China Quarantines Millions After Thousands Exposed To Mutating Virus That Has Killed Many

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Mark Moore - The New York Post




Chinese President Xi Jinping pressured the director of the World Health Organization in January to hold off on issuing a global warning about the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report in a German newspaper.

The Jan. 21 conversation between Jinping and WHO leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was reported in Der Spiegel, which cited intelligence from Germany’s federal intelligence service, known as the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND).

The report published over the weekend said Xi urged the WHO chief to “delay a global warning” about the pandemic and hold back information on human-to-human transmission of the virus.

The BND estimated that China’s action to conceal information resulted in a loss of four to six weeks in the fight against COVID-19.

The WHO released a statement calling the allegations “unfounded and untrue.”

“Dr. Tedros and President Xi did not speak on January 21 and they have never spoken by phone. Such inaccurate reports distract and detract from WHO’s and the world’s efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read.

The WHO continued to say China confirmed human-to-human transmission to the UN health agency on Jan. 20 and the WHO “publicly declared” two days later that “data collected … suggests that human-to-human transmission is taking place in Wuhan.”

The Chinese foreign ministry, in a 30-page article published on its website, refuted claims in the Der Spiegel article, saying it had responded in a “timely” manner and was “open and transparent” about alerting nations around the world about the outbreak.

It also responded to comments made by President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that China misled other countries about the pandemic and claimed the virus began in a lab in the city of Wuhan.

The foreign ministry quoted President Abraham Lincoln in its defense, according to Reuters.

“As Lincoln said, you can fool some of the people all the time and fool all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time,” it said in the article.

Trump has blasted China for holding back critical information about the virus to the world, including failing to accurately report on the number of cases.

He also ripped the WHO for being a “pipe organ” for the Chinese Communist Party.

“They must have known more than they knew,” he told reporters at the White House last month. “We knew things that they didn’t know, and either they didn’t know they didn’t tell us … right now, they’re literally a pipe organ for China, that’s the way I view it.”

The president has frozen the US’ payments to the WHO pending investigations by the intelligence community into the UN agency’s relationship with China.

The first cases of the coronavirus were reported in Wuhan, China, in late December.

[DemonGeminiX]

I say again, charge the Chinese government with murder, 1 count each for every death due to the coronavirus.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

And every country need to close and pull their manufacturing from China. Cripple their economy and the people will revolt and maybe, just maybe, they can end the communist control of the country.

[lost in melb.]

Deport WHO execs to China

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Hannah Bleau - Breitbart




Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Monday outlined a broad list of potential “consequences” for counties and businesses that refuse to obey his lockdown orders. The warning follows his admission that he has not asked Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) to interfere in areas that are moving ahead in violation of the lockdown orders.

“I won’t sit back and watch residents who live in counties under Stay at Home orders get sick because local leaders cannot see the risks of #COVID19 and push to reopen prematurely,” Wolf said on social media following his press conference.

“Today I am announcing consequences for counties that do not abide by the law to remain closed,” he continued, reiterating some of the vague threats he outlined during his presser.

Counties that opt to proceed in reopening outside of the governor’s plan “won’t be eligible for federal stimulus discretionary funds,” Wolf said, noting that those funds will instead go to obedient counties.

So far, Wolf has only allowed 24 counties to move into the restrictive yellow phase. Thirteen other counties can join them Friday, May 15.

“Businesses should know that opening in counties that don’t abide by the law will potentially jeopardize their business liability insurance or the protections it provides,” Wolf continued in his threats.

Restaurants that opt to offer dine-in services in defiance of the orders “will risk receiving a citation,” the governor declared.

“These citations can ultimately lead to the loss of a restaurant’s liquor license,” he warned.

Currently, no restaurants are permitted to offer dine-in services, as the Wolf’s yellow phase of reopening explicitly states that restaurants and bars are “Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only.”

Wolf also attempted to empathize with workers, stating, “If your county reopens prematurely and you don’t feel comfortable returning to work, rest assured that the commonwealth will allow you to continue to receive unemployment compensation, even if your employer reopens.”

The dangers associated with the coronavirus are “present,” he continued, proclaiming that they are winning but, as he did during his press conference, accused those who seek to reopen as acting in “a most cowardly way”:

Several county leaders have vowed to begin reopening, despite their red phase status, which bars “non-life essential” businesses from operating. A number of district attorneys have said that their offices will not prosecute businesses violating Wolf’s order.

Despite the governor’s tough talk, Wolf admitted on Monday that has not urged the state’s attorney general to take action.

“No, I have not–nor do I intend to,” Wolf said.

Nonetheless, Shapiro is defending the governor’s actions.

“The PA Constitution gives the Governor broad emergency power & his actions have been ruled constitutional multiple times,” he began.

“In one of its rulings, the PA Supreme Court wrote the Governor’s actions to prevent the spread of #COVID-19 are ‘reasonably tailored to the nature of the emergency,'” he continued, adding that they “emphasized that the Governor is ’empowered to ‘issue, amend and rescind executive orders, proclamations and regulations which shall have the force and effect of law.'”

“Further, the Supreme Court of the United States has also rejected a call to intervene and issue a stay,” Shapiro added:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Hannah Bleau - Brietbart




Gov. Tom Wolf (D) is facing immense backlash from all sides — residents, local and state leaders, including Rep. Ryan Warner (R), who reminded the governor he is not the “supreme ruler of Pennsylvania.”

Wolf on Monday sharply criticized Pennsylvania leaders and business owners who are moving to reopen in violation of his orders, stating they are committing a “cowardly act.”

The proclamation drew backlash from residents and state leaders, including Rep. Warner, who blasted the governor on social media.

“Governor Wolf, how dare you have the audacity to call anyone a coward. Cowardly? My man, you don’t even have the COURAGE to openly answer questions from the press,” Warner wrote.

“Instead, you cower behind a staff member who filters and then asks you the questions,” he continued.

“Let me remind you sir, you are not the supreme ruler of Pennsylvania,” he added, reminding Wolf that “Whether it’s 1776 or 2020, we are not ruled, nor will we EVER be ruled, by one man- and especially not by one man who doesn’t even have the courage to openly face the media.”

Warner continued:

Do you want to know why sheriffs, district attorneys, municipalities, counties and businesses across this commonwealth are defying your orders? It’s because this is the United States of America pal, where the people have the voice. Whether it’s 1776 or 2020, we are not ruled, nor will we EVER be ruled, by one man- and especially not by one man who doesn’t even have the courage to openly face the media.

Cowardly? Not addressing the people who are now going eight weeks without a paycheck because of the complete failure of a system that you and your department are directly responsible for is cowardly. Hiding your secret business waiver list until you were forced to disclose it by a subpoena is cowardly. Consulting with governors from other states rather than consulting with the elected officials of your own state is cowardly, and then calling out those very same elected officials who you chose to ignore, rather than work with, is flat out insulting. As I’ve said before, you’ve granted yourself unprecedented powers and you expect to take minimal responsibility for all that’s at hand. Instead, you blame and threaten those who try to make a difference….and that sir is the definition of a coward.

We are two months into your disaster declaration and at this point I’d like you to give me one reason why you still need to be making unilateral decisions and bypassing the legislative process? I think it is well beyond the time that this General Assembly runs the resolution that removes your power and restores it rightfully back to the people of this great commonwealth.

Governor Wolf, how dare you have the audacity to call anyone a coward. Cowardly? My man, you don’t even have the COURAGE…

Posted by PA State Rep. Ryan Warner on Monday, May 11, 2020

Sean Parnell, Republican Candidate for the 17th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, also addressed the governor following his threats.

.@GovernorTomWolf it’s easy to threaten & hurl insults while you’re sitting inside the Governor’s mansion still getting a paycheck,” Parnell said.

“You’re insulated from any hardship. You don’t get to call people who are trying to feed their families cowards & deserters,” he added. You work for US”:

Wolf set off a political firestorm on Monday after doubling down during his press conference, contending that he could prevent counties from defying his orders and accusing those who are clamoring to reopen as giving up the fight against the virus and engaging in a “cowardly act.”

“To those politicians who decide to cave in to this coronavirus, they need to understand the consequences of their cowardly act,” Wolf said as he attempted to pit business owners against local leaders who, like them, want to reopen.

Politicians who are “urging businesses to risk their lives and risk the lives of their customers or their employees by opening prematurely” are “engaging in behavior that is both selfish and unsafe,” Wolf stated, issuing threats to business owners — threats that included the loss of health department certificates, liquor licenses, and certificates of occupancy.

“By opening before the evidence suggests you should, you’re taking undue risks with the safety of your customers,” the governor warned business owners, accusing them of doing something “morally wrong” and adding, “that’s also really bad business.”

Pennsylvania House Republicans responded to Wolf’s remarks on Monday, affirming their support of frustrated citizens:

Calls for Wolf’s impeachment have also increased, following his controversial presser.

[perrhaps]

I live in one of the so-called "rebellious" counties. Most folks recognize the bluster of our local officials is no more than a coordinated exercise in plastic saber-rattling by small frogs in small ponds, where elected officials are required to "voluntarily" donate 10% of one year's salary to the local County GOP in order to be endorsed by the party when they come up for reelection.

The most recent polls taken yesterday show Wolf maintains @63% approval rating in PA for his handling of the pandemic situation, and the only County that still plans on disobeying him has already received its Federal stimulus aid due to its relatively large population. Most County officials are now doing a clumsy withdrawal of their threats, by penning grandiose statements that while affirming their belief in Truth, God and the American way, acknowledge that businesses that follow their advice will end up permanently being closed. These statements prominently include disclaimers of any liability if their advice is followed.

Just another day in Pennsyltucky.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Kayla Rivas | Fox News


Moderna announced Tuesday its fast-track designation awarded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accelerate the development of an effective COVID-19 vaccine.

The purpose of fast track is to expedite the review of therapies and vaccines for serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need, Moderna officials wrote in a company statement.

“Fast Track designation underscores the urgent need for a vaccine against the novel coronavirus,” Tal Zaks, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer at Moderna, wrote in a company statement. “As we await the full set of clinical data from the NIAID-led Phase 1 study, we are actively preparing for our Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical studies to continue learning about the potential of mRNA-1273 to protect against SARS-CoV-2.”

The FDA gave its approval for Moderna to enter a Phase 2 study for mRNA-1273, which is expected to begin shortly. The Phase 2 study involves two vaccinations of mRNA-1273 administered 28 days apart. Moderna plans to enroll 600 healthy participants in two cohorts, one with adults ages 18-55 and the other with adults over the age of 55. Each participant will receive a placebo, 50 microgram dose or 250 microgram dose at both vaccinations.

The company said participants will be followed through 12 months after the second vaccination.

Moderna said a Phase 3 study could begin in the early summer of this year.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Morgan Phillips | Fox News


Wisconsin’s Supreme Court struck down the state's “safer at home” order Wednesday, saying Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration overstepped its authority when it extended the order through the end of May.

The court ruled four to three in a case brought forth by Republican lawmakers that sought to block the order issued last month by Evers’ top health secretary, Andrea Palm.

All future lockdown orders must go through the legislature, the ruling said. The court denied a request from Republicans for a six-day stay, instead striking down the order immediately.

Evers issued a stay-at-home order in March which was supposed to expire April 24. But the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Andrea Palm, an Evers appointee, extended it to May 26.

Republicans asked the Supreme Court on April 21 to block the extension, arguing that it amounts to an administrative rule, which requires legislative approval.

Evers’ administration argued that state law clearly gives the executive branch broad authority to enact emergency measures to control communicable diseases. Attorney General Josh Kaul also noted that Evers' order was similar to that in at least 42 other states and has saved many lives.

Chief Justice Patience Roggensack wrote for the majority that the order equates to an emergency rule that Palm can't enact unilaterally. The order creates criminal penalties that Palm has no authority to create, she added.

“Rule-making exists precisely to ensure that kind of controlling, subjective judgement asserted by one unelected official, Palm, is not imposed in Wisconsin,” Roggensack wrote for the majority.

During oral arguments last week, Justice Rebecca Bradley suggested Palm’s decision to extend the order without legislative input amounts to tyranny, according to WKOW.

"I think there is a problem with the legislature giving away this much power to an un-elected cabinet secretary," said Bradley. "The people never consented to a single individual having that kind of power."

Rebecca Dallet, a liberal dissenting Supreme Court justice, wrote that the court's decision will “undoubtedly go down as one of the most blatant examples of judicial activism in this court's history. And it will be Wisconsinites who pay the price."

The high court also backed Republicans over the liberal governor in holding in-person voting in April for the presidential primary amid coronavirus.

Wisconsin has faced 10,902 cases of coronavirus and 421 deaths. Deaths have been in the single digits for 9 of the last 14 days.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[lost in melb.]

Deaths have been in the single digits for 9 of the last 14 days.

Time to start opening up

[Godfather]

Time to start opening up

BC is opening up which is great. We've had 10-20 new cases a day max for a couple weeks now and it seems like they know where the pockets of outbreak are.

Phase 2 reopening is coming after the long weekend. Think that means retail, restaurants, barbers, etc. are all reopening with conditions. No large gatherings obviously and they're asking people to expand their social circles slowly and thoughtfully, but I'm looking forward to it.

My gym just emailed saying they're reopening within a couple weeks too... I'd sooner go for dinner than to the gym just yet though. Gyms are gross in the best of times I'll let the first wave try that out for an extra week or so to see what happens.

[lost in melb.]

BC is opening up which is great. We've had 10-20 new cases a day max for a couple weeks now and it seems like they know where the pockets of outbreak are.

Phase 2 reopening is coming after the long weekend. Think that means retail, restaurants, barbers, etc. are all reopening with conditions. No large gatherings obviously and they're asking people to expand their social circles slowly and thoughtfully, but I'm looking forward to it.

My gym just emailed saying they're reopening within a couple weeks too... I'd sooner go for dinner than to the gym just yet though. Gyms are gross in the best of times I'll let the first wave try that out for an extra week or so to see what happens.

Good for you, GF. We're up to stage one reopening, but I think our Corona started a little later than yours.

Oh yeah... Agree, a hot meal or some beverage or just a stroll inside somewhere other than a supermarket. It's winter here, and meeting up with a friend and pretending to exercise in a dark, cold park is really wearing thin

[lost in melb.]

Stage 1 reopening

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Bradford Betz | Fox News


Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday warned that the city will “never be fully open” until there is a cure for the novel coronavirus that has put the nation on lockdown and brought the economy to a near standstill.

The Democratic mayor made the shocking comments during an appearance on "Good Morning America," one day after city officials announced Los Angeles would likely be extending its stay-at-home order for another three months.

“This past weekend we opened up our trails, we have retail for curbside pickup, we’ll see that expanded, and even some active recreation on our beaches this coming weekend,” Garcetti said. “We’ve never been fully closed. We’ll never be completely open until we have a cure.”

Garcetti urged residents to take the virus seriously because it “is as dangerous today as it was the first day that it arrived in our cities and our country.”

"There's no so-called 'open state' or 'open country' that doesn’t continue to have health orders telling us to cover our faces, physically distance and to tell people that you’re safest working from and staying at home,” Garcetti said. "We can't expect that to disappear in a matter of weeks or even a few months."

At a Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting, County Public Health Director Barabara Ferrer said the order will be extended “with all certainty,” possibly until July or August, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Our hope is that by using the data we'd be able to slowly lift registrations over the next three months," she said. "But without widely available therapeutic testing for the coronavirus or rapid at-home testing versions that would allow people to test themselves daily, it seems unlikely that restrictions would be completely eased."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state is giving counties the authority to loosen restrictions, like allowing shopping malls to reopen with curbside pickup.

“We are entering into the next phase this week,” Newsom said in a press conference. “This is a very positive sign and it is happening for only one reason: The data says it can happen."

LA beaches were permitted to open Wednesday, though beachgoers must wear face masks and may not sunbathe, or picnic, the Times reported.

As of Wednesday, Los Angeles County has confirmed more than 33,200 cases of the coronavirus with 1,617 deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

[RBP]