rt--2020-04-13--As media warns of WARRING CANNIBAL RATS in US cities, (human) food production quietly crashes from C

As media warns of WARRING CANNIBAL RATS in US cities, (human) food production quietly crashes from Covid-19 closures

Rats living in major US cities are resorting to war and cannibalism to survive the coronavirus lockdown , a rodent expert has told the media .
But as closures hamper food production , humans may also find themselves in trouble .
While rats feeding off residential waste in places like New York City and Los Angeles are doing just fine , those relying on restaurants – shuttered due to Covid-19 quarantines – are suddenly facing starvation , urban rodentologist Bobby Corrigan told NBC News on Monday .
`` It 's just like we 've seen in the history of mankind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands and they come in with militaries and armies and fight to the death , literally , for who 's going to conquer that land .
And that 's what happens with rats , '' he said .
`` A new 'army ' of rats come in , and whichever army has the strongest rats is going to conquer that area . ''
In addition to rat armies fighting “ wars ” with each other over prime residential garbage , “ now the adults are killing the young in the nest and cannibalizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His alarming description may be based in no small part on viral footage of rats fighting for leftovers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans last month , just days after authorities placed much of Louisiana under Covid-19 quarantine .
Similar imagery was recorded in Bangkok , Thailand recently .
If the dire warnings from the food processing industry are anything to go by , however , Americans may soon face similar problems if the shutdowns go on much longer .
So far , the biggest shortages in stores have been things like toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being reasonably plentiful .
But the people making this possible – from farmers and ranchers to food processing plant workers , truckers and grocers – can ’ t work from home .
“ We are weeks , not months , away from farmers euthanizing animals that would have been sold for meat [ or ] food , ” Congressman Thomas Massie ( R-Kentucky ) warned on Monday .
“ Also , fruits and vegetables are going to rot in the fields.
” America ’ s “ brittle ” food supply chain is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant closures , while farmers and ranchers will be forced to destroy their products , Massie warned , slamming people in the US government who “ have no clue about how the economy works.
” Six of the largest US processing plants have already shut down , the Kentucky congressman said .
The latest closure came on Sunday , when Smithfield extended the shutdown of its Sioux Falls , South Dakota pork processing plant because almost 240 of its 3,700 employees contracted the coronavirus .
The plant accounts for up to five percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running , ” Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan said in a statement .
“ We have a stark choice as a nation : we are either going to produce food or not , even in the face of Covid-19.
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Rats living in major US cities are resorting to war and cannibalism to survive the coronavirus lockdown, a rodent expert has told the media. But as closures hamper food production, humans may also find themselves in trouble.
While rats feeding off residential waste in places like New York City and Los Angeles are doing just fine, those relying on restaurants – shuttered due to Covid-19 quarantines – are suddenly facing starvation, urban rodentologist Bobby Corrigan told NBC News on Monday.
Starving rats are resorting to war and cannibalism to survive coronavirus lockdown https://t.co/aSXMxE6NC5pic.twitter.com/NT0USD037O — New York Post (@nypost) April 13, 2020
"It's just like we've seen in the history of mankind, where people try to take over lands and they come in with militaries and armies and fight to the death, literally, for who's going to conquer that land. And that's what happens with rats," he said. "A new 'army' of rats come in, and whichever army has the strongest rats is going to conquer that area."
In addition to rat armies fighting “wars” with each other over prime residential garbage, “now the adults are killing the young in the nest and cannibalizing the pups," Corrigan added.
His alarming description may be based in no small part on viral footage of rats fighting for leftovers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans last month, just days after authorities placed much of Louisiana under Covid-19 quarantine. Similar imagery was recorded in Bangkok, Thailand recently.
While Thais hunker down indoors during a night curfew amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bangkok's streets are handed over to the rats pic.twitter.com/Qmfbj6fc2U — SCMP News (@SCMPNews) April 13, 2020
If the dire warnings from the food processing industry are anything to go by, however, Americans may soon face similar problems if the shutdowns go on much longer. So far, the biggest shortages in stores have been things like toilet paper and hand sanitizer, with food being reasonably plentiful.
But the people making this possible – from farmers and ranchers to food processing plant workers, truckers and grocers – can’t work from home.
“We are weeks, not months, away from farmers euthanizing animals that would have been sold for meat [or] food,” Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) warned on Monday. “Also, fruits and vegetables are going to rot in the fields.”
We are weeks, not months, away from farmers euthanizing animals that would have been sold for meat/food. Also, fruits and vegetables are going to rot in the fields. A drastic change in policy this week could ameliorate this inevitability.Listen here:https://t.co/bCzTX763r1 — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 13, 2020
America’s “brittle” food supply chain is going to result in supermarket shortages and processing plant closures, while farmers and ranchers will be forced to destroy their products, Massie warned, slamming people in the US government who “have no clue about how the economy works.”
Six of the largest US processing plants have already shut down, the Kentucky congressman said. The latest closure came on Sunday, when Smithfield extended the shutdown of its Sioux Falls, South Dakota pork processing plant because almost 240 of its 3,700 employees contracted the coronavirus. The plant accounts for up to five percent of total US pork production.
“It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan said in a statement. “We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of Covid-19.”
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rt--2020-04-13--Bernie Sanders’ key surrogates refuse to endorse Joe Biden as supporters lament senator’s switching

Bernie Sanders’ key surrogates refuse to endorse Joe Biden as supporters lament senator’s switching sides

Bernie Sanders ’ endorsement of Joe Biden hasn ’ t gone over well with the socialist senator ’ s supporters , who see their candidate ’ s capitulation as a betrayal of his values .
Sanders made a surprise appearance in a livestream with Biden on Monday , to give his full endorsement to a candidate he ’ d once described as an architect of “ disastrous ” trade policies , a stooge for credit card companies , and part of “ the establishment that is working frantically to try and defeat us.
” “ We ’ ve got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need you in the White House , ” Sanders said to Biden on Monday , before calling on his supporters to back the former vice president .
To Sanders ’ vocal base of left-wing supporters , the endorsement was a punch to the gut .
Many , including former press secretary Briahna Joy Gray , refused to follow their candidate onto team Biden .
“ With the utmost respect for Bernie Sanders , who is an incredible human being & a genuine inspiration , I do n't endorse Joe Biden , ” Gray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most senior adviser until Monday , spent the day arguing with Twitter critics ( at one point calling pundit Michael Tracey a “ total d*ck ” ) who blamed the senator ’ s campaign for its failure to beat Biden .
When Sanders gave Biden the thumbs-up , Sirota turned to history to explain “ how steep the odds ” against his boss were .
“ In the last 68 years , a party ’ s outgoing or immediate past vice president has never run for president and not won his party 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim resignation palpable .
“ Never .
Not once.
” Sanders ’ fans and left-wing commentators made their disappointment and rage known .
“ # BernieSanders has endorsed Joe Biden , ” tweeted ‘ Redacted Tonight ’ host Lee Camp .
“ Apparently no one told him that political revolutions do not ‘ endorse ’ the complete opposite of everything they stand for.
” To commenters on the right , the move was no surprise .
After leading a campaign that came within inches of defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016 , Sanders backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his most devoted followers .
Moreover , Sanders has repeatedly described Trump as the “ most dangerous president in modern history , ” and the socialist senator was unlikely not to back his party ’ s eventual nominee .
Sanders is perhaps the most recognizable face of the American left , and a powerful ally to Biden .
Whether his supporters accept his defeat and switch their allegiance en masse to the former VP will be definitively revealed in November .
Until then , expect the rage to keep flowing on Twitter .
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Bernie Sanders’ endorsement of Joe Biden hasn’t gone over well with the socialist senator’s supporters, who see their candidate’s capitulation as a betrayal of his values.
Sanders made a surprise appearance in a livestream with Biden on Monday, to give his full endorsement to a candidate he’d once described as an architect of “disastrous” trade policies, a stooge for credit card companies, and part of “the establishment that is working frantically to try and defeat us.”
Also on rt.com Sanders joins Biden livestream to give full-throated ENDORSEMENT
“We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president and we need you in the White House,” Sanders said to Biden on Monday, before calling on his supporters to back the former vice president.
To Sanders’ vocal base of left-wing supporters, the endorsement was a punch to the gut. Many, including former press secretary Briahna Joy Gray, refused to follow their candidate onto team Biden. “With the utmost respect for Bernie Sanders, who is an incredible human being & a genuine inspiration, I don't endorse Joe Biden,” Gray tweeted.
With the utmost respect for Bernie Sanders, who is an incredible human being & a genuine inspiration, I don't endorse Joe Biden. I supported Bernie Sanders because he backed ideas like #MedicareForAll, cancelling ALL student debt, & a wealth tax. Biden supports none of those. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) April 13, 2020
David Sirota, Sanders’ most senior adviser until Monday, spent the day arguing with Twitter critics (at one point calling pundit Michael Tracey a “total d*ck”) who blamed the senator’s campaign for its failure to beat Biden. When Sanders gave Biden the thumbs-up, Sirota turned to history to explain “how steep the odds” against his boss were.
“In the last 68 years, a party’s outgoing or immediate past vice president has never run for president and not won his party's nomination,” he tweeted, the grim resignation palpable. “Never. Not once.”
In the last 68 years, a party's outgoing or immediate past vice president has never run for president and not won his party's nomination. Never. Not once.This does not absolve us of any responsibility for losing the primary, but it gives you a sense of how steep the odds were. — David Sirota (@davidsirota) April 13, 2020
Sanders’ fans and left-wing commentators made their disappointment and rage known. “#BernieSanders has endorsed Joe Biden,” tweeted ‘Redacted Tonight’ host Lee Camp. “Apparently no one told him that political revolutions do not ‘endorse’ the complete opposite of everything they stand for.”
I have been called a cultist thousands of times over the last year. Watch me serenely ignore Bernie Sanders' exhortation to support Joe Biden 😌 — Meagan Day (@meaganmday) April 13, 2020
The left stays losing every time it trots out this tired line about how bad orange man is the most dangerous president in modern history and not merely the logical conclusion of the sclerosis and rot of establishment politics — Anna Khachiyan (@annakhachiyan) April 13, 2020
I wish Bernie Sanders were the egomaniac his dishonest haters claim he was because then he'd still be in the race. I assume that he thinks he's doing this for the sake of the party but uniting behind someone who will surely lose to Trump isn't a good idea. — Katie Halper (@kthalps) April 13, 2020
To commenters on the right, the move was no surprise. After leading a campaign that came within inches of defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016, Sanders backed Clinton, much to the anger of his most devoted followers. Moreover, Sanders has repeatedly described Trump as the “most dangerous president in modern history,” and the socialist senator was unlikely not to back his party’s eventual nominee.
Bernie Sanders just endorsed everything he was running against, just like he did in 2016What a total fraud — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 13, 2020
Sanders is perhaps the most recognizable face of the American left, and a powerful ally to Biden. Whether his supporters accept his defeat and switch their allegiance en masse to the former VP will be definitively revealed in November. Until then, expect the rage to keep flowing on Twitter.
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rt--2020-04-13--Collision course with Trump? Cuomo says governors will decide when to lift lockdown, not White House

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and five regional governors have banded together to decide when to reopen their economies .
The move clashes with President Donald Trump ’ s insistence on making that call himself .
Speaking at a press conference on Monday , Cuomo announced that he would work together with the governors of New Jersey , Connecticut , Pennsylvania , Delaware and Rhode Island to decide together when to lift the quarantine measures in their respective states .
Each state will nominate a public health official and an “ economic health ” official , who will lift restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group as a whole .
No date was given for the economic restart , with Cuomo stating that the decision will be made “ smartly , ” based on “ the facts ” as they present themselves .
There is “ a new day coming , ” Cuomo declared , “ and it can be a bright day.
” All six governors are Democrats , and the decision to ignore federal directions and work together will likely set them up for a showdown with President Trump .
Earlier on Monday , Trump insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision of the president ” when to reopen the economy , “ and for many good reasons.
” Trump has said that he will lift lockdown measures on May 1 , a goal considered unrealistic by his own coronavirus task force .
Cuomo defended his decision to go it alone .
“ Let ’ s see what the federal government ’ s plan is , ” he told reporters .
Trump “ left it to the states to close down .
Without any guidance really , he took the position that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want to change the model , they can change the model , ” he said .
Cuomo ’ s working group will meet on Tuesday to discuss a date for the reopening .
The governor did not suggest a date , but said he wishes to lift the lockdown “ ASAP.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and five regional governors have banded together to decide when to reopen their economies. The move clashes with President Donald Trump’s insistence on making that call himself.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Cuomo announced that he would work together with the governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island to decide together when to lift the quarantine measures in their respective states.
Each state will nominate a public health official and an “economic health” official, who will lift restrictions in the region after consulting with the group as a whole. No date was given for the economic restart, with Cuomo stating that the decision will be made “smartly,” based on “the facts” as they present themselves.
Any plan to reopen society MUST be driven by data and experts, not opinion and politics.We will learn from the warning signs from other countries.We will take every precaution.We will work together as a region. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 13, 2020
There is “a new day coming,” Cuomo declared, “and it can be a bright day.”
All six governors are Democrats, and the decision to ignore federal directions and work together will likely set them up for a showdown with President Trump.
Earlier on Monday, Trump insisted on Twitter that “it is the decision of the president” when to reopen the economy, “and for many good reasons.” Trump has said that he will lift lockdown measures on May 1, a goal considered unrealistic by his own coronavirus task force.
Also on rt.com From nanny choppers to police break-ins: Top absurd crackdowns in the fight against Covid-19
Cuomo defended his decision to go it alone. “Let’s see what the federal government’s plan is,” he told reporters. Trump “left it to the states to close down. Without any guidance really, he took the position that it was the states’ decision.”
“If they want to change the model, they can change the model,” he said.
Cuomo’s working group will meet on Tuesday to discuss a date for the reopening. The governor did not suggest a date, but said he wishes to lift the lockdown “ASAP.”
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rt--2020-04-13--Sanders joins Biden livestream to give full-throated ENDORSEMENT

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprising appearance on former Vice President joe Biden ’ s livestream to give the rival for the Democrat presidential nomination an enthusiastic endorsement against President Donald Trump .
Denouncing Trump as a “ racist , sexist , homophobe ” who “ lies all the time , ” Sanders announced he was now supporting Biden ’ s presidential bid .
The self-described democratic socialist had suspended his campaign last week , saying he would stay on the ballot to influence party policy at the convention – but apparently changed his mind on Monday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm asking every Democrat , I 'm asking every independent , I 'm asking a lot of Republicans — to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy which I endorse , ” Sanders said .
Biden told Sanders he will need his help to get elected and to govern , “ if I ’ m the nominee , which I guess you just made me.
” READ MORE : ‘ They ’ re planning to replace Joe ’ : Bernie ’ s press secretary says Dems will toss Biden before November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and Sanders traded softball questions with each other , gushing over party talking points they agreed on , while criticizing every move Trump has made to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic .
Sanders appeared to offer his key policy points – $ 15 minimum wage , free college – to Biden , who seemed to endorse them in his trademark-style rambling responses .
In the course of one of those answers , Biden also promised “ comprehensive immigration reform ” to give “ millions of citizens [ sic ] on a pathway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweating in “ undocumented ” Iraqis who had joined the US military after the 2003 Iraq War .
The former vice-president to Barack Obama also asked Sanders supporters to join him and help “ transform this nation… as one of the most progressive administrations since [ Franklin Delano ] Roosevelt.
” Many Sanders supporters disillusioned with the Democratic Party were vowing never to support Biden as late as Sunday .
Whether his sudden endorsement will sway them remains to be seen .
It did , however , double the viewership of Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just under 4,300 people over the course of the 35-minute broadcast .
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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprising appearance on former Vice President joe Biden’s livestream to give the rival for the Democrat presidential nomination an enthusiastic endorsement against President Donald Trump.
Denouncing Trump as a “racist, sexist, homophobe” who “lies all the time,” Sanders announced he was now supporting Biden’s presidential bid. The self-described democratic socialist had suspended his campaign last week, saying he would stay on the ballot to influence party policy at the convention – but apparently changed his mind on Monday.
“I am asking all Americans — I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans — to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy which I endorse,” Sanders said.
Also on rt.com Sanders sinks again: The populist Democrat departs the race just when his message was most relevant
We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president and we need you in the White House.
Biden told Sanders he will need his help to get elected and to govern, “if I’m the nominee, which I guess you just made me.”
READ MORE: ‘They’re planning to replace Joe’: Bernie’s press secretary says Dems will toss Biden before November
Formerly bitter rivals for the nomination, Biden and Sanders traded softball questions with each other, gushing over party talking points they agreed on, while criticizing every move Trump has made to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden and Bernie are having this weirdly obviously choreographed Q&A between themselves — Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) April 13, 2020
Sanders appeared to offer his key policy points – $15 minimum wage, free college – to Biden, who seemed to endorse them in his trademark-style rambling responses.
In the course of one of those answers, Biden also promised “comprehensive immigration reform” to give “millions of citizens [sic] on a pathway to citizenship,” before talking about sweating in “undocumented” Iraqis who had joined the US military after the 2003 Iraq War.
The former vice-president to Barack Obama also asked Sanders supporters to join him and help “transform this nation… as one of the most progressive administrations since [Franklin Delano] Roosevelt.”
Also on rt.com Bernie Sanders betrayed his supporters the second time. There won’t be a third
Many Sanders supporters disillusioned with the Democratic Party were vowing never to support Biden as late as Sunday. Whether his sudden endorsement will sway them remains to be seen. It did, however, double the viewership of Biden’s livestream, with a peak of just under 4,300 people over the course of the 35-minute broadcast.
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rt--2020-04-13--Coronavirus death toll in New York state rises above 10,000 as governor says ‘worst is over’

Over 10,000 people have died with the coronavirus in New York , Governor Andrew Cuomo has revealed , calling for more testing and stringent precautions as the state mulls reopening with hospital admissions down .
“ I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart , and I believe we can now start on the path to normalcy , ” Cuomo said in his daily coronavirus briefing on Monday , while urging caution in the reopening process .
New York recorded 671 more deaths on Sunday , bringing the state ’ s total death toll to 10,056 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving out of lockdown that calls for easing isolation , opening businesses gradually , and ramping up testing to avoid a “ second wave ” of infections .
Noting that “ projection models were all wrong , ” the governor called for billions in federal fiscal assistance to help restart New York ’ s economy .
Cuomo unveiled a tentative plan for moving out of lockdown that calls for easing isolation , opening businesses gradually , and ramping up testing to avoid a “ second wave ” of infections .
Noting that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor called for billions in federal fiscal assistance to help restart New York ’ s economy .
The governors of New York , Connecticut , New Jersey , Delaware , Rhode Island , and Pennsylvania will announce a more detailed reopening plan this afternoon , Cuomo said .
New York has been by far the hardest-hit state by the coronavirus pandemic , with New York City currently the epicenter of the outbreak with 103,208 confirmed cases .
However , the number of hospital admissions has fallen over the weekend , as has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump weighed in on Twitter , denying it was “ the Governors decision to open up the states ” and countering that “ the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors.
” The president seemed to agree with Cuomo on the need for an update , however , teasing that “ a decision by me , in conjunction with the Governors and input from others , will be made shortly !
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Over 10,000 people have died with the coronavirus in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has revealed, calling for more testing and stringent precautions as the state mulls reopening with hospital admissions down.
“I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart, and I believe we can now start on the path to normalcy,” Cuomo said in his daily coronavirus briefing on Monday, while urging caution in the reopening process. New York recorded 671 more deaths on Sunday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 10,056.
Cuomo unveiled a tentative plan for moving out of lockdown that calls for easing isolation, opening businesses gradually, and ramping up testing to avoid a “second wave” of infections. Noting that “projection models were all wrong,” the governor called for billions in federal fiscal assistance to help restart New York’s economy.
Also on rt.com US reports over 1,900 Covid-19 deaths in single day after setting global record for most fatalities
Cuomo unveiled a tentative plan for moving out of lockdown that calls for easing isolation, opening businesses gradually, and ramping up testing to avoid a “second wave” of infections. Noting that “projection models were all wrong,” the governor called for billions in federal fiscal assistance to help restart New York’s economy.
The governors of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania will announce a more detailed reopening plan this afternoon, Cuomo said.
New York has been by far the hardest-hit state by the coronavirus pandemic, with New York City currently the epicenter of the outbreak with 103,208 confirmed cases. However, the number of hospital admissions has fallen over the weekend, as has the number of admissions to intensive-care units.
President Donald Trump weighed in on Twitter, denying it was “the Governors decision to open up the states” and countering that “the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors.” The president seemed to agree with Cuomo on the need for an update, however, teasing that “a decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”
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rt--2020-04-13--US sailor from corona-stricken aircraft carrier 'Theodore Roosevelt' dies after days in intensive ca

US sailor from corona-stricken aircraft carrier 'Theodore Roosevelt' dies after days in intensive care

One of the 584 sailors who tested positive for coronavirus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt has died in Guam of complications related to the virus , the Navy has announced .
The unnamed sailor , whose anonymity is being preserved pending next-of-kin notification , died on Monday of “ COVID-related complications ” after being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the US Naval Hospital in Guam , the Navy revealed in a statement on Monday .
He had been receiving medical checks twice daily in keeping with the protocol for coronavirus cases from the ship and was found unresponsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him with CPR , he was transferred to the naval hospital , where he died days later .
The USS Theodore Roosevelt has been docked in Guam for two weeks .
The carrier became the site of controversy after its captain , Brett Crozier , was fired by Acting Naval Secretary Thomas Modly for sending an email that quickly leaked to the public begging for his ship to be evacuated .
Of the 5,000 soldiers on board , 100 had tested positive for the virus when Crozier sent his email , and eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hospital in Guam .
Modly himself resigned last week after Democratic lawmakers called for his removal , charging he had prematurely relieved Crozier of his command when the captain had just been doing what he thought was right for his crew .
He was replaced by Army Undersecretary James McPherson .
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One of the 584 sailors who tested positive for coronavirus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt has died in Guam of complications related to the virus, the Navy has announced.
The unnamed sailor, whose anonymity is being preserved pending next-of-kin notification, died on Monday of “COVID-related complications” after being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the US Naval Hospital in Guam, the Navy revealed in a statement on Monday.
Also on rt.com ‘We have too many ships at sea’: Pentagon says more Theodore Roosevelt-level coronavirus outbreaks are possible
He had been receiving medical checks twice daily in keeping with the protocol for coronavirus cases from the ship and was found unresponsive on Thursday. After fellow sailors revived him with CPR, he was transferred to the naval hospital, where he died days later.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt has been docked in Guam for two weeks. The carrier became the site of controversy after its captain, Brett Crozier, was fired by Acting Naval Secretary Thomas Modly for sending an email that quickly leaked to the public begging for his ship to be evacuated. Of the 5,000 soldiers on board, 100 had tested positive for the virus when Crozier sent his email, and eight with severe symptoms had already been evacuated to the hospital in Guam.
Modly himself resigned last week after Democratic lawmakers called for his removal, charging he had prematurely relieved Crozier of his command when the captain had just been doing what he thought was right for his crew. He was replaced by Army Undersecretary James McPherson.
Also on rt.com Acting US Navy secretary RESIGNS amid scandal over coronavirus-hit USS Theodore Roosevelt
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rt--2020-04-13--At least 7 dead after TORNADOES wreak havoc across southern US states, leveling homes & knocking pow

At least 7 dead after TORNADOES wreak havoc across southern US states, leveling homes & knocking power lines (VIDEOS)

Several people died after powerful tornadoes swept through parts of southern America , damaging homes , knocking down power lines and blocking roads with uprooted trees .
Louisiana and Mississippi have been hit the hardest .
At least seven people were killed after tornadoes combined with severe rainstorms battered Mississippi .
One fatality was confirmed in Walthall County , two in Lawrence County , three in Jefferson Davis County , and another one in Jones County as of Sunday evening .
Footage posted on social media show trees crashing down on houses and blocking roads , and windows shattered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heavy trail of destruction in Monroe , Louisiana , where some 300 homes were either razed to the ground or damaged , according to local police .
Monroe Regional Airport has also sustained heavy damage from at least one tornado .
Multiple videos and photos taken in the aftermath of the devastating twister show homes reduced to piles of debris , as well as damaged cars .
The city said that it is scrambling to provide some 200 hotel rooms for those left homeless as a result of the calamity .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is believed that no one has been seriously hurt , with Mayor Jamie Mayo tweeting that “ early reports show only a few minor injuries.
” “ Pray for our city !
Many neighbors & friends suffered catastrophic damage .
We are hurting ; but not broken , ” he said .
Earlier on Sunday , a tornado touched down in central Texas , about 50 miles east of Austin , knocking down trees and power lines in its path .
Tornado warnings have been also issued for parts of Alabama , Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power lines , thousands of homes were left without electricity on Easter Sunday .
Some 36,000 homes and businesses have been affected by blackouts in Louisiana as of Sunday evening , while over 23,000 customers in Alabama and at least 20,000 more in Mississippi were left in the dark .
The situation has been exacerbated by lockdown measures currently in place across the US to fight the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 555,000 people across the country and killed over 22,000 .
Amid concerns that seeking shelter from approaching tornadoes would aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Meteorological Society ( AMS ) urged people to follow social distancing guidelines even when running for safety , advising that “ if a public tornado shelter is your best available refuge from severe weather , take steps to ensure you follow CDC [ federal ] guidelines for physical distancing and disease prevention.
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Several people died after powerful tornadoes swept through parts of southern America, damaging homes, knocking down power lines and blocking roads with uprooted trees. Louisiana and Mississippi have been hit the hardest.
At least seven people were killed after tornadoes combined with severe rainstorms battered Mississippi. One fatality was confirmed in Walthall County, two in Lawrence County, three in Jefferson Davis County, and another one in Jones County as of Sunday evening.
Soso, MS has been hit by a tornado. Damage everywhere. pic.twitter.com/KaedWPL76M — James Pugh (@jpughinreallife) April 13, 2020
Footage posted on social media show trees crashing down on houses and blocking roads, and windows shattered in some of the buildings.
Tornado damage just SE Side of Meridian MS. https://t.co/BSWvF0Yydx — Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) April 12, 2020
Tornadoes left a heavy trail of destruction in Monroe, Louisiana, where some 300 homes were either razed to the ground or damaged, according to local police. Monroe Regional Airport has also sustained heavy damage from at least one tornado.
Damage at Monroe (LA) Regional Airport from tornado pic.twitter.com/rnDEfo7d5C — Acadian Companies (@AcadianNews) April 12, 2020
@CityofMonroe Building damage at one of the office buildings in the Monroe Regional Airport complex. @flymonroemlu PLEASE AVOID THE AREA as emergency crews do their jobs. pic.twitter.com/FcNHtojIE8 — City of Monroe, LA (@CityofMonroe) April 12, 2020
Multiple videos and photos taken in the aftermath of the devastating twister show homes reduced to piles of debris, as well as damaged cars.
The city said that it is scrambling to provide some 200 hotel rooms for those left homeless as a result of the calamity.
Despite major damage inflicted on Monroe, it is believed that no one has been seriously hurt, with Mayor Jamie Mayo tweeting that “early reports show only a few minor injuries.”
“Pray for our city! Many neighbors & friends suffered catastrophic damage. We are hurting; but not broken,” he said.
“By the grace of God, early reports show only a few minor injuries. Pray for our city! Many neighbors & friends suffered catastrophic damage. We are hurting; but not broken. Times like this remind us WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER! Together we we will rebuild.“ - Mayor Jamie Mayo pic.twitter.com/sByzavTiTg — City of Monroe, LA (@CityofMonroe) April 12, 2020
Earlier on Sunday, a tornado touched down in central Texas, about 50 miles east of Austin, knocking down trees and power lines in its path.
Tornado warnings have been also issued for parts of Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas.
With severe weather disabling power lines, thousands of homes were left without electricity on Easter Sunday. Some 36,000 homes and businesses have been affected by blackouts in Louisiana as of Sunday evening, while over 23,000 customers in Alabama and at least 20,000 more in Mississippi were left in the dark.
Also on rt.com New DHS model predicts 200,000 Covid-19 deaths & surge in cases over summer if containment measures lifted after 30 days
The situation has been exacerbated by lockdown measures currently in place across the US to fight the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 555,000 people across the country and killed over 22,000. Amid concerns that seeking shelter from approaching tornadoes would aid the spread of the disease, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) urged people to follow social distancing guidelines even when running for safety, advising that “if a public tornado shelter is your best available refuge from severe weather, take steps to ensure you follow CDC [federal] guidelines for physical distancing and disease prevention.”
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rt--2020-04-12--‘Great day for all’ – Trump hails OPEC production cuts, thanks Putin and Saudi king

President Donald Trump has congratulated his Russian and Saudi counterparts on signing a deal to cut global oil output , saying the move will save “ hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States.
” Cheering on the “ big oil deal ” signed on Sunday , Trump sent his thanks and congratulations to “ President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia .
I just spoke to them from the Oval Office .
Great deal for all !
” The deal , agreed upon by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting States and several other oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signatories cut their collective output by 9.7 million barrels per day ( bpd ) for two months , in a bid to shore up the global energy market against the reduced demand created by the coronavirus pandemic .
The agreement also brings to an end a price war that had been raging between Russia and Saudi Arabia , after the latter pulled out of a previous agreement last month and ramped up production .
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the Saudi kingdom of driving prices down to force competing shale oil producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of business .
A growth in shale oil extraction has seen the US become the world ’ s largest crude oil producer in recent years .
However , American firms need an oil price of around $ 40 to turn a profit .
With prices bottoming out at less than $ 20 at the beginning of April , Trump repeatedly pressed his Saudi Allies to cut a deal with Russia and limit production .
The fall in prices , however , presented Trump with a convenient opportunity to top up the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market tumbled last month , Trump announced at a press conference that he had ordered US energy officials to buy the dip and “ fill it right up to the top.
” The US is the world ’ s largest oil producer , but so far it hasn ’ t pledged any cuts in production , saying the fall in prices will trigger a scale-back by itself .
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President Donald Trump has congratulated his Russian and Saudi counterparts on signing a deal to cut global oil output, saying the move will save “hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States.”
Cheering on the “big oil deal” signed on Sunday, Trump sent his thanks and congratulations to “President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. I just spoke to them from the Oval Office. Great deal for all!”
The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States. I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. I just spoke to them from the Oval Office. Great deal for all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2020
The deal, agreed upon by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting States and several other oil producers known as OPEC+, will see the signatories cut their collective output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) for two months, in a bid to shore up the global energy market against the reduced demand created by the coronavirus pandemic.
The agreement also brings to an end a price war that had been raging between Russia and Saudi Arabia, after the latter pulled out of a previous agreement last month and ramped up production. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the Saudi kingdom of driving prices down to force competing shale oil producers, including the US and Russia, out of business.
Also on rt.com OPEC+ strikes last-minute deal to cut almost 10 mn barrels a day of oil production
A growth in shale oil extraction has seen the US become the world’s largest crude oil producer in recent years. However, American firms need an oil price of around $40 to turn a profit. With prices bottoming out at less than $20 at the beginning of April, Trump repeatedly pressed his Saudi Allies to cut a deal with Russia and limit production.
The fall in prices, however, presented Trump with a convenient opportunity to top up the US’ national oil reserves. As the market tumbled last month, Trump announced at a press conference that he had ordered US energy officials to buy the dip and “fill it right up to the top.”
The US is the world’s largest oil producer, but so far it hasn’t pledged any cuts in production, saying the fall in prices will trigger a scale-back by itself.
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rt--2020-04-12--Believe all women? New York Times only remembers its journalistic skepticism when it’s Biden in the

Believe all women? New York Times only remembers its journalistic skepticism when it’s Biden in the crosshairs

For anyone running for office in modern America , accusations of sexual assault are par for the course .
But when it comes to weighing up these accusations , the US ’ mainstream paper of record applies some very uneven standards .
Take Joe Biden , the Democratic Party ’ s presumptive nominee .
If doubts weren ’ t already raised by his fondness for sniffing women , the emergence last month of a sexual assault allegation against the former vice president could have caused a major headache for his campaign .
Yet amid the coronavirus pandemic , and given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the scandal barely registered .
The Intercept ran a story in March on how Tara Reade , a former Senate staffer , claimed that in 1993 Biden pushed her against a wall , groped her , and penetrated her with his fingers .
Reade had spoken up about the alleged incident a year earlier , but was met with accusations that she was doing Russia ’ s bidding .
The US media was still doing ‘ Russiagate ’ back then , remember ?
The story was ignored by every single mainstream TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Few print news sites covered it .
The New York Times only ran the story this Sunday , in a feature-length article dismissing the allegations entirely .
The NYT ’ s investigation “ found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden.
” The paper noted that Reade ’ s peers on Capitol Hill “ did not recall any talk of such an incident or similar behavior by Mr. Biden toward her or any women , ” though she did reportedly tell her family and a friend .
Biden ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tout her boss ’ tireless work for women ’ s rights .
Reade is described as being “ a bit naive ” at the time of the alleged assault , and in light of her filing a police report on Thursday , the Times ever so helpfully reminded its readers that “ filing a false police report may be punishable by a fine and imprisonment.
” Furthermore , the Times brought up allegations that Reade “ was a Russian agent , ” and spends three paragraphs outlining sexual assault allegations against Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Mr. Biden.
” Without a hint of irony , the Times capped the story off with a tweet saying “ we found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Biden , beyond hugs , kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable.
” So no sexual assault , beyond an extensive history of what many consider sexual harassment .
Right .
The tweet was later deleted , with the Times retracting its “ imprecise language.
” It ’ s nice to know that , even in an age where politicians – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ # BelieveAllWomen , ” newspapers like the New York Times are still willing to cast a cynical eye on claims like Reade ’ s , without letting emotion obscure the facts .
And it ’ s nice to know that they apply the same treatment to every such claim , regardless of the political affiliation of the accused .
Actually , no – nothing could be further from the truth .
When Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault during his confirmation process in 2018 , the Times threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donned its pink pussyhat .
Kavanaugh was first accused of forcing himself on Christine Blasey Ford while the pair were in high school in 1982 , and then of exposing himself to Deborah Ramirez when the two were at a university party a year later .
When further accusations surfaced – none of which were ever corroborated – the Times didn ’ t poke holes in the women ’ s stories .
Instead , Kavanaugh ’ s denials were given a single line each time .
Rather than carry out a dispassionate investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a privileged Ivy-Leaguer free to assault women at will .
“ Brett Kavanaugh Fit In With the Privileged Kids .
She Did Not , ” read the headline above a story on Ramirez ’ college days .
The story itself later had to be amended , after it emerged that one of the claims against Kavanaugh in it – that he thrust his penis into a female student ’ s hand – was entirely unsupported .
Instead of neutrally evaluating the facts , the NYT asked teenagers how they felt about the accusations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Supreme Court , the Times ’ writers dug up a list of Kavanaugh ’ s old contacts and wrote a book about his school days .
The FBI ’ s investigation , they wrote , was “ too short and too limited in scope to quell doubts about the judge ’ s character as a young man.
” Will Biden be given the same treatment ?
Will the New York Times ’ journalists search for more Tara Reades and exhume the diaries of Biden ’ s Senate staffers looking for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release a scratch ‘ n ’ sniff adventure series documenting his wandering hands at Washington functions ?
Statutes of limitations expire , and neither Biden nor Kavanaugh will ever stand in court to answer for their supposed misdeeds .
With Lady Justice sitting this one out , both men will instead be judged in the court of public opinion .
However , in this court , judgment is handed down by the likes of the New York Times , and the fairness of the trial seems to depend largely on the accused ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little consistency would be a welcome change .
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For anyone running for office in modern America, accusations of sexual assault are par for the course. But when it comes to weighing up these accusations, the US’ mainstream paper of record applies some very uneven standards.
Take Joe Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee. If doubts weren’t already raised by his fondness for sniffing women, the emergence last month of a sexual assault allegation against the former vice president could have caused a major headache for his campaign.
Yet amid the coronavirus pandemic, and given the political leanings of most media outlets, the scandal barely registered.
The Intercept ran a story in March on how Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer, claimed that in 1993 Biden pushed her against a wall, groped her, and penetrated her with his fingers. Reade had spoken up about the alleged incident a year earlier, but was met with accusations that she was doing Russia’s bidding. The US media was still doing ‘Russiagate’ back then, remember?
Also on rt.com #MeToo was good while it lasted: From outing abusers to political bickering, the movement has run its course
The story was ignored by every single mainstream TV news network for more than a week. Few print news sites covered it. The New York Times only ran the story this Sunday, in a feature-length article dismissing the allegations entirely.
The NYT’s investigation “found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden.” The paper noted that Reade’s peers on Capitol Hill “did not recall any talk of such an incident or similar behavior by Mr. Biden toward her or any women,” though she did reportedly tell her family and a friend. Biden’s campaign manager was given a lengthy paragraph to tout her boss’ tireless work for women’s rights. Reade is described as being “a bit naive” at the time of the alleged assault, and in light of her filing a police report on Thursday, the Times ever so helpfully reminded its readers that “filing a false police report may be punishable by a fine and imprisonment.”
Furthermore, the Times brought up allegations that Reade “was a Russian agent,” and spends three paragraphs outlining sexual assault allegations against Donald Trump “that went far beyond the accusations against Mr. Biden.”
New York Times finally covers the woman who is accusing Biden of sexually assaulting her The article states that she previously wrote nice things about Putin“Ms. Reade said that she was not working for Russia and did not support Mr. Putin”Unreal https://t.co/FH9hk3YpLW — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 12, 2020
The New York Times is trying sooo hard to protect Biden its hilarioushttps://t.co/D5TySBff54pic.twitter.com/Kg1xayBHnd — Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 12, 2020
Without a hint of irony, the Times capped the story off with a tweet saying “we found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Biden, beyond hugs, kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable.” So no sexual assault, beyond an extensive history of what many consider sexual harassment. Right.
The tweet was later deleted, with the Times retracting its “imprecise language.”
You mean this tweet? pic.twitter.com/rIrXVdLMQH — Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) April 12, 2020
It’s nice to know that, even in an age where politicians – including Biden himself – recite platitudes like “#BelieveAllWomen,” newspapers like the New York Times are still willing to cast a cynical eye on claims like Reade’s, without letting emotion obscure the facts. And it’s nice to know that they apply the same treatment to every such claim, regardless of the political affiliation of the accused.
Actually, no – nothing could be further from the truth.
When Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault during his confirmation process in 2018, the Times threw away its detective’s fedora and donned its pink pussyhat. Kavanaugh was first accused of forcing himself on Christine Blasey Ford while the pair were in high school in 1982, and then of exposing himself to Deborah Ramirez when the two were at a university party a year later.
When further accusations surfaced – none of which were ever corroborated – the Times didn’t poke holes in the women’s stories. Instead, Kavanaugh’s denials were given a single line each time. Rather than carry out a dispassionate investigation, the NYT painted a picture of a privileged Ivy-Leaguer free to assault women at will. “Brett Kavanaugh Fit In With the Privileged Kids. She Did Not,” read the headline above a story on Ramirez’ college days.
The story itself later had to be amended, after it emerged that one of the claims against Kavanaugh in it – that he thrust his penis into a female student’s hand – was entirely unsupported.
My how the turn tables... pic.twitter.com/SGrmP1pbGy — Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) April 12, 2020
Instead of neutrally evaluating the facts, the NYT asked teenagers how they felt about the accusations against Kavanaugh. Even after his confirmation to the Supreme Court, the Times’ writers dug up a list of Kavanaugh’s old contacts and wrote a book about his school days. The FBI’s investigation, they wrote, was “too short and too limited in scope to quell doubts about the judge’s character as a young man.”
Will Biden be given the same treatment? Will the New York Times’ journalists search for more Tara Reades and exhume the diaries of Biden’s Senate staffers looking for the slightest whiff of impropriety? Will they release a scratch ‘n’ sniff adventure series documenting his wandering hands at Washington functions?
Statutes of limitations expire, and neither Biden nor Kavanaugh will ever stand in court to answer for their supposed misdeeds. With Lady Justice sitting this one out, both men will instead be judged in the court of public opinion. However, in this court, judgment is handed down by the likes of the New York Times, and the fairness of the trial seems to depend largely on the accused’s relationship with President Trump.
A little consistency would be a welcome change.
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rt--2020-04-12--US reports over 1,900 Covid-19 deaths in single day after setting global record for most fatalities

The US , which is now leading the world in the number of coronavirus deaths , has added another 1,920 to its grim count in the last 24 hours , Johns Hopkins University reports .
Earlier on Saturday , the US replaced Italy at the top of the coronavirus death toll chart , surpassing 20,000 .
Saturday ’ s nationwide death toll is slightly lower than the one reported the day before .
On Friday , the US became the first country in the world to report over 2,000 fatalities in a single day as the virus claimed 2,108 lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths due to the outbreak in the US keeps skyrocketing , it is widely believed that the country has either already hit its coronavirus peak , or that the worst is just around the corner .
When the US passes its peak , the daily death toll is projected to decline until the curve is ‘ flattened ’ .
According to the model , which was created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington , the US will not see any more deaths from the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 61,500 people will have died from Covid-19 .
The outcome , however , could be much worse unless social distancing guidelines , reinforced by 30-day stay-at-home orders in some states , are extended further , according to the latest projections by the Departments of Homeland Security ( DHS ) and Health and Human Services ( HHS ) , as reported by the New York Times on Friday .
It is forecast that 200,000 Americans will fall victim to the virus if the restrictive measures , which have dealt a heavy blow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 16 million Americans losing their jobs in just three weeks , are lifted by the end of April .
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The US, which is now leading the world in the number of coronavirus deaths, has added another 1,920 to its grim count in the last 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University reports.
Earlier on Saturday, the US replaced Italy at the top of the coronavirus death toll chart, surpassing 20,000.
Saturday’s nationwide death toll is slightly lower than the one reported the day before. On Friday, the US became the first country in the world to report over 2,000 fatalities in a single day as the virus claimed 2,108 lives across the nation.
As the number of deaths due to the outbreak in the US keeps skyrocketing, it is widely believed that the country has either already hit its coronavirus peak, or that the worst is just around the corner.
Also on rt.com Grim record: US overtakes Italy in Covid-19 death toll as fatalities go past 20,000
When the US passes its peak, the daily death toll is projected to decline until the curve is ‘flattened’. According to the model, which was created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the US will not see any more deaths from the disease from mid-June, and by August, around 61,500 people will have died from Covid-19.
The outcome, however, could be much worse unless social distancing guidelines, reinforced by 30-day stay-at-home orders in some states, are extended further, according to the latest projections by the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS), as reported by the New York Times on Friday.
Also on rt.com Coronavirus has been ‘freewheeling’ in California since December, says government official
It is forecast that 200,000 Americans will fall victim to the virus if the restrictive measures, which have dealt a heavy blow to the US economy and have resulted in over 16 million Americans losing their jobs in just three weeks, are lifted by the end of April.
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rt--2020-04-11--Coronavirus has been ‘freewheeling’ in California since December, says government official

Though California recorded its first case of coronavirus in late January , one Santa Clara physician and government leader says that the virus was likely “ freewheeling ” through the Sunshine State months before anyone took notice .
Dr. Jeff Smith , a physician and executive officer in the Santa Clara County government , told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday that the Covid-19 coronavirus “ was freewheeling in our community and probably has been here for quite some time ” before officials took notice in late January .
Based on data from local and federal agencies , Smith told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ a lot longer than we first believed , ” probably since “ back in December.
” As the Covid-19 coronavirus first began to leak out of China in January , authorities around the world traced the movements of those infected in a bid to map the spread of what would later become a global pandemic .
California ’ s first case - a man in his 50s - was found to have traveled from Wuhan , China , when he turned up in an Orange County hospital late that month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quash the spread of an illness before it takes hold in a community and becomes essentially untraceable , and at the time of the man ’ s diagnosis , a spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency told the public that “ the risk of transmission in Orange County continues to be low.
” Recognizing when a virus starts spreading through the community at large is essential , as social distancing and quarantine measures must then be put in place to slow its advance , according to recommendations from the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the individuals an infected person has come in contact with is no longer enough .
When it came to tracing the second case in the Bay Area several weeks later , medics were unable to discover how the patient - a woman who had been ill for weeks - had come in contact with the virus .
“ That means the virus is in the community already — not , as was suspected by the CDC , as only in China and being spread from contact with China , ” Smith said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu season masked the spread of Covid-19 .
“ Symptoms are very much like the flu .
If you got a mild case of COVID , you didn ’ t really notice , ” he explained .
“ You didn ’ t even go to the doctor.
” Indeed , data from the CDC shows that since early December , hospitalizations for “ Influenza-like Illness ” stayed higher than at any point during the last decade , save for the unusually bad 2017-2018 flu season .
Even as recently as late February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist at the Mayo Clinic , told Americans that “ If they have a fever and respiratory illness , they should assume this is influenza unless they 've had recent travel to China.
” Until March , influenza was considered the more pressing threat to public health in the US , not the coronavirus .
Flights to the US from China were only suspended at the beginning of February .
Dozens of daily flights link California with China , and Chinese immigrants make up around ten percent of the San Francisco Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there to work in the mines during the gold rush of the 1850s .
As such , air routes between California and China are busy , with up to three million passengers booking return journeys per year .
Chinese authorities reportedly noticed the first cases of Covid-19 in November , weeks before making the discovery public , and two months before imposing travel restrictions on the city of Wuhan .
This delay on the Chinese side , as well as the delay in recognizing the community transmission on the American side , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embed itself in California , while public health officials were distracted with the flu .
According to the LA Times , researchers from the National Institute of Health are now scouring blood banks across California looking for antibodies in samples of donated blood .
These antibodies could provide evidence that people had been catching - and recovering from - Covid-19 long before authorities noticed the outbreak .
Three months after California recorded its first cases of coronavirus , just under 19,500 people in the state have fallen ill to the deadly pathogen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than half a million cases have been diagnosed in the US in total , and more than 20,000 people have died .
The United States now has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths of any country in the world .
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Though California recorded its first case of coronavirus in late January, one Santa Clara physician and government leader says that the virus was likely “freewheeling” through the Sunshine State months before anyone took notice.
Dr. Jeff Smith, a physician and executive officer in the Santa Clara County government, told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday that the Covid-19 coronavirus “was freewheeling in our community and probably has been here for quite some time” before officials took notice in late January.
Based on data from local and federal agencies, Smith told the paper that the coronavirus was active for “a lot longer than we first believed,” probably since “back in December.”
Also on rt.com First group of volunteers assembled as Russia prepares for human testing of Covid-19 vaccine
As the Covid-19 coronavirus first began to leak out of China in January, authorities around the world traced the movements of those infected in a bid to map the spread of what would later become a global pandemic. California’s first case - a man in his 50s - was found to have traveled from Wuhan, China, when he turned up in an Orange County hospital late that month.
Contact tracing can help public health officials quash the spread of an illness before it takes hold in a community and becomes essentially untraceable, and at the time of the man’s diagnosis, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency told the public that “the risk of transmission in Orange County continues to be low.”
Recognizing when a virus starts spreading through the community at large is essential, as social distancing and quarantine measures must then be put in place to slow its advance, according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simply tracking down the individuals an infected person has come in contact with is no longer enough.
When it came to tracing the second case in the Bay Area several weeks later, medics were unable to discover how the patient - a woman who had been ill for weeks - had come in contact with the virus. “That means the virus is in the community already — not, as was suspected by the CDC, as only in China and being spread from contact with China,” Smith said.
Also on rt.com Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking global record
Smith believes that an unusually severe flu season masked the spread of Covid-19. “Symptoms are very much like the flu. If you got a mild case of COVID, you didn’t really notice,” he explained. “You didn’t even go to the doctor.” Indeed, data from the CDC shows that since early December, hospitalizations for “Influenza-like Illness” stayed higher than at any point during the last decade, save for the unusually bad 2017-2018 flu season.
Even as recently as late February, Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, told Americans that “If they have a fever and respiratory illness, they should assume this is influenza unless they've had recent travel to China.” Until March, influenza was considered the more pressing threat to public health in the US, not the coronavirus.
Flights to the US from China were only suspended at the beginning of February. Dozens of daily flights link California with China, and Chinese immigrants make up around ten percent of the San Francisco Bay Area’s population, having first flocked there to work in the mines during the gold rush of the 1850s. As such, air routes between California and China are busy, with up to three million passengers booking return journeys per year.
Chinese authorities reportedly noticed the first cases of Covid-19 in November, weeks before making the discovery public, and two months before imposing travel restrictions on the city of Wuhan. This delay on the Chinese side, as well as the delay in recognizing the community transmission on the American side, could have given the virus ample time to embed itself in California, while public health officials were distracted with the flu.
Also on rt.com US declared ‘war’ on coronavirus ... because all its other wars have worked out so well
According to the LA Times, researchers from the National Institute of Health are now scouring blood banks across California looking for antibodies in samples of donated blood. These antibodies could provide evidence that people had been catching - and recovering from - Covid-19 long before authorities noticed the outbreak.
Three months after California recorded its first cases of coronavirus, just under 19,500 people in the state have fallen ill to the deadly pathogen, and more than 540 are dead. More than half a million cases have been diagnosed in the US in total, and more than 20,000 people have died. The United States now has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths of any country in the world.
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rt--2020-04-11--Grim record: US overtakes Italy in Covid-19 death toll as fatalities go past 20,000

The US has become the country with most coronavirus fatalities in the world after the death toll exceeded 20,280 people and surpassed Italy 's numbers , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Italy , which remained atop the grim rankings for weeks , has so far registered 19,468 deaths , with third-placed Spain reporting 16,480 people killed by the virus .
The US has taken the lead after recording around 2,000 lethal cases from Covid-19 on each of the last four days - eventually crossing the single-day milestone on Friday .
The Big Apple has remained the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll there reaching 8,627 .
However , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was able to find a silver lining in the development of the epidemic in the US most populous city , saying the number of hospitalizations and people being placed in intensive care is continuing to decline .
The mortality rate – the number of deaths per 100 Covid-19 cases and per 100,000 citizens – has been lower in America than in Italy , Spain and some other countries .
With a population of over 328 million , the US is home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nearly seven times more than Spain .
Friday ’ s figures from John Hopkins University indicated that the US was ranked ninth in the world in terms of case-fatality ratio , and seventh when it came to the number of deaths per 100,000 people .
Italy had the worst case-fatality ratio with 12.8 percent , while Spain suffered the most deaths per 100,000 people , with 34.42 .
Some 200,000 Americans may die if stay-at-home orders are lifted in the country after 30 days , the Departments of Homeland Security ( DHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS ) warned on Friday .
The model , created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington , projected that even if the restrictions remain in place there will still have been around 61,500 deaths in the US due to Covid-19 by August .
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The US has become the country with most coronavirus fatalities in the world after the death toll exceeded 20,280 people and surpassed Italy's numbers, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Italy, which remained atop the grim rankings for weeks, has so far registered 19,468 deaths, with third-placed Spain reporting 16,480 people killed by the virus.
The US has taken the lead after recording around 2,000 lethal cases from Covid-19 on each of the last four days - eventually crossing the single-day milestone on Friday.
The Big Apple has remained the nation's hardest-hit city, with death toll there reaching 8,627.
Also on rt.com Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking global record
However, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was able to find a silver lining in the development of the epidemic in the US most populous city, saying the number of hospitalizations and people being placed in intensive care is continuing to decline.
The mortality rate – the number of deaths per 100 Covid-19 cases and per 100,000 citizens – has been lower in America than in Italy, Spain and some other countries. With a population of over 328 million, the US is home to five times more people than Italy and nearly seven times more than Spain.
Friday’s figures from John Hopkins University indicated that the US was ranked ninth in the world in terms of case-fatality ratio , and seventh when it came to the number of deaths per 100,000 people.
Italy had the worst case-fatality ratio with 12.8 percent, while Spain suffered the most deaths per 100,000 people, with 34.42.
Also on rt.com New DHS model predicts 200,000 Covid-19 deaths & surge in cases over summer if containment measures lifted after 30 days
Some 200,000 Americans may die if stay-at-home orders are lifted in the country after 30 days, the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) warned on Friday. The model, created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, projected that even if the restrictions remain in place there will still have been around 61,500 deaths in the US due to Covid-19 by August.
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rt--2020-04-11--Magnitude 5.3 earthquake strikes California close to Nevada border

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake has struck near Yosemite National Park , along the California-Nevada border .
Occurring at a depth of six miles ( 10km ) , the quake hit shortly after 7:30am on Saturday , the United States Geological Survey ( USGS ) reported .
Its epicenter was around 90 miles ( 144km ) southeast of Lake Tahoe , just north of the sprawling Yosemite National Park .
Yosemite draws upwards of four million visitors per year , but is currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The region had been hit by a number of quakes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a magnitude 4.1 tremor – striking around 50 miles further south a week ago .
According to the USGS , more earthquakes are forecast to hit the region following Saturday ’ s tremor .
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake is considered ‘ moderate ’ , and can cause damage to weak buildings and structures .
Unlike the hundreds of smaller quakes recorded in California every month and felt only by seismic monitoring instruments , a quake of this magnitude is usually felt by anyone nearby .
The rural area hit by Saturday ’ s quake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town to the epicenter – Bodie – an abandoned mining settlement .
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A 5.3 magnitude earthquake has struck near Yosemite National Park, along the California-Nevada border.
Occurring at a depth of six miles (10km), the quake hit shortly after 7:30am on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
Its epicenter was around 90 miles (144km) southeast of Lake Tahoe, just north of the sprawling Yosemite National Park.
Also on rt.com The Big One: Fear of catastrophic quake grows in California as dormant fault line moves for 1st time in 500yrs
Yosemite draws upwards of four million visitors per year, but is currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The region had been hit by a number of quakes in recent days, with the strongest – a magnitude 4.1 tremor – striking around 50 miles further south a week ago. According to the USGS, more earthquakes are forecast to hit the region following Saturday’s tremor.
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake is considered ‘moderate’, and can cause damage to weak buildings and structures. Unlike the hundreds of smaller quakes recorded in California every month and felt only by seismic monitoring instruments, a quake of this magnitude is usually felt by anyone nearby.
The rural area hit by Saturday’s quake is sparsely populated, with the nearest town to the epicenter – Bodie – an abandoned mining settlement.
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rt--2020-04-11--Lotto tickets are OK, but not seeds? Residents baffled after Michigan bans purchases of ‘non-essenti

Lotto tickets are OK, but not seeds? Residents baffled after Michigan bans purchases of ‘non-essential’ items

Michigan residents and local businesses are furious over a new rule , purportedly aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus , which bars them from buying and selling seeds – now deemed a “ non-essential ” item .
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in a public address that “ essential ” businesses such as grocery stores will be restricted in what they are allowed to offer to their customers .
The policy , the governor argued , is meant to limit unnecessary foot traffic in public spaces exempt from the state-wide shutdown .
“ If you ’ re not buying food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you should not be going to the store , ” she said .
Big-box retailers such as Walmart were ordered to shutter entire sections of their stores – such as furniture , carpeting , plant nurseries , paint , and garden centers – beginning on April 10 .
The state ’ s strict lockdown measures mean residents will be stuck at home for the start of spring , but those who were hoping to plant a vegetable garden to help pass the time – or get some fresh air – are fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted photographs of roped-off shelves of seeds .
“ You can not purchase ‘ non-essential ’ items in stores even though you are in the store and it ’ s on the shelves and there are cashiers , ” noted one furious Michigander , calling the governor “ insane.
” The policy quickly caught the attention of local media , which pointed out a number of bizarre inconsistencies .
“ In-store purchases of Michigan Lottery tickets are still permitted , but buying a can of paint or a bag of seeds is off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press .
Popular commentators have also been irked by the new rule .
Amanda Carpenter , a CNN contributor with more than 140,000 Twitter followers , wrote that her friends in Michigan are “ irate ” over the fact that they “ can ’ t get farm supplies but booze and lottery tickets are available.
” Small businesses have also been hit hard by the new provision .
Bob Kuszmaul , a wholesale grower for nearly 40 years , told the Detroit News that his business was on the brink of going bust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of business owners and state lawmakers who have called on the governor to ease the new restrictions .
Michigan isn ’ t alone in its puzzling anti-Covid measures .
Vermont , Indiana , Colorado , and Missouri have imposed similar rules barring stores from selling “ non-essential ” items , leading to similar anger about what is – and isn ’ t – deemed important for living .
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Michigan residents and local businesses are furious over a new rule, purportedly aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus, which bars them from buying and selling seeds – now deemed a “non-essential” item.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in a public address that “essential” businesses such as grocery stores will be restricted in what they are allowed to offer to their customers. The policy, the governor argued, is meant to limit unnecessary foot traffic in public spaces exempt from the state-wide shutdown.
“If you’re not buying food, medicine, or other essential items, you should not be going to the store,” she said. Big-box retailers such as Walmart were ordered to shutter entire sections of their stores – such as furniture, carpeting, plant nurseries, paint, and garden centers – beginning on April 10.
The state’s strict lockdown measures mean residents will be stuck at home for the start of spring, but those who were hoping to plant a vegetable garden to help pass the time – or get some fresh air – are fresh out of luck.
Outraged shoppers have posted photographs of roped-off shelves of seeds.
In #Michigan You can't buy seeds or plants or even pots. Growing your own food is ESSENTIAL @GovWhitmer and you should be ashamed that you're doing this to your state. pic.twitter.com/suYBkqozB1 — Natalie F Danelishen (@Chesschick01) April 10, 2020
“You cannot purchase ‘non-essential’ items in stores even though you are in the store and it’s on the shelves and there are cashiers,” noted one furious Michigander, calling the governor “insane.”
This is a Meijer in MI. You cannot purchase “non-essential” items in stores even though you are in the store and it’s on the shelves and there are cashiers. @GovWhitmer Gretchen is insane. pic.twitter.com/dD5igBxUMG — Lori Olivia (@simplylorilee) April 11, 2020
The policy quickly caught the attention of local media, which pointed out a number of bizarre inconsistencies. “In-store purchases of Michigan Lottery tickets are still permitted, but buying a can of paint or a bag of seeds is off limits,” observed the Detroit Free Press.
Popular commentators have also been irked by the new rule. Amanda Carpenter, a CNN contributor with more than 140,000 Twitter followers, wrote that her friends in Michigan are “irate” over the fact that they “can’t get farm supplies but booze and lottery tickets are available.”
Where I live seeds are available. I'm speaking up for my Michigan friends who are irate they can't get farm supplies but booze and lottery tickets are available. They have a point. — Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) April 10, 2020
Small businesses have also been hit hard by the new provision. Bob Kuszmaul, a wholesale grower for nearly 40 years, told the Detroit News that his business was on the brink of going bust. He is part of a group of business owners and state lawmakers who have called on the governor to ease the new restrictions.
Michigan isn’t alone in its puzzling anti-Covid measures. Vermont, Indiana, Colorado, and Missouri have imposed similar rules barring stores from selling “non-essential” items, leading to similar anger about what is – and isn’t – deemed important for living.
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rt--2020-04-11--Latest Covid-19 cultural casualty: Famed art & music festival Burning Man canceled

Burning Man , the flamboyant annual party held in the Nevada desert , will not take place this year due to the coronavirus pandemic , organizers have announced .
Instead , a `` virtual '' event will be held .
The Burning Man Project said in a statement that the world-renowned festival has been canceled due to the `` painful reality '' of Covid-19 .
Organizers explained they were `` heartbroken '' but decided to call off the event in order to safeguard `` public health and the well-being of our participants , staff and neighbors . ''
Burning Man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada from August 30 to September 7 .
The festival said it was `` committed '' to providing refunds to those who purchased tickets early .
However , it urged those who `` have the means '' to donate all or a portion of their ticket value to help keep the group afloat .
The organization said they have already been forced to cut staff and take other `` belt-tightening measures . ''
The festival , which has been held yearly for more than 30 years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Rock City . ''
Organizers say they hope 100,000 people will buy tickets to attend the art and music gala in the `` multiverse . ''
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered major events around the globe .
The virus has led to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and the cancellation of Wimbledon tennis championships – the first time since World War II .
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Burning Man, the flamboyant annual party held in the Nevada desert, will not take place this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers have announced. Instead, a "virtual" event will be held.
The Burning Man Project said in a statement that the world-renowned festival has been canceled due to the "painful reality" of Covid-19. Organizers explained they were "heartbroken" but decided to call off the event in order to safeguard "public health and the well-being of our participants, staff and neighbors."
Burning Man 2020 was scheduled to take place in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada from August 30 to September 7. The festival said it was "committed" to providing refunds to those who purchased tickets early. However, it urged those who "have the means" to donate all or a portion of their ticket value to help keep the group afloat. The organization said they have already been forced to cut staff and take other "belt-tightening measures."
In the interest of the health & wellbeing of our community, we have decided not to build Black Rock City this year. Burning Man, however, is alive & well, and we look forward to seeing you in the Multiverse. Read more in the Burning Man Journal. https://t.co/3FHPq1CGVH — Burning Man Project (@burningman) April 11, 2020
The festival, which has been held yearly for more than 30 years, will be replaced by a "virtual Black Rock City." Organizers say they hope 100,000 people will buy tickets to attend the art and music gala in the "multiverse."
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered major events around the globe. The virus has led to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and the cancellation of Wimbledon tennis championships – the first time since World War II.
Also on rt.com Coronavirus clause hands Wimbledon a break as canceled championships' reported $141 MILLION pandemic insurance policy pays off
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rt--2020-04-11--NY’s Cuomo pleases crowds with ‘Hero Compensation Fund’ for healthcare workers… after 9 years of hos

NY’s Cuomo pleases crowds with ‘Hero Compensation Fund’ for healthcare workers… after 9 years of hospital cuts

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched a fund to support sick healthcare workers and their families , but some blame him for the dire working conditions facing the state ’ s caregivers after nine years of hospital budget cuts .
Cuomo announced the state is working on a “ Covid-19 Heroes Compensation Fund ” to support healthcare workers and their families who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus during his daily briefing on Friday .
It was heralded by his growing Democratic fan club as a generous , thoughtful move from a politician who cares about the “ frontline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any mention of how the governor had , just the previous day , deferred two-percent pay raises to 80,000 state workers for 90 days , and potentially for longer .
Many of those affected are healthcare workers in the state ’ s prisons and mental health facilities .
Union leaders were outraged .
“ It ’ s inexcusable to require our workers to literally face death to ensure the state keeps running and then turn around and deny those very workers their much-deserved raise in this time of crisis , ” Civil Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times Union , while NY Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association chief Michael Powers called the postponement a “ slap in the face ” to workers facing “ some of the most dangerous conditions in the state.
” While Cuomo is being praised for his leadership amid the coronavirus outbreak , the problems he is scrambling to solve are largely of his own making .
Although aware of a 2015 report highlighting the desperately depleted state stockpile of ventilators , he didn ’ t take any actions on it , and has spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , mostly those serving low-income clients .
The state has eliminated 20,000 hospital beds in the last two decades , at least half under his leadership .
The New York state budget passed at the beginning of the month included deep cuts to Medicaid and may have rendered the state ineligible for $ 6 billion in federal aid , infuriating liberal lawmakers who were less enchanted with the new # Resistance hero .
State Senator Gustavo Rivera ( D-Bronx ) told the New York Daily News that Cuomo ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poorest and most vulnerable ” New Yorkers .
The state ’ s Democrat-controlled senate called on Cuomo to tax the wealthy – New York has the highest economic inequality in the country , and a tax on the richest .01 percent has upwards of 90 percent approval among voters – only to be turned down by the politician who has earned the nickname ‘ Governor One Percent ’ .
The latest cost-cutting moves resulted in New York City being forced to shoulder $ 200 million in Medicaid costs when the Big Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak .
The pandemic has hospitals so understaffed that NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation has apparently been reduced to contracting dodgy medical-temp agencies – one , Kansas-based disaster-staffing group Krucial Staffing , was sued earlier this week for luring out-of-state medical professionals to work in city hospitals under false pretenses , promising them cushy posts with ample protective equipment and no Covid-19 exposure – to fill vacancies .
The suit alleges Krucial ’ s misrepresentation of working conditions placed healthcare workers ’ medical licenses and lives in danger .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and died of the disease in the state , as New York , along with several other states , does not track infections among medical staff .
According to a BuzzFeed News review of the reports by 12 states , which made their data public , at least 5,400 nurses and doctors tested positive nationwide , while dozens have succumbed to the lethal illness .
Among them was Kious Kelly , an assistant nurse manager at Mount Sinai West , whose death from the coronavirus on March 24 sparked protests among the personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to receive tests – but only those already showing symptoms .
Some 7,887 New Yorkers have died with coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak , the majority of them ( 5,820 ) in New York City .
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched a fund to support sick healthcare workers and their families, but some blame him for the dire working conditions facing the state’s caregivers after nine years of hospital budget cuts.
Cuomo announced the state is working on a “Covid-19 Heroes Compensation Fund” to support healthcare workers and their families who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus during his daily briefing on Friday. It was heralded by his growing Democratic fan club as a generous, thoughtful move from a politician who cares about the “frontline workers.”
AAbsent from the lovefest was any mention of how the governor had, just the previous day, deferred two-percent pay raises to 80,000 state workers for 90 days, and potentially for longer. Many of those affected are healthcare workers in the state’s prisons and mental health facilities.
Union leaders were outraged. “It’s inexcusable to require our workers to literally face death to ensure the state keeps running and then turn around and deny those very workers their much-deserved raise in this time of crisis,” Civil Service Employees Association president Mary Sullivan told the Times Union, while NY Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association chief Michael Powers called the postponement a “slap in the face” to workers facing “some of the most dangerous conditions in the state.”
Also on rt.com Covid-19 ‘mass graves’ on New York’s Hart Island spark frenzy of fake news amid grim reality
While Cuomo is being praised for his leadership amid the coronavirus outbreak, the problems he is scrambling to solve are largely of his own making. Although aware of a 2015 report highlighting the desperately depleted state stockpile of ventilators, he didn’t take any actions on it, and has spent his tenure shuttering and downsizing hospitals across the state, mostly those serving low-income clients. The state has eliminated 20,000 hospital beds in the last two decades, at least half under his leadership.
The New York state budget passed at the beginning of the month included deep cuts to Medicaid and may have rendered the state ineligible for $6 billion in federal aid, infuriating liberal lawmakers who were less enchanted with the new #Resistance hero. State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) told the New York Daily News that Cuomo’s latest budget “only offered harsh austerity for the poorest and most vulnerable” New Yorkers.
Also on rt.com Over 1,000 new deaths in New York & New Jersey from Covid-19, but governors say curve is ‘flattening’
The state’s Democrat-controlled senate called on Cuomo to tax the wealthy – New York has the highest economic inequality in the country, and a tax on the richest .01 percent has upwards of 90 percent approval among voters – only to be turned down by the politician who has earned the nickname ‘Governor One Percent’.
The latest cost-cutting moves resulted in New York City being forced to shoulder $200 million in Medicaid costs when the Big Apple is at the epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak.
The pandemic has hospitals so understaffed that NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation has apparently been reduced to contracting dodgy medical-temp agencies – one, Kansas-based disaster-staffing group Krucial Staffing, was sued earlier this week for luring out-of-state medical professionals to work in city hospitals under false pretenses, promising them cushy posts with ample protective equipment and no Covid-19 exposure – to fill vacancies. The suit alleges Krucial’s misrepresentation of working conditions placed healthcare workers’ medical licenses and lives in danger.
It’s unclear how many medical workers have contracted and died of the disease in the state, as New York, along with several other states, does not track infections among medical staff. According to a BuzzFeed News review of the reports by 12 states, which made their data public, at least 5,400 nurses and doctors tested positive nationwide, while dozens have succumbed to the lethal illness. Among them was Kious Kelly, an assistant nurse manager at Mount Sinai West, whose death from the coronavirus on March 24 sparked protests among the personnel and led to the hospital eventually allowing workers to receive tests – but only those already showing symptoms.
Some 7,887 New Yorkers have died with coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak, the majority of them (5,820) in New York City.
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rt--2020-04-11--Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking globa

Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking global record

The US has counted more than 2,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the space of 24 hours , smashing all previous daily death tolls worldwide as the US outbreak shows little sign of abating , according to Johns Hopkins University .
On Friday , 2,108 new deaths were reported in the US , data gathered by Johns Hopkins shows , putting the US ’ total at over 18,600 , just shy of Italy ’ s death toll , the overall leader in fatalities globally .
After Thursday ’ s casualty count saw a brief drop-off , deaths again surged on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though US President Donald Trump has stated that the US ’ epidemic is nearing its peak , the latest projections by the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) – reported by the New York Times on Friday – forecast a steep spike in cases and deaths over the summer if states and cities lift 30-day stay-at-home orders now in place , projecting up to 200,000 deaths and 100 million infections in total .
With social distancing guidelines provided by federal agencies set to expire at the end of April , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them further yet again , calling it “ the biggest decision I ’ ve ever had to make.
” Trump has been eager to see all lockdown measures removed and the US economy back up and running , but over time has become more reluctant to do so prematurely .
New York remains the hardest-hit US state , reporting nearly 800 new deaths on Friday alone among a total of over 7,800 .
However , Governor Andrew Cuomo said the “ curve ” of new cases and fatalities was beginning to flatten , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care falling on Friday for the first time in its outbreak .
The fast-spreading virus has infected just shy of 1.7 million people and killed 102,000 worldwide since the pandemic began late last year , quickly sweeping over 180 countries .
While cases in the US crossed the half million threshold on Friday – accounting for nearly one-third of the world ’ s infections – regionally , Europe has tallied more among several nations , with Spain , Italy , France , and Germany reporting well over 120,000 cases each , and several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your friends would be interested ?
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The US has counted more than 2,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the space of 24 hours, smashing all previous daily death tolls worldwide as the US outbreak shows little sign of abating, according to Johns Hopkins University.
On Friday, 2,108 new deaths were reported in the US, data gathered by Johns Hopkins shows, putting the US’ total at over 18,600, just shy of Italy’s death toll, the overall leader in fatalities globally.
After Thursday’s casualty count saw a brief drop-off, deaths again surged on Friday, the country’s deadliest day yet.
Though US President Donald Trump has stated that the US’ epidemic is nearing its peak, the latest projections by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – reported by the New York Times on Friday – forecast a steep spike in cases and deaths over the summer if states and cities lift 30-day stay-at-home orders now in place, projecting up to 200,000 deaths and 100 million infections in total.
Also on rt.com New DHS model predicts 200,000 Covid-19 deaths & surge in cases over summer if containment measures lifted after 30 days
With social distancing guidelines provided by federal agencies set to expire at the end of April, the president is now mulling whether to extend them further yet again, calling it “the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make.” Trump has been eager to see all lockdown measures removed and the US economy back up and running, but over time has become more reluctant to do so prematurely.
New York remains the hardest-hit US state, reporting nearly 800 new deaths on Friday alone among a total of over 7,800. However, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the “curve” of new cases and fatalities was beginning to flatten, with the number of patients in intensive care falling on Friday for the first time in its outbreak.
Also on rt.com Over 1,000 new deaths in New York & New Jersey from Covid-19, but governors say curve is ‘flattening’
The fast-spreading virus has infected just shy of 1.7 million people and killed 102,000 worldwide since the pandemic began late last year, quickly sweeping over 180 countries. While cases in the US crossed the half million threshold on Friday – accounting for nearly one-third of the world’s infections – regionally, Europe has tallied more among several nations, with Spain, Italy, France, and Germany reporting well over 120,000 cases each, and several others with more than 20,000.
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