[Coronavirus stories] W.H.O. just officially proclaimed a pandemic

By artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:46pm |

Previous thread of Coronavirus Impact stories here. (Also threads specific to White House response, by NCD here and here; briefing to briefing to Congressional GOP here; general thread by Dr. Cleveland here )

BREAKING

"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

URL:

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1237777021742338049

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W.H.O. elaborates in a super long thread, here are roughly half

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this #coronavirus. It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do"-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a #coronavirus.

And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time.

WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases"-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.

We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"As I said on Monday, just looking at the number of #COVID19 cases and the number of countries affected does not tell the full story"-@DrTedros #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Of the 118,000 #COVID19 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries, and two of those – - have significantly declining epidemics"-@DrTedros #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"81 countries have not reported any #COVID19 cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.

We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of #COVID19 cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission"-@DrTedros #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

THREAD CONTINUES WITH MANY MORE TWEETS, ending with this:

The full briefing on #COVID19 by @DrTedros https://t.co/dRwxvdxILJ pic.twitter.com/n3KVBggZXD
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 1:01pm

NO PAYWALL on NYTimes coronovirus coverage:

From internal New York Times call: all Coronavirus coverage will remain free and outside of paywall for the foreseeable future.
— Mark Mazzetti (@MarkMazzettiNYT) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:22am

On the U.S. saw a health policy bigwig tweet the other day note that while Trumpco and many state governments had worked with big insurers on cutting out co-pays etc., that they were forgetting the hospitals part of the problem. And here the problem is, rearing its head:

First the NYC public school teacher asked for a #COVID19 test. Then she was told no. Then came the bill: $10,000 @THECITYNY https://t.co/LrAQw747Ll
— GregBSmith (@Gregbsmithnyc) March 11, 2020

And if you've got the usual Obamacare deductible per year, and haven't paid much yet, you're in trouble with that. This lady's savvy enough to get a reporter on it so she'll eventually know what to do, but most people wouldn't. They'd pull out a credit card and pay it so that they can continue to be covered for care, worry about it later, they knew if they got sick they'd have to come up with it anyway. This is how they go broke.Being too sick to challenge. It's extortion from the least likely to challenge, is what it is. (Lots of people on Medicare Advantage plans have this different surprise problem: free gym, free glasses oh boy, but surprise: huge co-pays on fancy treatments for things like cancer treatments. If they can get it called COVID-related, they should be just fine, though, I have seen news about that already having been worked out by the Advantage Plans with Medicare central, they got a rules change.)

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 1:33pm

Dr. Anthony Fauci: "It is ten times more lethal than the seasonal flu."

Watch full #Coronavirus hearing here: https://t.co/qUfpOTAqTq pic.twitter.com/Zfo4SShnij
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 1:37pm

“We’re not in control of the entire situation," Cuomo said of testing capacity.

Says NY has 28 labs that could test, but:

"They then need protocols approved by the FDA and tests approved by the FDA.”

“That’s why it’s hard to manage from the state-side," he said.
— Luis Ferré-Sadurní (@luisferre) March 11, 2020

Some have FDA approval, some don't, Cuomo said.
— Luis Ferré-Sadurní (@luisferre) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 2:37pm

Guess who probably should be heeding the CDC guidance on reducing Coronavirus risk. https://t.co/GF1tn2WMaG @npfandos pic.twitter.com/X1r2hSFoET
— Margot Sanger-Katz (@sangerkatz) March 11, 2020

Congress’s attending physician has issued some new health guidance for legislators. Attn: Sen. Inhofe. https://t.co/GF1tn2WMaG pic.twitter.com/XDjsS2R4eY
— Margot Sanger-Katz (@sangerkatz) March 11, 2020

Sign of the times: “Taking selfies” is specifically mentioned as a risky behavior.
— Margot Sanger-Katz (@sangerkatz) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 2:41pm

Oops, was a great run while it lasted.
Here's a British celeb dealing with the pandemic the way only stoic Brits could...

by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 5:15pm

we do need this today, thank ye

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:07pm

Meanwhile in Italy, not enough doctors

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/who-gets-hospital-bed/...

by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:27pm

I can easily see that happening here to a lesser extent, in places like in FL or NYC where systems already pretty burdened, some docs get sick, others step in and burn out and get sick, best case scenario-forget about that surgery you were planning on; having to judge whether you can take care of that burn or sprained ankle or abdominal pain by yourself or risk going to the neighborhood urgent care to see a P.A., where you can easily catch coronavirus. I'm like thinking any day now an appt. I've been waiting on set for March 21 at a big Manhattan hospital is eventually gonna be cancelled.

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:39pm

as to people on ventilators, I have plenty of up close experience in the past with a family member. They need to be in ICU, with a nurse to patient ratio of 1 to 4 PLUS a specialized pulmonary nurse needs to come in often to check tubing and change tubing.

Edit to add: contra many people's impression from living will type stuff that a ventilator is like a death sentence--NOT--they are an invaluable assist for those having trouble breathing and it is not that big of a deal to be weaned off it once you a better. They save lives.

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:58pm

Daniel Dale has made a list, dutifully as always, of Trump dishonesty and inaccuracy on topic, checking it twice:

I'm sure I missed some, and the list will no doubt grow over time. Feel free to flag additional stuff. https://t.co/uWQYcrJNWC
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 2:44pm

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (a Republican) says he’ll be issuing new rules on mass gatherings and that he’s taking these measures so that Ohio doesn’t become another Italy. pic.twitter.com/T0FcCxFh9e
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 2:52pm

Idiot NYC mayor is basically re-staging 1918 flu pandemic Philly parade that sentenced 1000s, if not 10s of 1000s, to death — except this time w/ a virus ~3x more transmissible

If I were @NYPDShea , I’d refuse to police St. Patty’s in order to shut it down & save cops & public https://t.co/GRj3SGVm32
— Matthew Ocko (@mattocko) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 3:12pm

More DeBlasio: Maggie Haberman retweeted:

He told the caller-- who'd just returned from Italy-- she only had to stay home if she had symptoms. CDC says those travelers should self-quarantine for 14 days. https://t.co/kr1DM8ghKq
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) March 11, 2020

Then there was this, wondering if they disinfect for him and then let him use the whole place alone for two hours:

"Mayor Bill de Blasio spent more than two full hours working out at the Prospect Park YMCA in Park Slope Wednesday morning as the city faces down a coronavirus-fueled health crisis — and didn’t leave for work until 10:33am." -- https://t.co/5NLGc3EBkg
— Nolan Hicks (@ndhapple) March 11, 2020

that's enough for me, I'll be listening to Cuomo instead from now on. I would just quibble with the descriptive "idiotic", I think "doofus" is more accurate.

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:01pm

Coronavirus forecasts are grim. Frmer CDC director Tom Frieden, not an alarmist, says worst-case--but not implausible--scenario is half of U.S. population gets infected, > 1 million die. @joelachenbach @thewanreport @bylenasun https://t.co/ZpLH826Xeg
— Rosalind Helderman (@PostRoz) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:06pm

more NYC stuff, sorry to be so local-not-global, it's just that this one reminded me of a dirty little secret, how "third world" a lot of our institutional buildings are in NYC:

My school (as well as many schools in the DOE & especially the Bronx) does not have hot water, we often run out of soap & paper towels in the bathrooms, and we don’t have hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes in most of our classrooms. Kids deserve better. https://t.co/q1tvIWTdLC
— Stephanie Paz (@stephaniempaz) March 5, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:16pm

Pro Publica making themselves useful trying to sort out the mess:

Should I Quarantine Because of Coronavirus? It Depends on Who You Ask.

Agencies, local authorities and national governments do not agree on who should be quarantined or what that should actually look like. Here’s what we do know.

by Maya Miller, Caroline Chen and Joshua Kaplan

March 11, 6:09 p.m. EDT

Are You in Coronavirus Quarantine? Tell Us What Authorities Told You So We Can Make Sure It’s Right.

We’re collecting and fact-checking instructions state and local health departments have given about coronavirus quarantines. Help us hear from every state and city.

by Maya Miller, Moiz Syed, Ken Schwencke, Ariana Tobin, Caroline Chen and Charles Ornstein

March 11, 6:08 p.m. EDT

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:27pm

Just ran across this Brit expert who is tweeting international medical news of treatments that are showing some signs of helping:

https://twitter.com/CharlesTannock

(I have learned from hard experience to trust Brit medical research attitudes over U.S.--less profit motive-more open to everything and anything that works.)

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 6:54pm

Historic moment. “#Denmark shutting down” as Danish PM announces complete shutdown of education system, childcare, public offices etc. pic.twitter.com/f7sbuzmMY5
— Rasmus Elling (@rasmuselling) March 11, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 7:03pm

NCAA’s March Madness to Be Played Without Fans

@ DailyBeast.com, Updated Mar. 11, 2020 5:04PM ET

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 7:34pm

"males 65% more likely to die from an infection than females..The latest figures from the WHO and Chinese scientists shows that...In confirmed cases, the infection is fatal for 4.7% of men but just 2.8% of women" https://t.co/VWMZo4gZNx
— Rob Henderson (@robkhenderson) March 10, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 8:04pm

Breaking: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for coronavirus https://t.co/oUYADLkoc3
— Variety (@Variety) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:10pm

The Hanks were and still are in Australia. Just heard Don Lemon on CNN make an important point about that: it's summer down under. The virus is not necessarily going away in summer. (The link has the Hanks's public statement. They gave a good description of their symptoms so far and promise to keep communicating!)

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 10:00pm

BREAKING: NBA suspends all games after Utah Jazz player tests positive for coronavirus

NBA suspends remainder of season as coronavirus spreads

NBA suspends remainder of season after first player tests positive for coronavirus

@ NBCNews.com, March 11, 9:45 pm

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:58pm

House Democrats introduced a multi-billion dollar bill in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with emergency provisions that include paid sick leave and unemployment insurancehttps://t.co/Yr3n3DElov
— POLITICO (@politico) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 11:14pm

HERE IS THE HOUSE DEMS' BILL: https://t.co/sUR0H0T1ve
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 11:42pm

Merkel Gives Germans a Hard Truth About the Coronavirus

The famously no-nonsense chancellor, keeping to form, braced Germany for an epidemic that may reach extraordinary scale.

By Katrin Bennhold & Melissa Eddy @ NYTimes.com, March 11

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel is on her way out and her power is waning, but in her typically low-key, no-nonsense manner, the German leader on Wednesday laid out some cold, hard facts on the coronavirus in a way that few other leaders have.

Two in three Germans may become infected, Ms. Merkel said at a news conference that reverberated far beyond her country. There is no immunity now against the virus and no vaccine yet. It spreads exponentially, and the world now faces a pandemic.

The most important thing, the chancellor said, is to slow down the spread of the coronavirus to win time for people to develop immunity, and to prevent the health care system from becoming overwhelmed.

“We have to understand that many people will be infected,” Ms. Merkel said. “The consensus among experts is that 60 to 70 percent of the population will be infected as long as this remains the situation.”

Ms. Merkel’s estimates were probably a worst-case scenario, though not wildly out of line with those of experts outside Germany,

Ms. Merkel’s estimates were probably a worst-case scenario, though not wildly out of line with those of experts outside Germany.

Her warning provided a stark contrast to the crimped pronouncements of many other world leaders, among them President Trump, who has mostly played down the contagion. In a televised address Wednesday night, Mr. Trump [....]

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:29am

great country chart copied from the Financial Times:

After a big spike in #coronavirus cases over the past couple days, the U.S. is now at the same number as Italy was 10 days ago.

https://t.co/Bneat0etSL pic.twitter.com/l6HFCoY98X
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:34am

NEW: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is banning all gatherings of 250+ people across the entire state.https://t.co/IlkihdBph8 pic.twitter.com/lCVEmkKYij
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:43am

Don’t go to work if you’re sick // Husker coach Fred Hoiberg taken to local ER as team quarantined after Big Ten tournament loss https://t.co/HqUY2u1Lan
— tedfrank (@tedfrank) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:46am

The Israeli Institute for Biological Research, same facility where the Mossad produced its most effective and lethal poisons, has just made a significant breakthrough in developing a coronavirus vaccinationhttps://t.co/0d7Ba6sM6U #Covid_19 #CoronaVirusUpdate #coronavaccine
— Ronen Bergman (@ronenbergman) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 1:06am

Joe Biden tomorrow will be giving an address on the coronavirus at 1 p.m. in Wilmington, Del. Expect it, in many ways, to be different from the address just given from the Oval Office.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 1:17am

I see Biden as much more capable of handling the Coronavirus crisis compared to Sanders.

Edit to add:

Ability to handle Coronavirus may be a selling point for Bernie supporters to cast votes for Biden. I wouldn't tell Bernie supporters about my misgivings about Sanders, but I don't see Sanders handling this well.

by rmrd0000 on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:13am

not an op-ed:

By temporarily banning most European travelers from the United States, President Trump has struck at the lifeblood of global commerce, putting the world’s economy in greater jeopardy https://t.co/RQgLxADqGm
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:06am

Mass burial pits in Iran:

Well this is by far the darkest thing I've read since the outbreak started, and probably also a sign it's time to get off this website for the night and get a drink https://t.co/n2KWcNmJTh
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:18am

loyal House sycophants suddenly left in the lurch:

NEW … Several House Republicans tell me they have no idea if the W.H. is going to support the House Dem coronavirus bill. Lots of frustration in the GOP ranks right now, as lawmakers look for guidance from the president.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 12, 2020

over at the Senate, earlier I saw someone quote McConnell as saying the House bill was a ridiculous Democratic wish list but now I see he's thinking he better shut his mouth and wait and see:

I applaud Sec. Mnuchin and the Administration for engaging in bipartisan talks with Speaker Pelosi. Following the billions in health funding we approved last week, the Senate is ready and eager to consider bipartisan policies to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:39am

Economist Aslund theorizing on the world economic outlook after Trump's speech:

Trump's speech last night unleashed complete financial panic. Financial crashes have a clear logic. The next step is likely to be major bankruptcies. The natural candidates are holiday industries & airlines, but failures are often surprising.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

After a few major bankruptcies, the world is likely to face a liquidity freeze as after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy on September 15, 2008. A liquidity freeze characteristically hits countries in the periphery with their own currencies, which will collapse.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

To bring some stability to a world in financial panic, two factors are required:
1. International political cooperation and
2. Vast amounts of government liquidity.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

In 2008, the US leaders had the stature to gather the world. On November 14–15, 2008, President Bush convened the G20 Washington Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, D.C. That was the beginning of the crisis resolution.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

In parallel, the US Treasury & Fed swiftly bailed out one major financial institution after the other ad hoc w/o clear principles. Yet, the havoc on financial markets continued until March 9, 2009, when the markets hit the bottom. Crisis resolution takes time.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

Today political preconditions for a 2008 crisis resolution are missing. Domestically, Trump has severely undermined any confidence in Fed Chair Powell & Secretary of Treasury Mnuchin appears a tacit underling. No US economic policymaker enjoys domestic or international stature.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

The free world cannot display any leader of dignity. The leaders of the EU, ECB & IMF are completely new on their jobs. Chancellor Merkel is on her way out & President Macron has slipped on the international stage. PM Boris Johnson is only doing Brexit. There is no leader.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

Given President Trump's isolationism & lack of serious policies, it is difficult to imagine any credible international top-level cooperation as long as he is there, which means that we shall have to wait until January 2021 for serious international crisis resolution.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

While the global financial sector appears to be in much better shape than in 2008, global indebtedness has never been greater than it is today. The US government has not been so indebted since World War II. Fortunately, most EU countries have ample fiscal space.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

I have not even mentioned the coronavirus, which complicates everything much more than in 2008. We have all reasons to expect a long & severe #TrumpRecession, which is likely to last as long as Trump is president.
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:57am

Sarah Kliff on current testing availability:

I've been talking to a lot of ER docs across the country this week, and there is still widespread inability to test.

One told me about seeing a patient who had flown in from Italy, had coughs and chills. But the doc wasn't allowed to test because the patient didn't have a fever. https://t.co/VxpsPOiFmq
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:15am

The Big Ten just announced that it will be canceling the remainder of the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, effective immediately.
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:47am

BREAKING: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will self-isolate and work from home as his wife is being tested for coronavirus
— BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:55am

https://t.co/j9I8FejeUL
— Jerry Saltz (@jerrysaltz) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:03pm

Key: members were floored as they learned that roughly just 11,000 Coronavirus tests TOTAL have been conducted compared to the fact that in South Korea, 10,000 tests are conducted A DAY. https://t.co/vupSFuFevl
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) March 12, 2020

After CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield was asked why people who wanted coronavirus tests weren’t getting them, Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke up and said, “It is a failing. I mean, let’s admit it."
— David P Gelles (@gelles) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 1:48pm

Rep. Katie Porter (rapidly becoming a star):

I did the math: a full battery of coronavirus testing costs at minimum $1,331.

I also did the legal research: the Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY.

I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they’d actually do it. pic.twitter.com/RmolCtmNbG
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 1:55pm

The Korean tests cost $20 each, by Seegene, with the capacity to make 1 million individual tests a week.

It was only the third time the company had used its super computer -- rather than its research and development team working manually -- to design a test. It had previously used the system to make diagnosis kits for urethritis, the inflammation of the urethra. The company was able to design the test using only the genetic details that had been released about the virus, and without having a sample of Covid-19.

by NCD on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 2:13pm

Biden's speech. Like he said:

This Biden speech is very good and Presidential. The contrast is stark.
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) March 12, 2020

If you missed it, look it up and watch it. It will assure you. No question about dementia there. A real leader. Economic ramifications included.

Edit to add correction: A real world leader. Don't believe me? Take it from a journo on the foreign policy beat:

He’s been around the block a few more times than one might wish, but Biden was made for this. He authentically could handle this crisis
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 2:07pm

New York bans gatherings of more than 500 people, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says

March 12, 2020, 2:15 pm USA Today New York Team

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 2:15pm

Colorado's first drive-up COVID-19 testing facility opens in Denver, is free of charge https://t.co/DvLBDdVJkC
— Evan Feigenbaum (@EvanFeigenbaum) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 4:50pm

Senator Graham in self-quarantine because he was at Mar a Lago last weekend:

Statement from the Office of Senator Lindsey Graham pic.twitter.com/XyyZ9dnpTe
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:02pm

The Metropolitan Museum, Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic announced temporary closures in response to the coronavirus https://t.co/isN5PEyXzM
— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 6:18pm

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton:

If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other. https://t.co/Ld7Uc8sPTQ
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 12, 2020

I know this is all hard for you, @realdonaldtrump, so let me spell it out:

- Free testing
- Fee waivers
- Emergency sick leave
- Quarantines
- Cancellations
- Giving a damn
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:29pm

Late night is going dark. Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are all going off the air until March 30 (at the earliest) https://t.co/Z6VDEyd5O0
— John Koblin (@koblin) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:45pm

Front page of the @washingtonpost 62 days ago. pic.twitter.com/8hRXfmxuti
— Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) March 12, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:53am

1/3 Short thread on the truly bizarre reality that political affiliation affects the likelihood of taking preventative measures against contracting and/or passing #CoronaVirus:

First, probably not a good idea to shake hands with #PutinsGOP...#OneVoice1 https://t.co/7fSMR5tpe4
— RRP at Law (@RRPatLaw) March 13, 2020

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 3:51am

Applies to the leash, #FakePaws
Presidential dogs evaluated (even fake ones)
https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2012/04/10/spi...

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 4:49am

Ah partisanship, such a glorious thing. Suggestions off the top of my head. They could also cut off their nose to spite their face. Someone like Alex Jones should start a list of preferred surgeons who don't wash their hands before surgery....

As to good dogs and bad dogs, and which ones might be racist and supporters of "lost cause", I think of: where do the cat people fit here? And for some reason, not of FDR's Fala but of Nixon citing Pat's good Republican cloth coat.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:24pm

Here ya go:

Please stay safe Nick. And away from others. https://t.co/0akLA5MeUY
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 13, 2020

Probably best example I've seen so far of partisanship melting brains into mush.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:48pm

Psst, problemo: doesn't synch with traditional Judeo Christian western civilization values:

#Mood.

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 1890. Photo from @surgeonshall, a great #histmed collection that you should follow. pic.twitter.com/Cdrf2nfAfR
— Lindsey Fitzharris (@DrLindseyFitz) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 1:24pm

in the good old days:

I love Ellen Bryant Voigt’s KYRIE, her book-length sequence of sonnets orbiting the 1918 influenza pandemic, and revisiting those poems today is just eery. How the doors lock. How compassion drowns in fear— pic.twitter.com/h6aDP1phQI
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:25pm

Germany orders 10,000 extra ventilators (on top of the 25,000 it already has in hospitals across the country). My story on the FT Coronavirus live blog: https://t.co/DGG7AWbfnD via @financialtimes pic.twitter.com/srNx2D2svm
— Tobias Buck (@TobiasBuckFT) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 1:01pm

Not a big fan of this tweet from Dem Senator Casey, especially as he hasn't followed it up with any suggestions about what can be done about it nor even an explanation of why nothing can be done about it. It's just taking advantage of tragedy for partisan "told ya so" and if a U.S. Senator cannot do more than that, he's really no help, and actually is feeding cynicism about government and people just like himself:

Right now in America, it is easier to get an AR-15 than a test kit for COVID-19.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 1:50pm

Get the razor, go slit some cats' throats, bury the rinds... DO something!

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 2:37pm

Now why didn't I think of that - drink!!!

If anyone is stuck at home tonight and needs a cocktail recipe, tweet me your ingredients. I’ll tell you what to make.
— Derek Brown (@ideasimprove) March 12, 2020

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 4:13pm

Pondering at what point do early birds catching worms become profiteering scumbags and Sgt. Bilko's:

A couple in Vancouver have spent $70,000 buying all the disinfectant wipes at multiple Costco outlets and selling them for up to four times as much on Amazon https://t.co/1uaLydo5Xd
— Mathew Ingram (@mathewi) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 5:22pm

well, here, seems like Maricopa County Elections Dept. could have used some of those Canadian Costco wipes:

READ This confirms what @RecorderFontes is saying: Maricopa County eliminating almost 80 polling places because it lacks supplies to keep them clean, per email from Election Day Director Scott at 1:40 p.m. today to all poll workers. #12News pic.twitter.com/vXa3axpEld
— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 5:34pm

Legal drama developing in Arizona

The Maricopa County (Phoenix) election official has sent mail ballots to all registered voters

The Arizona Attorney General is saying that is illegal https://t.co/RKFf7nnAno
— Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 6:59pm

At drive-through COVID-19 testing centers in South Korea, the test takes 10 minutes at most.

Results are texted to you, usually the next day. And it's free — paid for by the government.https://t.co/JjvQ6lSMm3
— NPR (@NPR) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 5:44pm

Boris Johnson has backtracked on banning big gatherings in barely 24 hours pic.twitter.com/B0jiftwYrQ
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 6:18pm

Spare a thought for those who cannot visit their loved ones in nursing homes and may not ever see them alive again:

A personal and poignant story, from @WriterLeonora. I teared up editing this. https://t.co/QtrAcHEaAY
— Maria Carrillo (@havana58) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 6:40pm

Cultural appropriation in action, forget Boccelli and the sappy folk songs:

Sure, there’s some panic but there’s always some moments of joy. Italy knows how to #QuarantineAndChill #coronapocalypse pic.twitter.com/HDF2gGmBht
— Shaun Dovaston (@shaundovaston) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 8:43pm

globalists:

This is the medical team from Wuhan responsible for recovering 50K+ patients in just a few months. They're now risking their lives again to help out Italy. Rag on China all you want for the mishandlings early on but you can't deny that these people are true selfless heroes. pic.twitter.com/O3UVXnd6Rf
— Laura Gao (@heylauragao) March 13, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 8:55pm

“Anger goes viral” — @NYDailyNews on Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s decision not to close public schools pic.twitter.com/H2dbupBXbu
— Mohamad Bazzi (@BazziNYU) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 11:51pm

If there's one country we should attack over coronavirus, it's the UK.
— Avoid groups of people, wash your hands (@Noahpinion) March 14, 2020

They're intentionally letting all their people get it. They're like that Korean cult but multiplied by a million.
— Avoid groups of people, wash your hands (@Noahpinion) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 11:23am

Italian officials say new virus cases jumped 20% to more than 21,000 in one day. https://t.co/GCyG8683jZ
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 2:16pm

CDC & FDA paying attention to this excerpt, I hope:

Italian doctors in at least two hospitals treating COVID-19 cases have started using a drug normally prescribed for people with chronic inflammatory auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Paolo Ascierto, director of the immunology clinic at the Pascale Institute in Naples, told Italian state TV on Saturday that of the first six ICU patients treated with the drug, three showed significant improvement of their lung inflammation judging by CT scans. One of the six died shortly after the drug was administered.

Ascierto stressed that the drug fights the lung inflammation from pneumonia in coronavirus patients but doesn’t act on the virus itself. Italy’s government pharmaceutical regulator, AIFA, is allowing the drug to be used for compassionate purposes, since it is only officially approved in the country for use in auto-immune diseases.

At Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, which is treating COVID-19 infections in that city, and neighboring towns, Dr. Francesco Vaia said on Sunday said six patients who are seriously ill with the coronavirus are also being treated there with the drug.

Wall St. will, you can be sure.

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 2:21pm

Capitalism done right:

DC FOOD INDUSTRY TWEEPS: Please contact us if business is slow, & you’re having trouble honoring hours commitments to baristas, dishwashers & line cooks: [email protected]

We can absorb hourly staff for a limited period of time, & will honor their current pay rates.
— Glen's Garden Market (@GlensGardenMkt) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 2:26pm

“Don't believe the numbers you see... I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States,” Dr. Marty Makary, a medical professor at Johns Hopkins University. #CoronaVirusUpdates https://t.co/ZKnMgo2PQF
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 2:31pm

Spain goes into (near) total lockdown. All movement outside of food shopping or medical care or direct travel to/from work prohibited. All law enforcement (Spain has regional autonomous gendarmeries) under central control. Military prepped for deployment.https://t.co/VKHsEiP2R9
— Antonio García Martínez (@antoniogm) March 14, 2020

Say what you will about Spain and siestas and flamenco and whatnot, but it's intriguing how you push a little, and the old Hispanic authoritarianism that made Spain Europe's youngest democracy comes out in a flash.

Can't imagine the US government even trying this.
— Antonio García Martínez (@antoniogm) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 2:41pm

They're just trying to one up the neighbors. Even Boris is getting serious. I own the bloody city, it's incredible.

by PeraclesPlease on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 3:06pm

is a macho thing?

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 3:48pm

Boris's probably is, after cocking it up first. Most are trying to bend the distribution curve down early rather than too late (and most artlemt exactly early) to slow the exponential bend and that impact on hospitals and other emergency resources. The Dutch were too complacent, thought you couldn't transmit w/o showing signs - yesterday they went up 155 to 959, a 25% increase.

by PeraclesPlease on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 4:40pm

PM of France: Starting at midnight tonight all restaurants, bars, retail stores, cinemas, gathering places CLOSED. Food stores & pharmacies open. Because # of people on respirators is rising dramatically. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/4Y3QmfojTF
— Rachel Donadio (@RachelDonadio) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 4:00pm

TEN PAGES OF OBITS in today’s local paper from #Bergamo, a wealthy bedroom community of Milan, on par w/ Greenwich, CT. Bergamo’s good ICUs are now pushed to the brink, doing wartime triage, deciding who can be saved. This is real, guys. #COVID19 https://t.co/RJDSvpiygQ
— Rachel Donadio (@RachelDonadio) March 14, 2020

by artappraiser on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 4:05pm

In the News

Russia plays weak hand in Palestine
Russia plays weak hand in Palestine

submitted by PeraclesPlease 8 months ago

The intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow has precedent

Russia's hosted such meetings in the past, most recently Feb 2019

Russia has long lamented the US' "monopolization" of the peace process & tried to carve out a niche for itself: mediating among the disunited Palestinians/2
— Hanna Notte (@HannaNotte) February 29, 2024

Read the article at https://twitter.com/HannaNotte/status/1763116222256701787

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Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters
Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters

submitted by HSG 8 months ago

Here's what I told them: https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

Read the article at https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

2 comments

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Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes...
Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force

submitted by artappraiser 10 months ago

Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force https://t.co/pCoDg05irX
— Gareth Harris (@garethharr) December 28, 2023

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/brazil-law-indigenous-land-rights-claim-time-marker?CMP=share_btn_tw

1 comment

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Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (...
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 25, 2023)

submitted by artappraiser 10 months ago

Location: U.S. Embassy and residential compounds

Events: Heavy gunfire is occuring around the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds adjacent to the Trutier area of Tabarre. All Embassy personnel have been instructed to remain indoors and shelter-in-place until further notice. All others should avoid the area.

Actions to take:

Avoid the area;

Avoid demonstrations and any large gatherings of people;

Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; and

If you encounter a roadblock, turn around and get to a safe area.

Read the article at https://ht.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-port-au-prince-haiti-december-25-2023/

3 comments

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Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis
Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

By The Editorial Board @ Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2023

A mass expulsion of Afghan migrants could destabilize the region and fuel radicalization. The West should pressure Islamabad to change course.

Read the article at https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-08/pakistan-s-expulsion-of-afghan-refugees-risks-another-crisis

6 comments

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Internet shut down in Chad
Internet shut down in Chad

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

All eyes on #Chad right now
Chad has two internet trunks coming into the country: One from the Red Sea via Sudan; the other from Cameroon. Not possible for the totality of the country's internet network to be shut unless done centrally. A lot of rumors swirling; few facts. https://t.co/N6bDJZ2ixO

Read the article at https://x.com/_hudsonc/status/1732891968709992511?s=20

2 comments

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[Economy] where Joe's success falls short
[Economy] where Joe's success falls short

submitted by PeraclesPlease 11 months ago

Read the article at

3 comments

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[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across...
[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

BREAKING: Three loss prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed, one of them has died from stab wounds, @PhillyPolice sources tell me. Police converged on the store as the three workers were rushed to Jefferson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/4U1eKycL4W

Read the article at https://x.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1731713272942940365?s=20

38 comments

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Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As...
Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Former US Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba https://t.co/LDwo4ZJI1K
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 4, 2023

Read the article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manuel-rocha-ambassador-arrested-cuba_n_656d1e2ae4b028b0f3d07478

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[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny
[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

[Chapter I news is HERE, Oct. 7 til today]

You don’t get it.
It’s not about an UNRWA teacher who held an Israeli kid hostage in his house.
It’s all about how for 75 years you have destroyed the future of generations of Palestinians, including my family.
My cousins in Arab countries are still not citizens - not even the… https://t.co/nv6anubGhc
— George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) December 2, 2023

Note 'Community Notes' attached to UNWRA's statement.

Read the article at https://x.com/GeorgeDeek/status/1731020551328579863?s=20

58 comments

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Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From...
Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From a Neighbor

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Imperialism for me but not for thee?

It's wild that Venezuela is now holding a vote on whether 2/3 of Guyana actually belongs to them! Analysts suggest that Modoru may want military action to pump up his sinking popularity.

Could we have a war in South America?!?

"The people who live in Essequibo are largely… pic.twitter.com/QvMEjkkgwy

Read the article at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/world/americas/maduro-vote-essequibo-guyana.html

6 comments

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[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House...
[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

The lack of a cohesive delegation has allowed attention-seeking lawmakers to act on their own.

McCarthy: “You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail…”

Gaetz: “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.”https://t.co/LctPuz6Pcf

Read the article at https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/29/divisions-leave-floridas-house-republicans-powerless-00129200

10 comments

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‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-...
‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-Pelosi clashes

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

By Martinn Pengelly in Washington DC for TheGuardian.com, Nov. 30

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ryan Grim life in Congress ‘completely transformed’ after Democratic leader stepped down

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/30/squad-book-aoc-nancy-pelosi?CMP=share_btn_tw

15 comments

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US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source
US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

@ Reuters, Nov. 29

Read the article at https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-health-insurers-humana-cigna-talks-merge-wsj-2023-11-29/

3 comments

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Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-...
Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-proofing

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

"Both the AU and the intl community place more weight on whether elections are held than whether they are free and fair. Sanctions/expulsions occur when there is a coup but not necessarily when elections are rigged or if an “institutional coup” occurs." https://t.co/m9dNimJP0D
— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) November 28, 2023

Read the article at https://africanarguments.org/2023/11/central-africas-dinosaur-regimes-and-the-art-of-coup-proofing/

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