| Joe Biden makes virtual campaign trail debut after several days of public absence Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:16 AM PDT  Former Vice President and Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden made his first video address after four days of cable news silence to address the coronavirus pandemic from his family home in Wilmington, Del.
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| A 39-year-old otherwise healthy New Orleans woman who showed signs of the novel coronavirus died alone in her kitchen awaiting test results Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:20 PM PDT  "I don't want to be sick anymore," Natasha Ott, a 39-year-old social worker, texted days before her death. Her COVID-19 results are still unknown.
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| Italy sees second successive drop in virus deaths Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:06 PM PDT  Italy on Monday reported a second successive drop in daily deaths and infections from a coronavirus that has nevertheless claimed more than 6,000 lives in a month. Italy's National Health Institute (ISS) chief Silvio Brusaferro was more guarded. Saturday's record toll was followed by a late-night address to the nation in which Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the additional closure of "non-essential" factories.
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| I am a doctor, a public health expert and a mother. This is what people ask me, and what I tell them. Posted: 22 Mar 2020 07:58 AM PDT  What does an expert in infectious disease get asked about coronavirus, and what does she answer?
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| Coronavirus: South Korea reports lowest number of new cases in four weeks Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:47 AM PDT  The news fuels hope that Asia's worst coronavirus outbreak outside China may be abating.
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| Man sentenced to 25 years for trying to bomb Oklahoma bank Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:43 AM PDT  An Oklahoma man was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison after being convicted of trying to blow up an Oklahoma City bank with a massive vehicle bomb, according to federal prosecutors. Jerry Drake Varnell, 26, of Sayre, was sentenced in federal court in Oklahoma City. Varnell was arrested in August 2017 after he tried to detonate what authorities said he believed was a half-ton (450-kilogram) bomb outside BancFirst in downtown Oklahoma City.
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| 3 workers at facilities housing migrant kids in U.S. custody test positive for coronavirus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:54 AM PDT  A dozen migrant children in U.S. custody have been tested for the virus. Five results came back negative and the rest are pending.
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| India shuts down flights, big cities as coronavirus toll rises in region Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:56 AM PDT  India on Monday announced a halt to domestic flights and said the majority of the country was under complete lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus as the number of people dying of the disease ticked up across densely populated South Asia. India has reported 471 cases of the coronavirus but health experts have warned that a big jump could be imminent, which would overwhelm the underfunded and crumbling public health infrastructure. On Monday, India confirmed two more deaths, bringing the total to nine.
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| White House press corps confirms 'suspected case' of coronavirus in the briefing room Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:10 PM PDT  A member of the White House press corps who has been in the briefing room several times with President Trump has come down with a suspected case of coronavirus.
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| Iran leader refuses U.S. help, citing coronavirus conspiracy theory Posted: 22 Mar 2020 07:25 AM PDT  Iran's supreme leader refused U.S. assistance on Sunday to fight the new coronavirus, citing an unfounded conspiracy theory that the virus could be produced by America.
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| 'Every part of me hopes it doesn’t come to that': What if Italy's coronavirus lockdowns don't work? Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:20 PM PDT  Italy could soon receive some sustained good news about the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the country – or it may need to do more to protect lives.
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| S.Africa orders lockdown as continent moves to stop virus spread Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:16 PM PDT  Numerous sub-Saharan countries acted to stem the spread of coronavirus on Monday, with South Africa announcing a soldier-patrolled lockdown and Senegal and Ivory Coast each declaring a state of emergency. The pandemic had been slow to spread in Africa compared to the Middle East and Europe, but in recent days the number of deaths and infections have increased, sparking concerns about the continent's vulnerability to contagious diseases. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government had "decided to enforce a nationwide lockdown for 21 days" from midnight Thursday to "avoid a human catastrophe".
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| North Carolina wins court piracy case over Blackbeard's ship Posted: 23 Mar 2020 08:11 AM PDT  The Supreme Court sided unanimously Monday with North Carolina in a copyright fight with a company that has documented the salvage of the pirate Blackbeard's ship off the state's coast. Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court that the company's copyright infringement lawsuit, which she called "a modern form of piracy," could not go forward because the Constitution generally protects states from lawsuits in federal courts. The 21st century dispute arose over the Queen Anne's Revenge, which ran aground more than 300 years ago.
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| Sen. Rand Paul, Who Opposed Coronavirus Relief Bill, Tests Positive Posted: 22 Mar 2020 05:42 PM PDT  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who was the only senator to oppose a coronavirus relief package last month, announced Sunday that he has tested positive for the virus."He is feeling fine and is in quarantine," an announcement on his Twitter said. "He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events."It added, "He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time."In addition to being the only senator to vote against an $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus package, Paul also was one of the eight senators who voted against paid sick leave in a stimulus bill that passed with an overwhelming 90-8 vote last week. "I think that the paid sick leave is an incentive for businesses to actually let go employees and will make unemployment worse," Paul, a physician who has a Kentucky-issued medical license, explained to Newsweek.CNN reported that Paul closed his Capitol Hill offices over a week ago and urged employees to work from home due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Two people who attended the annual Speed Art Museum ball in Kentucky with the senator on March 7 later tested positive for the virus, according to the Courier-Journal. But despite reportedly being tested roughly a week ago, Paul continued to interact with colleagues and even worked out at the Senate gym—and was swimming in the pool—on Sunday morning, shortly before he received his positive test results, Politico reported. Paul is the first senator to test positive for the novel coronavirus. Two other members of Congress, Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Ben McAdams (D-UT), have also gone public with positive test results.According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is particularly dangerous for people with lung problems. In August 2019, Paul had part of his lung removed after an altercation with his neighbor Rene Boucher. The two had a long-running dispute over lawn care.Second Member of Congress Tests Positive for COVID-19On March 2, Paul appeared on Fox News and downplayed the global threat of the coronavirus. "While it is worldwide, I think there is room for optimism that this thing may plateau out in a few weeks and not be as bad it as it may have been portrayed," he said to host Neil Cavuto. "We've seen pockets of this around the world and even in Italy and Iran where we have it, but none of it is approaching what started in China."When asked about institutions taking larger measures to limit the spread of the virus, Paul was resistant to the idea. "I think closing down the Smithsonians would be way too premature and I wouldn't advise something like that."And when Cavuto asked Paul about making personal adjustments to avoid infection, the Senator was particularly defiant. "I mean, I fly all the time and I'm not cutting back on my flying... I was on a plane today," he said. "I could be wrong and this could be really bad in two or three weeks or a month, but I'm hoping it's not going to be. I'm not ready to buy all the toilet paper at Target."The senator's father, Dr. Ron Paul, a physician and a former Republican congressman from Texas, published an essay called "The Coronavirus Hoax" last week for the New River Valley News, a local outlet based in Virginia. "People should ask themselves whether this coronavirus 'pandemic' could be a big hoax, with the actual danger of the disease massively exaggerated by those who seek to profit—financially or politically—from the ensuing panic," the elder Paul wrote.As of Sunday afternoon, there are 30,000 COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and nearly 400 people have died.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| If you have lost your sense of smell or taste you could be a 'hidden carrier' of the coronavirus Posted: 22 Mar 2020 06:06 AM PDT  A sudden loss of smell or taste could mean you have the coronavirus, even if you have no other symptoms.
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| Trump says coronavirus not Asian Americans' fault Posted: 23 Mar 2020 05:11 PM PDT  After criticism for using the term "Chinese virus", the president praises Asian Americans as "amazing".
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| China’s Mask Mercantilism Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:01 PM PDT  As the novel coronavirus continues its deadly march from Wuhan across the globe, Chinese Communists are attempting to turn the pandemic, which was largely caused by their own complacency and incompetence, into a propaganda victory by highlighting stories of China delivering supplies and expertise to the countries it infected. The American chatterati is starting to worry about China seizing global leadership, but it should calm down. The United States and its democratic allies are still providing for other countries in a way that China will not.China has learned a great deal in the past few years. After Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013, countries around the world sprang into action, sending food, money, and supplies to help. China joined in, initially offering . . . $200,000, a little more than half the $350,000 donation from the rock band Journey. After facing torrents of richly deserved scorn for its stinginess, the second-largest economy in world upped its ante to about $2 million, nearly matching the $2.7 million donation from geopolitical powerhouse Ikea.The main lesson the Chinese Communists seem to have drawn from the debacle is that the appearance of doing good is more important than actually doing it, and so far, media reactions are proving them right. In the past few weeks, the Chinese propaganda machine has gone into overdrive, praising China for buying time for the world to respond to the pandemic and for leading the global response to the coronavirus. Both claims are false, despite being widely bandied about in the media.China did not delay the disease's spread, New York Times op-eds to the contrary. Wuhan's officials destroyed evidence and harassed medical professionals who warned about the new virus. After president Xi Jinping took charge of China's response, he lied to World Health Organization officials and waited until after infected people reached Thailand, South Korea, and the United States before initiating lockdowns. For months, China obstructed not the disease, but rather the people trying to stop it.Chinese propagandists also claim that China is leading the way in responding to the crisis internationally, which is patently false. China's much-publicized gift of 1 million masks to Japan is a grand and magnificent gesture, albeit only one-third as grand as prior Japanese donations of nearly 3 million masks to China.The most remarkable case, however, is in Italy, where China's ostentatious delivery of supplies and doctors has caused much consternation among Americans who worry that the United States is losing its global leadership role. Media accounts often omitted that the supplies were bought and paid for by the Italians, when the most newsworthy element to the story is that China actually kept its commitment to deliver what it sold.Overall, China has returned to Europe about as much medical equipment as it received, taking credit for in effect receiving supplies from northern and central Europe and delivering them later to southern Europe -- but unlike the European donors, the Chinese aren't doing it for free. Chinese Communists are boasting about their magnanimity and are letting Germany and the European Union take the blame for shortages across Europe that are largely due to Chinese hoarding. This is not philanthropy; this is mercantilism.Despite headlines to the contrary, the United States is helping other countries even as it battles the infection at home. The administration's response may have been clumsy at times, but the U.S. is doing a lot of good: Congress has already passed, and President Trump has already signed, $1.3 billion in foreign aid to help other countries fight COVID-19, and the Asian Development Bank, whose biggest stakeholder is the United States, is helping developing countries with another $6.5 billion. This is but a part of the over $90 billion that the United States has spent on global health since 2009.Americans already lead the world in responding to global health crises because of some of their most foundational beliefs. Nearly 200 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville marveled at how universally Americans believed in the "principle of interest rightly understood," explaining how "an enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other." This principle makes Americans the most generous people in the world, giving $428 billion to charity in 2018, and it shapes how the American government responds to heath crises around the world, from the AIDS and Ebola epidemics to COVID-19 today.And they are not alone. Most of their democratic allies favor humanitarian aid over defense spending -- often to a fault -- but this preference makes them uniquely able and willing to help other countries respond to pandemics.The Chinese Communists will win some headlines during this crisis, but ultimately they will not overcome their power-hungry, mercantilist nature and advance their claim to global leadership. Americans give because of who they are, while Chinese Communists give to take more back later. The world will see -- and remember.
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| Senate partisanship boils over as stimulus talks stall Posted: 23 Mar 2020 05:26 PM PDT  The Trump administration and congressional leaders are hoping to land a deal on an economic stimulus bill that could reach $2 trillion.
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| Italy coronavirus deaths rise by 602 in a day, lifting total death toll to 6,077 Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:51 AM PDT  The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 602 to 6,077, the head of the Civil Protection Agency said on Monday, the smallest rise in numerical terms since Thursday, suggesting a clear downward trend. The Civil Protection Agency initially said 601 people died on Monday, but the agency head told reporters the real number was 602. The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 63,927 on Monday from a previous 59,138, an increase of 8%, the Civil Protection Agency said -- the lowest rise in percentage terms since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21.
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| Yemen Huthis uphold death sentence for Baha'i, community says Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:02 AM PDT  A court run by Yemen's Huthi rebels has upheld the death sentence of a Baha'i over his religion in defiance of international appeals, the community said Monday. Hamed bin Haydara, who has been detained since 2013, was not allowed into Sunday's hearing in the capital Sanaa that rejected his appeal against the sentence imposed more than a year ago, the community said. The Baha'i International Community in a statement said it was "utterly dismayed at this outrageous verdict" and urged the court to overturn it.
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| 'He just needs more of everything': Biden campaign faces retool after primary surge Posted: 22 Mar 2020 04:00 AM PDT  Newly filed campaign finance reports show how Biden's campaign lagged behind rivals until he caught fire after the South Carolina primary.
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| Supreme Court affirms strict standard to prove race discrimination in contracting Posted: 23 Mar 2020 08:26 AM PDT  Civil rights groups have said it's crucial that discrimination claims be given their day in court under an 1866 law governing business contracts.
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| 'Run them over:' Chinese Americans face growing hate in coronavirus outbreak Posted: 23 Mar 2020 08:22 AM PDT  As the new coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S., Chinese Americans — and Asian Americans as a whole — have reported rising verbal and physical attacks suggesting they're responsible for COVID-19's emergence. It's "a sudden spasm of hate that is reminiscent of the kind faced by Muslim-Americans after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," but this time, the president isn't acting like he's on their side, The New York Times reports.Yuanyuan Zhu recalled walking to the gym in San Francisco for one of her last workouts before an inevitable quarantine a few weeks ago. Along the way, she noticed a man "yelling an expletive about China," and hearing him shout "run them over" when a bus went by, the Times writes. Zhu tried to stay away, but when she got stuck with the man waiting for a crosswalk, he spit on her.The possibility of those kinds of attacks have the nearly two dozen Asian Americans interviewed by The New York Times "afraid to go grocery shopping, to travel alone on subways or buses, to let their children go outside." Even Dr. Edward Chew, the head of the emergency department at a large Manhattan hospital, says he has noticed people covering their noses and mouths when he walks by.Still, President Trump insists on calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus" despite medical professionals warning how that could fuel fear of and attacks against an entire group of people. "If they keep using these terms, the kids are going to pick it up," Tony Du, an epidemiologist in Maryland, told the Times. "They are going to call my 8-year-old son a Chinese virus. It's serious." Read more at The New York Times.More stories from theweek.com Trump suggests he might soon prioritize the economy over public health U.K. imposes strict coronavirus lockdown measures for next 3 weeks The worst possible president for this crisis
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| 'Absolutely irresponsible': Rand Paul's colleagues are calling him out after he reportedly went to the gym after testing for coronavirus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 07:59 AM PDT  Two of Paul's colleagues in the Senate criticized him after he reportedly refused to isolate himself after testing for the coronavirus.
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| Midwives Slam NYC Hospital for Forcing Women to Give Birth Alone Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:15 PM PDT  A group of New York City midwives slammed a Manhattan hospital's new policy prohibiting partners in delivery rooms this week, warning that the restrictions to combat COVID-19 could lead to more expectant mothers giving birth at home "whether or not that is the best medical decision for them.""NYC Midwives calls on the State of New York and all New York hospitals to follow WHO guidelines and affirm their commitment to allowing one essential support person to accompany all laboring people," the group said in a statement.As previously reported by The Daily Beast, a growing number of women have already been considering birthing outside the hospital for fear of contamination, hospital overcrowding, and supply shortages as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spread nationwide.Pregnant Women Turn to Home Births to Escape VirusThe New York-Presbyterian Hospital system on Sunday solidified many mothers' fears—issuing a new policy that prohibits any support people, including husbands, wives, and family members, from accompanying women during labor or in the delivery room. New York State has also advised hospitals to suspend all visitation "except when medically necessary" as numbers of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus continue to surge. "For the time being, we really do need to exclude all visitors, including partners, for women admitted in labor," Dr. Dena Goffman, chief of obstetrics at Columbia University Medical Center, said in a Sunday press conference. But NYC Midwives, which supports both midwives and the practice of midwifery in New York City, urged the State of New York and all New York hospitals to adhere to guidelines enacted by the World Health Organization which state that "all women have the right to a safe and positive childbirth experience" despite a possible COVID-19 diagnosis.That right also includes giving birth with a "companion of choice," the group said, adding that they believe "a continuous labor support person is essential to the care of the birthing person." NYC Women Are Getting Pervy Doctors' Names Deleted From Birth CertificatesThe organization also argued Monday that several negative consequences may arise if people "are not guaranteed continuous support from a person of their choosing in labor." That includes more home births without proper care, increased birth complications, unnecessary C-sections, an increase in postpartum depression, and an increase in the rate of maternal morbidity for women of color."People will labor at home alone without care from a provider longer than is safe, rather than leave their loved one to come to the hospital," the statement also warned.Goffman stressed on Sunday that the hospital is aware of the hardships that come with giving birth alone, and her team is looking into ways to allow families to participate virtually—possibly through tablets."We recognize that we will need to provide additional support for moms, as well as mom and baby pairs, as they're in the hospital through the duration of their stay," Goffman said. Eugenia Montesinos, who has been a certified hospital midwife for two decades, told The Daily Beast on Monday the organization is pushing the city to look for solutions that allow expectant mothers the right to have a baby with support without increasing the risk for the coronavirus. "As a hospital midwife, I want to protect myself so I can keep working but also I don't want these women to suffer. That's inhumane," Montesinos said. "We have very limited supplies, and that's another big problem for us—there is no good solution here but all I know is that I don't want anybody to suffer."Male Birth Control: Will These Guys Make it a Reality?Montesinos said that while hospitals have not yet seen an increase in mothers in labor coming to the hospital for help—she said it's only a matter of time before natural birth midwives are too overwhelmed to handle their workload and will force women to seek medical health elsewhere. "We have a good number of midwives that deliver at home but they are overwhelmed. They are running out of protective gear and supplies and hours in the day to effectively take care of their mothers," Montesinos said. "People forget, it's two lives at stake."While the midwife admits there is no "easy solution" to this crisis, Montesinos said she hopes city officials consider creating a birthing center separate from hospitals to allow women, midwives, and nurses the space and resources to allow the birthing process to happen in a humane and healthy way. Women's Groups Dropped The Ball on Female Candidates—Now They're Taking The HeatA Change.org petition that garnered more than 1115,000 signatures by Monday afternoon urged New York-Presbyterian to change its policy—arguing that most hospitals combating the coronavirus do not have enough nurses to spend time with "people in labor to ensure their and their baby's health and safety."The petition was organized by Jessica Pournaras, a Brooklyn-based federally registered doula, or non-medical birthing assistant."No one should give birth alone," the petition states. "The long term effects of these rules will long outlast the effects of the virus, itself."Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| 'Enough is enough': Trudeau tells Canadians to stay home, major province clamps down Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:58 AM PDT  OTTAWA/TORONTO (Reuters) - A clearly unhappy Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said people defying advice to isolate themselves to fight a coronavirus outbreak should "go home and stay home" or face sanctions. The number of people diagnosed with the illness caused by the new coronavirus jumped to more than 2,000 from 1,430 on Sunday, and the death toll rose to 24 from 20, according to a tally of announcements from officials compiled by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Although Ottawa and the provinces have urged Canadians to stay at home, and in some cases put limits on gatherings, Trudeau said too many people were disregarding the advice.
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| South Africa: 'Our children are dying, but President Ramaphosa doesn't care' Posted: 22 Mar 2020 05:08 PM PDT  South Africa's leader Cyril Ramaphosa is accused of inaction over a spate of child murders.
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| Virus adds to constant fear of life as undocumented immigrant Posted: 22 Mar 2020 07:08 PM PDT  James can't afford to quarantine: he lost his job as a waiter in a Los Angeles restaurant and is two weeks away from running out of money for rent and food. It is the name on his fake social security card that, like many in his precarious position, he uses to get low-paying, hourly jobs. Life as an undocumented immigrant is always anxiety-inducing, especially since Donald Trump became president having campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration.
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| COVID-19 damages retirement plans Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:54 AM PDT  Everyday investors could have lost 30% or more during the coronavirus crash depending on how they've invested. It's hard to look at the numbers.
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| EU Governments Reach Breakthrough Over Balkans Expansion Plan Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:59 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- European Union governments revived the membership hopes of North Macedonia and Albania by overcoming a French roadblock after months of deliberations, according to an EU official.Envoys of the 27-nation EU recommended that the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, take the necessary step to trigger accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, the official said on the condition of anonymity.Clinched through several days of intensive behind-the-scenes exchanges while EU leaders grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, the diplomatic breakthrough on Monday in Brussels now goes to national governments for formal approval. Ministers are due to scrutinize the deal during a video conference on Tuesday.The EU wants to keep alive the prospect of North Macedonia and Albania joining to avoid political instability in a region still scarred by the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The bloc also wants to prevent a political vacuum that could play into the hands of Russia and China.Three other countries in the region have begun EU entry talks: Serbia in 2014, Montenegro in 2012 and Turkey in 2005.Last October, France blocked the EU's goal of starting membership negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania during the first half of 2020, insisting on tougher scrutiny to ensure their respect for the rule of law.To address the French concerns, the Brussels-based commission in February proposed changes to the way the EU vets aspiring members by giving more weight to "fundamentals," including the functioning of the judicial system and democratic institutions.The deal on Monday in the Belgian capital gives the commission the go-ahead to draw up a "negotiating framework" for North Macedonia and for Albania.The breakthrough came after the member-country diplomats scrapped the idea of fixing a June deadline for the commission to produce these documents, deciding instead on no specific timetable. The envoys also beefed up conditions for Albania before it can actually begin the entry talks.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Russia's low infection numbers viewed skeptically as demand grows for more action Posted: 22 Mar 2020 10:44 AM PDT  Russian officials attribute the low reported coronavirus numbers to aggressive border controls, but experts caution that the actual infection rates may be much higher.
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| Coronavirus: Trump bows to pressure from worst-hit states and allows extra supplies Posted: 22 Mar 2020 11:15 AM PDT  The US National Guard has been activated in New York, California and Washington to aid in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.After New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and officials across the US pressured the federal government for days to ramp up its response to a growing crisis in their respective states, Donald Trump has announced that he signed off on a major disaster declaration for New York, per the governor's request.
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| Denver's mayor orders residents to stay inside except for essential needs — and even tried to shut down liquor stores and recreational marijuana shops Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:28 PM PDT  Citizens of Denver, the largest city in Colorado, are not allowed outdoors except to run essential errands, such as getting food, medicine, and exercise.
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| Pregnant patients at New York-Presbyterian hospitals will reportedly give birth alone amid coronavirus concerns Posted: 22 Mar 2020 02:28 PM PDT  Hospitals have zeroed in on partners and visitors of moms-to-be as potential factors in spreading the contagious virus.
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| Pence says U.S. coronavirus guidance to be re-evaluated after 15-day period ends Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:00 PM PDT  U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading a U.S. task force to address the coronavirus outbreak, said on Monday the Trump administration would re-evaluate its guidance after the current 15-day guidance period ends. "At the end of this 15 days, we're going to get with our health experts, we're going to evaluate ways in which we might be able to adjust that guidance for the American people," he told reporters when asked whether the guidance could be eased to help protect the economy. "But those measures right now were all in the belief that we could ... impact the trajectory of the curve of the coronavirus in America, in a way that would that would spare many Americans from being exposed or contracting the disease and, of course, save lives," he added.
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| Rise in 'forced disappearance' preys on Brazil's young men of colour Posted: 22 Mar 2020 02:00 AM PDT  Carlos Eduardo Nascimento is the latest apparent victim of a trend aided by police impunity and Bolsonaro's rhetoric, activists sayCarlos Eduardo Nascimento was at a bar with friends in the city of Jundiaí, 50km from São Paulo, when the police arrived.The only black man in the group, Nascimento, 20, was handcuffed, bundled into a squad car and driven away.Nearly three months later, he hasn't been seen since.Desperate family members say they have been stonewalled by the authorities and – as coronavirus panic sweeps the country – his father Eduardo Nascimento, says he has given up hope of seeing his son alive again."We don't know where else to turn. If my son was from a rich family, he surely would have been found by now," said Nascimento, a security guard.Police investigators suspect a "forced disappearance". Three military police officers who were in the patrol that searched the group have been suspended from duty.Cases of poor young black men who are stopped by police and then show up dead or disappear completely are common in Brazil – and they are on the increase, according to human rights advocates."In almost all cases where the victim was last seen talking to police they are never seen alive again," said Ivanise Esperidião, founder of Mums of Sé, an organization working with disappeared people.São Paulo's public security secretariat has said "all the circumstances related to the case are being investigated".Nascimento's father alleges that the four other young men who were with Carlos Eduardo when he was taken away are scared to speak out for fear of violent police reprisals.Police impunity in the killings of poor, black or mixed-race victims is a notoriously longstanding problem in Brazil, the last country to abolish slavery."They disappear victims to make investigations even more difficult and to ensure impunity," said Ariel de Castro Alves, a member of São Paulo's human rights council.In a rare case in which police have been investigated over such incidents, 10 Rio de Janeiro police officers were charged with torture and murder in 2013, over the disappearance of bricklayer Amarildo de Souza who vanished after being stopped by police.But the case of Carlos Eduardo adds to growing fears about increasing police violence and abuse in Brazil under the far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro.State governors control security forces in Brazil, but experts express fear that officers, have felt emboldened by the president's rhetorical support for police violence.Last year, Rio de Janeiro state – governed by former Bolsonaro ally turned political rival Wilson Witzel – registered its highest number of police killings on record. Most of the victims were black or mixed race.São Paulo's rightwing governor, João Doria, won a narrow victory in 2018, promising tougher measures against crime. The following year, police in the city killed 716 people, up from 642 in 2018 according to data from the police ombudsman.
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| COVID-19 pandemic 'accelerating': WHO chief Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:37 AM PDT  The new coronavirus pandemic is clearly "accelerating", the World Health Organization warned Monday, but said it was still possible to change its trajectory by going on the attack. "The pandemic is accelerating," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference. Joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Tedros compared the fight against COVID-19 to football tactics.
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| Democrats need to play coronavirus hardball Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:06 AM PDT  The COVID-19 economic crisis is entering its third week, and still the federal government has passed no big rescue package. The Republican Senate leadership is trying to whip up votes for a mostly garbage plan. It would cut checks of $1,200 to most adults, plus $500 for children, which is at least not nothing, but also would create a $500 billion slush fund for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to use on whatever corporate bailouts he deems necessary, with no conditions or requirements.It is both far short of what is necessary, and wildly unfair. So far Senate Democrats are putting up a surprising amount of resistance. On Sunday night they filibustered the bill, meaning it would need 60 votes to pass. It went down 47-47 because five Republican senators are in coronavirus quarantine. On Monday they filibustered it again, though by a narrower margin. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released a sketch of a plan which is a lot better than the Mnuchin slush fund, but arguably still short of what's needed. Democrats in the House and the Senate will need to agree to a very aggressive plan and stick to it, if they want to save America as a whole.There is a very dangerous line of thinking that is common in Democratic circles in times of emergency. It goes something like this: In times of crisis, it is important for Democrats to behave responsibly and not exploit the situation for political gain. Therefore, they should negotiate with Republicans to get something rather than hold out for unrealistic, utopian demands and risk disaster.The problem here is that so-called "utopian demands" are really just the bare minimum of what is necessary to actually address the crisis, and letting Republicans get their way will lead to a disaster that is only somewhat less bad than what would happen if we do nothing. Moreover, Democrats have all the political leverage in this situation, because Trump will take most of the blame if the economy collapses. The only way to actually rescue the whole American population is to exploit that political leverage.The coronavirus situation thus far bears a marked resemblance to what happened with the bank bailout passed in fall 2008. The Bush administration, led by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, wanted a preposterously unfair rescue — shoveling hundreds of billions of dollars of cash and credit into the banks to restore the pre-crisis status quo, but doing little or nothing for the rest of the population. Because Democrats controlled the House, and because many Republicans refused to vote for what looked like big-government socialism anyway, and because Barack Obama was widely expected to be the next president, Democrats had enormous leverage over Paulson.But instead of pushing for a better response that would aid workers and hold Wall Street accountable, Obama whipped Democratic votes for Paulson's bill, which eventually passed in modified form after it failed the first time. Democrats refused to exploit their leverage because they thought it would be irresponsible. In Reed Hundt's book A Crisis Wasted, administration insiders were clear about this choice. "We could have forced more mortgage relief. We could have imposed tighter conditions on dividends and executive compensation," admitted economic adviser Austan Goolsbee. As Obama told a group of liberal writers in 2010, they "didn't do what Franklin Delano Roosevelt did, which was basically wait for six months until the thing had gotten so bad that it became an easier sell politically."As historian Eric Rauchway writes in his book Winter War, Obama's line here is a straight-up lie told by Herbert Hoover. In reality, Hoover did not want sensible, bipartisan solutions to fix the Great Depression — he wanted Roosevelt to abandon his New Deal program, which Hoover viewed as creeping communism that would "break down our form of government [and] crack the timbers of our Constitution." But again, the point of Roosevelt's New Deal was to fix the Depression and prevent it from happening again — especially by instituting harsh new financial regulations. Indeed, once Roosevelt was in office he quickly and easily fixed the banking panic that had been sweeping the nation for months using tools Hoover had dismissed out of hand.The sensible, pragmatic, responsible thing to do in 1932 and in 2008 was to tell Republicans to either do as they were told or go pound sand, and the same is true today. Democrats should propose a solution that is both fair and big enough to address the crisis, and tell Republicans to take it or leave it. As the crisis gets worse and worse, and the bodies start piling up, Republicans almost certainly will fold — indeed, at least one Republican senator has already argued the Republican plan should be more fair. Among other things, Democrats should demand much larger checks to individuals that will go out automatically in future crises, an even bigger upgrade to unemployment insurance funded by the federal government, budget backstops for state and local governments who are getting slammed, wartime-style mass state purchasing of medical equipment, and requirements that any company that gets rescued keeps its staff on payroll. But to make that demand, House Democrats will actually have to write a bill doing so.Gutless centrists will no doubt characterize this as "taking the American people hostage." In reality, it is Republicans who are taking the people hostage to try to get through a giant bailout for the rich. Democrats, should they choose to play the same kind of hardball, would be trying to save the American people in the only way it can be done — through politics.Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here.More stories from theweek.com Trump suggests he might soon prioritize the economy over public health U.K. imposes strict coronavirus lockdown measures for next 3 weeks The worst possible president for this crisis
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| These national and state parks are closed amid coronavirus outbreak Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:37 PM PDT  Rocky Mountain National Park and Ellis Island are among major parks that are closed to slow the spread of coronavirus.
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| Pelosi $2.5 Trillion Plan Has Mortgage Reprieve: Congress Update Posted: 23 Mar 2020 05:34 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Republicans and Democrats in Congress are negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Monday in an attempt to reach a compromise on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's bill worth as much as $2 trillion to help soften the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic.Here are the latest developments:Pelosi $2.5 Trillion Plan Has Mortgage Reprieve (8:26 p.m.)House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a $2.5 trillion, 1,400-page virus stimulus bill in a bid to shape talks on a rival Senate GOP bill that remained stalled on Monday.The Pelosi bill has broad implications for the financial sector. It would force lenders to grant a temporary reprieve from mortgage and car payments and credit card bills, and order the Federal Reserve to provide loan servicers with liquidity to give borrowers to stop paying their mortgages for up to 360 days.Public housing residents would also temporarily not have to pay their rent, and student loan borrowers would also have $10,000 of debt forgiven.Negative consumer credit reporting would be halted and foreclosures and evictions would be banned.There are currently no plans for House members to return to Washington to vote on the bill, which appears to be a list of demands Democrats want to see included in the Senate measure. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have been negotiating behind closed doors all day Monday searching for a compromise. Trump Urges Senate to 'Make a Deal' on Stimulus (6:27 p.m.)President Donald Trump urged the Senate to put partisan differences aside and pass McConnell's nearly $2 trillion virus economic stimulus plan "as written."Opening the daily White House briefing on the virus response, the president said senators have no choice and "have to make a deal.""We are going to save American workers and we are going to save them quickly," Trump said.Hotels, Restaurants Seek More Stimulus Aid (5:37 p.m.)Trade groups representing restaurants, travel destinations and hotels are calling on Congress to increase the loan amount offered to small businesses in an economic stimulus package.The U.S. Travel Association supports increasing the maximum loan amount offered to small businesses to four times the borrowers' monthly operating costs from 2.5 times the borrowers' monthly payroll expenses, according to Tori Emerson Barnes, who heads public affairs and policy for the group. The American Hotel & Lodging Association also supports that position, according to a person familiar with the matter. The draft includes about $350 billion in loans for small businesses that would convert to grants if the companies retain their employees.Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs of the National Restaurant Association, which also supports a higher loan amount, said the draft bill "is a great first step but there is certainly need for access to credit to be expanded for restaurants." -- Naomi Nix, Ben BrodyPelosi to Release $2.5 Trillion Counteroffer (4:24 p.m.)House Democrats are preparing to release a $2.5 trillion virus stimulus measure in a bid to influence ongoing talks on the Senate bill.The bill from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is more costly than the $1.8 trillion measure being negotiated by Republican and Democratic senators, which has twice fallen short of the votes needed on a procedural move to advance the bill.According to an official summary of the House bill, individuals including the retired and the unemployed would receive $1,500, compared with $1,200 in the Senate bill. The House proposal would also create a $600 per week payment for any worker laid off or for self-employed people who have lost contracts due to the pandemic.The legislation would also authorize the Federal Reserve to purchase state and local government bonds intended to fight the coronavirus outbreak, would send $60 billion to schools and universities, and would relieve student debt.The bill would create a national requirement for states to allow early voting and voting by mail in cases of national emergency.There are currently no plans for House members to return to Washington to vote on the bill, expected to be released later Monday. At this point, it appears to be a list of demands Democrats want to see included in the Senate bill. -- Erik WassonPelosi Hopes for House Vote on Counterproposal (3:01 p.m.)House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she is hoping to bring House members back to Washington to vote on Democrats' version of the coronavirus stimulus bill. Most House members left town on March 14, while the Senate has been in session, negotiating changes to a Republican version of the stimulus bill."We'll see what we're going to do -- that's our hope yes," Pelosi said when asked if House members will return to vote on the Democratic version. "And we'll see what the Senate is going to do."But multiple Democratic officials familiar with the House plans said there's no set day for lawmakers to come back to Washington, and they're are not expected to return until after Wednesday.House Democrats are scheduled to have a caucus-wide call on Tuesday afternoon. If the House and Senate pass different versions of the stimulus bill, it will take more time to reconcile the differences and get the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature.Democrats Again Block Stimulus as Talks Proceed (2:07 p.m.)Senate Democrats again refused to advance McConnell's $2 trillion stimulus plan Monday as the coronavirus continued spreading amid dire predictions of a deep economic recession.The 49-46 vote with 60 needed, following a similar vote late Sunday, blocked McConnell's latest version of the plan, which had been the product of frenzied bipartisan negotiations over the weekend."Why are the American people still waiting?" McConnell said on the Senate floor before the vote. "The markets are not doing well today."He accused Democrats of pushing unrelated "wish-list items" such as solar energy tax credits and new emission standards for airlines. "This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing whatsoever to do with this crisis?" McConnell said.Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he has had "almost continuous negotiations" with Mnuchin. He said they are close to reaching a deal and his goal is to do so Monday.The Democratic leader said Monday's vote was essentially "irrelevant" because his party will be ready to move ahead "once we have an agreement that everybody can get behind."Pelosi to Introduce House Counterproposal (12:54 p.m.)House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats will introduce their version of the stimulus package to respond to the coronavirus, offering an alternative to the bill currently under discussion in the Senate."The Senate Republicans' bill, as presented, put corporations first, not workers and families," Pelosi said in a statement. "We urge the Senate to move closer to the values in the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act."She said the House bill would boost unemployment insurance and prevent companies that receive federal help from firing workers, increasing executive pay or buying back stock.The House measure would fund hospitals' virus response and would call for the president to use the Defense Production Act to shore up critical supplies. It would also increase funds for schools, food assistance and to help states expand early and absentee voting, according to a statement from Pelosi's office.The House and Senate must pass the same version of the legislation before sending it to President Donald Trump for his signature.Plan Could Fund Accountability Panel for Aid (11:20 a.m.)There is now funding in the stimulus plan to operate an accountability board for the $500 billion bailout fund, Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said on Bloomberg TV Monday.A demand for greater oversight of the fund to assist companies and state and local governments has been a key sticking point for Democrats. Coons said the details were still being worked out and put into the legislation."I don't see that there is yet final agreement on the language of what is the scope of that accountability board," he said.Coons said the most recent draft version he saw still granted the Treasury secretary "very broad discretion." For example, he said, if a company takes a multibillion-dollar loan and simply uses it for bailouts and executive compensation, there is "no clear mechanism" for that to be resolved.Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a separate Bloomberg Television Interview that she wants an oversight panel with "real teeth" to monitor that the money is spent according to the law and according to the promises that companies made when they took the funds.Coons, Barrasso Both Say Senate Will Make a Deal (8:02 a.m.)U.S. senators in both political parties expressed confidence the Senate will approve a broad economic stimulus measure to address the coronavirus crisis later Monday, despite Sunday's failed procedural vote on a Senate GOP measure that would have begun debate while talks on a bipartisan replacement bill continued.Speaking in separate TV appearances, Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming and Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware said they expect lawmakers in both parties will resolve differences and advance legislation to the House."Relief is on the way," Barrasso said on Fox Business. "We want to get this passed today."Coons said both parties were able to agree easily on major parts of the bill, including $350 billion in aid for smaller businesses. Outstanding disputes, including how many strings should be attached for airlines and other big businesses getting help, can be resolved, he said."I think we will get this done," he said on "Fox and Friends." He added that "there is a sense of urgency."Mnuchin, Schumer Keep Negotiating on Bill (6 a.m.)Negotiations continued Sunday night between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer after Democrats blocked the economic stimulus measure in a Senate procedural vote.McConnell has been aiming for a final Senate vote Monday, but leaders of both parties continue to differ on key sections, including a $500 billion chunk that could be used to help corporations, including airlines, or state and local governments.Catch Up on Washington's Virus ResponseDemocrats Block Senate Economic Stimulus Bill as Talks FalterTrump, Congressional Leaders Say Deal on Virus Stimulus CloseMnuchin Sees Emergency Aid Package on Track for Monday PassageHouse Democrats Want Trump Team's Answers on Supply ShortagesTrump Pushes an Unproven Coronavirus Drug, and Patients Stock UpFed Going All In to Save Economy. Here's What Could Come NextFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| A full coronavirus lockdown now looks 'inevitable' for the UK as the public continues to flock to public spaces despite a surge in COVID-19 deaths Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:04 AM PDT  The UK seems headed for a full coronavirus lockdown as the British public continues to ignore social-distancing rules.
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| Biden urges Trump to apply Defense Production Act in response to coronavirus outbreak Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:22 AM PDT  Former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday urged President Trump to implement the 1950 wartime measure in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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