to sell it.
Trump “pleasantly surprised” Powell followed his orders after having his job threatened.
Oh, and banks no longer need reserves.


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--Australia is Already Running Out of Test Kits

Australia is facing a critical shortage of test kits and health authorities are urging people to avoid “ panic testing ” .
The Australian Medical Association yesterday warned that the horse has bolted .
The country has one of the highest testing rates in the world , per capita .
Put simply , we ’ re running out of test kits – as well as other medical equipment like masks… Flu season officially starts in a couple of weeks .
Winter is fast approaching ( 70 days away ) .
Temperatures usually plummet quite significantly across most of the heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
In Australia , influenza on average causes 3,500 deaths,4 about 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 GP consultations each year .
So practically anyone who gets the cold or flu over the coming months will be freaking out thinking that they could have the coronavirus .
How can they possibly test millions of people in such a small time frame ?
( 3 months ) There will never be enough test kits for starters , Hospitals and GP ’ s wont be able to keep up especially considering many of the staff will @ @ @ @ @

Australia is facing a critical shortage of test kits and health authorities are urging people to avoid “panic testing”.
The Australian Medical Association yesterday warned that the horse has bolted. The country has one of the highest testing rates in the world, per capita.
Put simply, we’re running out of test kits – as well as other medical equipment like masks…
www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-alex-lewis-and-partner-refused-test-both-had-covid19/news-story/09c4c3d41dabd8ab176f66ebe2e2c40e
Flu season officially starts in a couple of weeks. Winter is fast approaching (70 days away).
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Temperatures usually plummet quite significantly across most of the heavily populated parts of the country by mid April.
In Australia, influenza on average causes 3,500 deaths,4 about 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 GP consultations each year.
So practically anyone who gets the cold or flu over the coming months will be freaking out thinking that they could have the coronavirus. How can they possibly test millions of people in such a small time frame? (3 months) There will never be enough test kits for starters, Hospitals and GP’s wont be able to keep up especially considering many of the staff will become infected as well.
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--Illinois News Station Mistakenly Airs Election Day Results a Day Before the Primary Election

WCIA aired Tues election results during a Mon showing of The Price is Right .
The results showed Biden defeating @ @ @ @ @

Huh??👀👀 Illinois News Station Mistakenly Airs Election Results Day Before Primary Showing Joe Biden Victory WCIA aired Tues election results during a Mon showing of The Price is Right. The results showed Biden defeating Sanders by 93k+ votes.
t.co/9eIUKP6PHb — Steven Lundgren (@love4thegameAK) March 17, 2020
Illinois News Station Mistakenly Airs Election Results Day Before Primary Showing Joe Biden Victory
WCIA aired Tues election results during a Mon showing of The Price is Right. The results showed Biden defeating Sanders by 93k+ votes.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/03/16/illinois-news-station-mistakenly-airs-election-results-day-before-primary-showing-joe-biden-victory/


investmentwatchblog--2020-03-18--Ibuprofen – NHS withdraws advice telling sufferers to take it

• Amelia Milner was given ibuprofen which made her symptoms worse • The first warning about the painkiller came from France ’ s health minister • ‘ If your child has symptoms of coronavirus , DO NOT give them ibuprofen , ’ Amelia ’ s step-father warned • Do you have a coronavirus story ?
Email sam.blanchard @ mailonline.co.uk • Coronavirus symptoms : what are they and should you see a doctor ?
Britons with coronavirus symptoms are being warned not to take ibuprofen after a four-year-old girl became seriously ill after being given the painkiller .
Amelia Milner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents after she became ill with a cough and a fever – the hallmark symptoms of the deadly infection .
But , instead of making her feel better , the painkiller made her temperature spike and she began shaking , panting , couldn ’ t keep her eyes open and vomited , according to her step-father , Dan Collins .
Mr Collins ’ warning comes as the NHS today withdrew its official advice that told coronavirus patients to take ibuprofen to fight off symptoms – instead infected Brits should only rely on paracetamol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions over the NHS advice when he said anti-inflammatories , such as ibuprofen , could ‘ aggravate the infection ’ .
Other leading medics echoed his concerns , admitting the over-the-counter drug may dampen the immune system and even slow down recovery .
And the government ’ s chief scientific adviser today admitted the ‘ sensible thing to do ’ would be to not take ibuprofen until the science becomes clearer .
Experts say the popular pill works by reducing inflammation , which is the immune system ’ s natural response to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening could make people less able to fight off an illness .
In a moving Facebook post , Mr Collins shared a photo of Amelia and warned : ‘ If your child has symptoms of coronavirus , DO NOT give them ibuprofen.
’ Amelia was given ibuprofen because her parents were unable to get any Calpol .
She has not been tested for coronavirus because she is not in hospital .

Amelia Milner was given ibuprofen which made her symptoms worse
The first warning about the painkiller came from France’s health minister
‘If your child has symptoms of coronavirus, DO NOT give them ibuprofen,’ Amelia’s step-father warned
Do you have a coronavirus story? Email sam.blanchard@mailonline.co.uk
Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Britons with coronavirus symptoms are being warned not to take ibuprofen after a four-year-old girl became seriously ill after being given the painkiller.
Amelia Milner, four, was given ibuprofen by her parents after she became ill with a cough and a fever – the hallmark symptoms of the deadly infection.
But, instead of making her feel better, the painkiller made her temperature spike and she began shaking, panting, couldn’t keep her eyes open and vomited, according to her step-father, Dan Collins.
Mr Collins’ warning comes as the NHS today withdrew its official advice that told coronavirus patients to take ibuprofen to fight off symptoms – instead infected Brits should only rely on paracetamol.
French health minister Olivier Véran prompted questions over the NHS advice when he said anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, could ‘aggravate the infection’.
Other leading medics echoed his concerns, admitting the over-the-counter drug may dampen the immune system and even slow down recovery.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
And the government’s chief scientific adviser today admitted the ‘sensible thing to do’ would be to not take ibuprofen until the science becomes clearer.
Experts say the popular pill works by reducing inflammation, which is the immune system’s natural response to an infection. Therefore, preventing it from happening could make people less able to fight off an illness.
In a moving Facebook post, Mr Collins shared a photo of Amelia and warned: ‘If your child has symptoms of coronavirus, DO NOT give them ibuprofen.’
Amelia was given ibuprofen because her parents were unable to get any Calpol. She has not been tested for coronavirus because she is not in hospital.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8120573/Warnings-using-ibuprofen-combat-coronavirus-symptoms.html